Travel insurance can cover a variety of situations, including medical emergencies while away from home. The same health insurance that covers you at home does not work once you leave the US.
Imagine you are in a foreign country and you get sick or have an accident
Who do you call?
How can you be sure you’re getting the best care?
How is it going to be paid for?
This is why smart travelers purchase a travel medical policy, or a package policy which includes medical coverage. The purpose of travel medical insurance is to provide medical coverage while in a foreign country, because your insurance from home will not cover you.
Travel medical insurance typically includes at least $50,000 in medical emergency coverage, and usually more. There is also coverage for medical evacuation, which a the very costly process of transporting an injured person. Usually, medical evacuation involved special planes, personnel, and medical equipment. It can easily cost over $100,000 just to be taken back home.
Travel medical insurance is a great idea for all travelers leaving their home country. The cost is very reasonable, and the potential costs of treatment or evacuation can be devastating if paid out-of-pocket.
There are, however, several exclusions in a typical travel medical policy. These are situations in which benefits would not apply, and expenses are not covered.
Travel insurance companies need to exclude certain activities or situations because they greatly increase the risk to the traveler, and they are usually avoidable.
There are several exclusions, but here is a list of some common reasons why a medical claim could be denied:
Injuries suffered while riding, driving, or participating in a race
As you can see, all of these activities increase the risk for injury, and they are all choices made by the traveler. By taking part in these activities, insured or not, you are putting yourself at risk for personal injury. This is why they are excluded from coverage.
