Protect Your Health and Finances with Travel Evacuation Insurance September 17, 2014 By Caitlin Bradford Leave a Comment Whether you’re taking an international trip for business or pleasure, the last thing you want to do is risk your health and financial future by being unprepared for a medical emergency. Illnesses, acute conditions and injuries can occur anywhere and happen to anyone at any time. You can help protect yourself by considering health and travel insurance policies specific to your trip. What Is Travel Health and Medical Evacuation Insurance? There are three main types of travel-related health insurance to consider for your international trip. These include: Travel health insurance. If you have a chronic medical condition, this type of insurance helps to ensure that you’ll receive the same high-quality care you’d expect at home in North America. Medical evacuation insurance. If you suffer from an injury or sudden acute event such as a heart attack, medical evacuation insurance covers the cost of transportation to get you to medical facilities with the high standard of care you’d receive at home in the United States or Canada. Trip cancellation insurance. Perhaps a hurricane, civil conflict or a personal issue in your life has gotten in the way of your trip. This type of insurance reduces your financial losses from canceling your plane tickets, lodging and other travel-related expenses. Who Should Get Travel Health and Medical Evacuation Insurance? Even if you’re healthy, stay active and have no known medical conditions, insurance is still a good way to protect yourself. One fall on a hiking trail and your necessary evacuation on a medical helicopter or private jet to a hospital could set you back tens of thousands of dollars without the right type of insurance. In some places around the world, you may have to pay the cost of your treatment and transportation on the spot before any service is provided. In the event that you are unable to complete the duration of your trip, travel health insurance and medical evacuation insurance may reimburse you for your expenses. Without these insurance policies, you could be taken to a subpar facility without the medical services, diagnostic equipment, supplies and treatment that you require. Obtaining adequate travel and international health insurance coverage helps to ensure that you’ll get the care you need at a place with exemplary standards of care. Preparing for a Healthy International Trip Taking a few steps before you depart on an international trip can help ensure you’re ready for the rigors of this type of travel. A pre-travel health consultation with a travel health specialist can ascertain whether you’re in need of any vaccinations. You can also receive preventative medications, such as anti-malarial drugs based upon your travel destination, and tips on packing for a healthy trip. You’ll learn which over the counter medications, first aid supplies, mosquito repellant, sunscreen and water purification kits will help keep you healthy. With the right travel health steps and proper insurance policies, you keep yourself firmly in charge of your health. Especially if you are traveling on a mission trip, doing medical volunteer work, or engaging in extreme adventure travel, be sure you are prepared for any eventuality! Sources: Passport Health: 3 Types of Travel Health Insurance to Consider Centers for Disease Control: Travel Insurance, Travel Health Insurance and Medical Evacuation Insurance Petergreenberg.com: Why You Need Medical Travel Insurance Petergreenberg.com: Your Checklist for International Travel
