Spring break family travel is just around the corner, but unfortunately, cold and flu season is not yet over! If you’re planning a family vacation, will your health insurance cover you on the road? Should you add holiday health insurance to your vacation budget? What other steps are necessary to ensure emergency medical treatment for your family?
As we’ll be in Florida and the Bahamas in a few weeks, and my youngest son Toby is currently being monitored for a (non-threatening) heart condition, I’ve been asking myself all the above questions in preparation. Here’s what I’ve learned about travel health insurance, including steps to take before traveling to ensure you and your family are covered:
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1. Check your current health insurance coverage.
Health insurance plans vary greatly in the U.S. (I probably don’t need to tell you that!). Don’t assume yours will cover you while traveling outside the United States. (Medicare will definitely not.) Make sure care providers are available at your destination. To expedite medical visits (whether foreign or in the U.S.), bring along insurance cards and doctors’ contact information for all members of your family.
2. Consider buying travel insurance.
If your primary insurance is not comprehensive on the road, consider buying extra travel health insurance, or when applicable, group health insurance. Meant to supplement your primary coverage, keep in mind that travel insurance will usually cover emergency visits only. Be sure to ask specifically about deductibles and read the fine print! Usually, you’ll be expected to pay costs out-of-pocket and submit for reimbursement. If longer care is needed, bring back documentation to reimburse to your primary care provider.
3. If you’re a frequent traveler or staying in a single country for an extended time
, consider purchasing global insurance or temporarily gaining universal insurance in the country you’re visiting. This is easier than it sounds (again, it’s hardest in the U.S.!) Note: if your travels take you to at-risk countries your medical insurance will likely not be honored, unless you buy supplemental coverage.
4. If you do need medical attention while traveling
, utilize hotel concierge services or front desk personnel to find the best medical facility for your needs. If it’s not a life threatening emergency, it can be helpful to place a call to your at-home care provider to ask for referrals in an unfamiliar city, and it’s always a good idea to familiarize yourself with local emergency contact numbers.
Hopefully you’ll never need medical care while on vacation, but with preparation, most situations can be cared for quickly, allowing everyone to return to vacation fun!
Photo credit: Fiona Brown
