How to get medical insurance when traveling
Your bags are packed, you’ve found a place to stay, and your flight is booked. You’re ready to move to America, right? Not quite. You’ve forgotten one very important thing — travel medical insurance.
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Whether you’re moving to the U.S. for a job opportunity, to be with your family, or for an adventure, you’ll need to make sure you purchase a travel medical plan.
Why travel medical insurance?
The U.S. health care system can be very expensive and because of this, medical insurance for travelers is a must. The U.S. doesn’t offer national health coverage for visitors, meaning you’re responsible for paying any expenses you incur. And any health insurance plans you have in your home country may not follow you to the United States or other countries you may wish to visit.Before leaving on your trip, check with your plan provider to see what is covered.
You may be thinking, “I’m a pretty healthy person, I shouldn’t need travel medical insurance.” Travel medical insurance isn’t just for illnesses, so even if you’re generally healthy, purchasing coverage is a good idea.
This insurance also covers random, unpredictable accidents. Car crashes, food poisoning, and animal attacks are just a few of the many situations that could happen to you while you’re living your life in America.
Here’s another example of what could happen:
You’re walking on a sidewalk on a cold, snowy day. Suddenly, you slip on a patch of ice and fall, breaking your leg on the pavement. Horrible. On top of the recovery that’s ahead of you, you’ll likely also be responsible for a hefty bill.
Here’s what you could expect to pay:
Ambulance ride: $400-$1,200
Emergency Room visit: $2,500
Surgery (depending on the severity of the break): $17,000-$35,000
Crutches: $40-$100
Physical therapy: $50-$100 per session
Total: $19,990-$39,000.
Almost $40,000, all because you wanted to enjoy a snowy day and didn’t purchase travel insurance. With a travel medical policy, this accident could be covered.
Travel medical insurance is here to help.
When you’re away from your home country, this type of plan provides benefits that are perfect for travelers. Plans can cover eligible medical expenses, like hospital and physician visits. They can provide protection in case of trip interruption as well. So, if you need to return home due to a death in your family or because of damage to your home due to fire or natural disaster, you’ll be able to.
Under a medical plan for travelers, your baggage is also protected. If you arrive in the U.S., and your bag doesn’t, you’ll be able to recoup costs for any supplies you purchased in the interim. Be certain to read your plan document, so you know how much coverage you have. Most plans have a per article limit.
These plans also cover repatriation. Repatriation is the process of returning to your home country due to an emergency, like an illness or injury. Without coverage, these trip costs can be extremely expensive: $1,000-$500,000, all out of pocket. When you have this protection your transportation, and any associated medical costs are covered. It’s nice to know that any medical emergencies you may experience won’t cost you an enormous amount of money.
Looking for a travel medical plan?
SevenCorners is a travel insurance company that’s been in business for more than 25years and has provided coverage for customers all over the world.
If you’re looking for a travel medical plan, their LiaisonTravel Elite* is an option. This plan offers coverage for up to three years, so you can make a quick purchase and not have to worry about being covered. There’s also a large medical network, meaning that you’ll be able to find a doctor in your area.
*LiaisonTravel Elite isn’t available in Washington. Benefits for residents of South Dakota, Maryland, and New York vary by state. The examples set forth herein are hypothetical and for informational and educational purposes only. They have no effect, legal or otherwise, on the insurance contracts that you have or may purchase. The terms and conditions of such insurance contracts are binding and are not revised, altered, or amended in any way by the information set forth herein. Trip insurance is included as part of a travel protection plan which contains both insurance benefits and non-insurance assistance services.
You can use your foreign credit history to apply for a U.S. credit card
Credit history used to stop at the border—until now. Your existing foreign credit history could help you get credit in the United States.
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