Do I need something other than my normal health insurance plan for traveling outside the U.S.?
To answer this question, you need to check with your own health insurance company. Many health insurers do not cover international health coverage. A spokesperson for the Health Insurance Association of America has been quoted as saying that only about 5% of American travelers have health insurance coverage while traveling abroad. Even when traveling within the United States or to U.S. territories like Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, etc., full coverage may not be available under many plans.
For business-related travel, you should check with your employer to find out if you are covered under a travel insurance plan for employees.
If I plan a foreign trip how can I find out how good medical facilities are in the area I will be visiting?
Check the State Department's consular information sheet for the country you will be visiting.
Does medicare reimburse medical expenses incurred on a trip abroad?
Currently, Medicare does not usually reimburse for medical expenses incurred on a trip abroad. However, it does not hurt to check beforehand as this policy could change.
What types of supplemental health insurance coverage could I buy?
There are three basic types:
1. A plan that you purchase for each trip or a plan for all travel during the year. The plan is generally limited to medical expenses and medical evacuation coverage while traveling. You buy this from a travel insurance company.
2. A plan that is designed for customers of a tour company or cruise line and sold through the tour operator with whom you scheduled the trip. This type of plan would probably include trip cancellation benefits as well as medical coverage.
3. A package that includes both trip cancellation and related trip insurance coverage as well as health/medical coverage. These bundled plans are available directly from travel insurance providers.
