Trip Medical Insurance

[dmahanay]

I took out medical insurance on our trip to Puerto Vallarta last Nov, but that company only covers MX.

Can someone recommend a good company for medical insurance per Trip for seniors.

 

[dougp26364]

We purchased a policy at http://www.insuremytrip.com for our Ireland trip last week. I can't say how good of a policy it was as we didn't have the opportunity to find out (thank goodness). It did cover us for $1,000,000 in medical expenses at a cost of $48 for the one week trip. However, we're more middle aged than seniors so that cost could be higher depending on your age.

 

[Janis]

also try Travel Guard. They are a major insurer for travelers, and I have used them before

www.travelguard.com

 

[Dottie]

I am a senior and use www.insuremy trip.com. I have found it cheaper to get the whole trip coverage even if I price the trip at 0 than to get a straight medical policy. We just got a 3 week policy for a european trip for $141 for both of us with a trip valued at $2000. We get $100,000 each for medical and 1 mil for medical evaluation. Hope it works if needed.

Dottie

 

[Dave M]

Take a look at the travel insurance sticky thread at the top of the list of topics for this Travel forum. You'll see some common sense advice on getting travel insurance and links to (among others) both of the sites included in this thread.

 

[dmahanay]

Dave,

I hate to be dumb....but what is a sticky thread....how do I get that list?

 

[Dave M]

Go to the list of topics for this Travel forum. You can get there from the main BBS page listing all of the forums or by clicking on the "Travel Info" link to the right of the black "TUG BBS" logo at the top of the page.

Sticky threads are those that the moderator has decided have enough general interest that he/she decided to "stick" them at the top of the list of topics for as long as the topics have wide interest.

 

[dougp26364]

I am a senior and use www.insuremy trip.com. I have found it cheaper to get the whole trip coverage even if I price the trip at 0 than to get a straight medical policy. We just got a 3 week policy for a european trip for $141 for both of us with a trip valued at $2000. We get $100,000 each for medica l and 1 mil for medical evaluation. Hope it works if needed.

Dottie

$100,000 is a drop in the bucket if you have anything serious go wrong the requires a hospital stay. Working as a nurse I've seen people push their bills well over $100,000 in just a few days. A car accident that is no fault of your own can do that easily if there are any broken bones. My mothers bill for a one week hospital stay was $130,000. Then there was the doctor bills that started coming in.

A major medical trip insurance policy will typically cover the insured for $500,000 to $1,000,000. When we traveled to Ireland recently, I shopped the package policy's as well as just medical. While it is true I could have received a wider aray of benefits from the package policy for a similar amount, the medical limits were very low compared to just a medical policy ($50,000-$250,000 compared to $1,000,000).

When you are thinking about purchasing medical trip insurance, it's important to decide exactly what's most important to cover. Items such as trip interuption/travel delay, rental car insurance, lost baggage et....or major medical expenses. From what I've read in the restricions of most policies, more liberal terms for minor expenses like trip interuption/travel delay results in lower limits for medical expenses. Higher limits on medical expenses has generally worked out to more restrictive definitions for trip interuption/travel delay.

For someone who is younger and not participating in higher risk activities (driving in a foreign country would be higher risk IMO), then a package policy might seem like a better deal. As we get older and are more prone to unexpected medical issues, that $500,000 to $1,000,000 worth of coverage to protect our assests (and keep us on track for retirement) starts to look a whole lot better.

 

[philemer]

If you have a major medical policy there is a good chance it will cover some, or all, of your med. expenses in a foreign country. I know the Blue Shield policy I used to have did.

If you have NO medical ins. policy now you probably would be smart to buy a high limit policy while traveling.

The OP, I believe, is on Medicare and therefore, has limited, or no, coverage in a foreign country. Some Medicare Supplements will cover up to $50K when in a foreign country. If the country you are traveling to has socialized medicine your hospital bills will be moderate compared to the good ole USA.

I would feel very comfortable with a $100,000 med. limit in a foreign country. JMHO.

Phil

PS Always check your current policy for coverage while traveling overseas!

 

[dmahanay]

Doug,

Can you tell me who you used for the major medical trip insurance? That is what we need (both over 65 and have only medicare and aarp supplement).