A comprehensive travel insurance plan is a great investment for those who often plan their vacation around family trips. The many different types of insurance plans are travel health insurance, health maintenance organization (HMO), preferred provider organization (PPO) and indemnity plans. Each offers different levels of coverage for an unexpected illness or accident and may all be of different importance to travelers having pre-existing medical conditions.
Travel Health Insurance can cover major medical expenses in emergency rooms, while you are in a hospital or in a nursing home, while you are in a rehabilitation program, in a long term care facility, on vacation or while you are travelling abroad. Coverage can be very expensive so it is important to shop around before committing to a policy. In addition, there may be restrictions and exclusions that need to be considered when you are evaluating your options. You should take into consideration the cost of medications that you may be prescribed, the length of your stay, any pre-existing conditions, what country you are going to travel to, and any additional costs that could occur.
HMOs are a type of plan that are designed to provide you with medical care at the same doctor’s office that you see for routine health care. If you already have a primary health care provider, you may not be able to qualify for this type of plan. With a PPO or Preferred Provider Organization, you are considered a group member and the plan is paid for by the provider, typically at a discount rate. With the PPO plan, you can receive care at doctors offices or hospitals close to where you travel, but if you do not wish to pay for the care out-of-pocket, you can get an individual policy or group policy with a lower monthly premium.
When you travel with a pre-existing condition, you will want to consider a health maintenance organization. These are not the same as HMOs. A health maintenance organization covers a variety of services including hospital visits, doctor visits, prescriptions, diagnostic tests and surgery, all at a reduced cost.
While you are under the care of a health maintenance organization, your regular doctor will pay for some or all of the medical expenses. With an insurance plan like this, you will need to keep a regular check on your health.
People with pre-existing conditions should also be aware that most policies cover preventive care only, such as checkups, x-rays, and routine physical examinations. You should also consider your financial restrictions and any restrictions that may apply to your current or previous health. Prior to travel, ask if any medications are covered or if you should be aware if any drugs are taken prior to your trip.
When considering your options, make sure you understand which specific coverage is available. Some plans include prescription coverage, while others do not. This is a critical issue to consider because medications, devices, surgeries and supplies that are covered in your home country may not be covered in your destination country. You should also be aware that a number of medications are covered by your health maintenance organization while others are not. This is another reason to thoroughly review the coverage offered to you.
If you have pre-existing conditions, the above options will help you protect yourself in the case of an unexpected or unforeseen illness or accident. When it comes time to travel, do your research and evaluate the many options before committing to a travel health insurance policy.
By keeping a detailed medical record, a high quality insurance plan can give you peace of mind. Keeping good health records and documenting any medical concerns you may have before you leave, can help to avoid problems later.
There are so many different types of policies that are available, you need to carefully review each policy in detail. Do your homework and research the different types and providers. Ask your doctor about which type of plan is best for you, and how many years they would like to cover. While you are shopping, also ask to see the different levels of coverage and what benefits are included in each policy.
Before you buy a travel health insurance plan, take the time to research it fully and to find the plan that is right for you. Then follow the instructions that accompany the policy to the letter.
