From my boys over at ISABrokers.com
Adam (our VP) has asked me to give testimonial and I’ll be elated to provide you my brief personal overseas incident…
A lot of US plans will overlook some “key” benefits. If
that US (individual or group) policy is specifically designed to
include overseas medical expenses or has a special provision to do so,
then most likely everything should be fine. If that policy isn't
designed to handle overseas medical expenses, however, then that's where
we come in.
Because our policies are tailored for the special situations encountered during international travel at cost effective rates, they cover the things that most domestic policy often doesn't even consider. I know this from personal experience.
In
2006 I visited Vietnam and contracted a case of spinal meningitis—a
life-threatening infection of my brain and spinal fluid. I almost died
on that trip and had to be air evacuated to a hospital that could help
me.
At
the time, I had a BlueCross BlueShield policy at home in the US, but
discovered—before my trip, thankfully—that overseas benefits were
extremely limited and should an emergency happen I would be expected to
pay the lion's share of the costs. So I purchased a travel medical
policy before I left, just in case.
My policy covered key expenses that my BlueCross plan didn't even consider:
1. My medical evacuation. The average cost for an air evacuation is between $15,000 and $50,000 and I have seen instances where it's as high as $1 million. My BlueCross BlueShield plan would have reimbursed me a portion of the cost of the air evacuation, but that would have meant I would have had to paid the full amount out of pocket at the time I was evacuated. My evacuation cost was over $10K. Thankfully, my travel medical insurance covered the entire cost outright.
2. Translation services. Since my doctors didn't speak English, my travel medical insurance covered the cost of a certified translator—a cost that my BlueCross plan would not cover.
3. Repatriation of mortal remains. Thankfully, I didn't die on my trip, but had I, the average cost to bring my body back to the US would have been between $5,000 and $20,000. My travel medical plan would have paid this cost in full; my BlueCross plan would not cover this.
4. Emergency reunion. My travel medical policy would have paid to fly one of my immediate family members to my hospital bedside; BlueCross would not have covered this cost.
1. My medical evacuation. The average cost for an air evacuation is between $15,000 and $50,000 and I have seen instances where it's as high as $1 million. My BlueCross BlueShield plan would have reimbursed me a portion of the cost of the air evacuation, but that would have meant I would have had to paid the full amount out of pocket at the time I was evacuated. My evacuation cost was over $10K. Thankfully, my travel medical insurance covered the entire cost outright.
2. Translation services. Since my doctors didn't speak English, my travel medical insurance covered the cost of a certified translator—a cost that my BlueCross plan would not cover.
3. Repatriation of mortal remains. Thankfully, I didn't die on my trip, but had I, the average cost to bring my body back to the US would have been between $5,000 and $20,000. My travel medical plan would have paid this cost in full; my BlueCross plan would not cover this.
4. Emergency reunion. My travel medical policy would have paid to fly one of my immediate family members to my hospital bedside; BlueCross would not have covered this cost.
As
you can see, international travel brings with it special situations
that domestic health insurance plans aren't designed to handle. I pray
nothing life-threatening happens to you while you're in Ireland, but in
case it does, I want you to be prepared.
So I recommend our Atlas Travel (individual short trip plan) or other ISA’s plans for groups or individuals…I hope this helps
AARON BATES
Client Advisor and Plan Specialist
INSURANCE SERVICES OF AMERICA
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