Fall is a great time to travel abroad, especially because you can avoid the high prices of summer, but what most people don’t realize is that your health insurance doesn’t travel with you when you leave the country. If something happens, it can turn a dream vacation into an expensive nightmare. A 2022 survey found that nearly 1 in 4 Americans have faced health issues while traveling abroad. It can be difficult to get timely help from your health insurance in your home country, and your policy may not even cover you abroad. Most U.S. insurers, including Medicare, offer little to no health coverage outside the country, which can lead to high medical bills if you do need care. To protect yourself, Consumer Reports recommends considering a travel health insurance policy. These plans can cost less than $100 per trip, depending on the provider and what’s covered. Make sure to shop around. Websites like InsureMyTrip and Squaremouth make it easy to compare policies. Choose a provider that is highly rated by the Better Business Bureau and AM Best, a credit rating agency for insurance companies. Before you buy, check exclusions, coverage limits, and deductibles. Make sure the plan covers all pre-existing conditions and prescriptions. It’s also a good idea to have a policy that covers medical evacuation, especially if you’re traveling to remote areas with limited access to major hospitals. Now that you’ve purchased insurance, don’t forget to check the expiration date on your passport. Many countries require it to be valid for at least six months beyond your travel date. Normal processing takes six to eight weeks by mail, but you can expedite it for an additional fee. Make an in-person appointment if you need to travel internationally within 14 days.
Fall is a great time to travel abroad — especially because you can avoid the high prices of summer — but most people don't realize that your health insurance doesn't travel with you when you leave the country.
If something happens, a dream vacation can turn into an expensive nightmare.
A 2022 survey found that nearly one in four Americans have faced health issues while traveling abroad.
It can be difficult to get quick help from your health insurance in your home country, and your insurance policy may not even cover you abroad.
Most U.S. insurers, including Medicare, offer little to no medical coverage outside the country, which can result in high medical bills if you need care.
To protect yourself, Consumer Reports recommends considering a travel medical insurance policy. These plans can cost less than $100 per trip, depending on the provider and what is covered.
Be sure to compare prices. Websites like Insure my trip And Square mouth Make it easy to compare different insurance policies. Choose a provider with a good rating from the Better Business Bureau and AM Best, a credit rating agency for insurance companies.
Before you buy, check the exclusions, coverage limits and deductibles. Check that the plan covers all pre-existing conditions and prescriptions.
It's also a good idea to have an insurance policy that covers medical evacuation, especially if you're traveling to remote areas with limited access to major hospitals.
Now that you have insurance, don’t forget to check the expiration date on your passport. Many countries require it to be valid for at least six months beyond your travel date. Normal processing takes six to eight weeks by mail, but you can expedite the process for an additional fee. Make an appointment in person if you need to travel abroad within 14 days.
