Is Travel Health Insurance Worth It on International Trips?

There are so many thrilling experiences one might have on an international trip. Travelling abroad, however, also carries several health risks and other problems. Travel health insurance is fundamental in safeguarding against medical emergencies and other unexpected health costs. Still, is it worth investing in when planning an international trip?

In this article, we will discuss the importance of travel health insurance, what it offers, and how it can give you peace of mind while travelling abroad.

What Is Travel Health Insurance?

Travel health insurance is unique insurance that covers medical emergencies arising when travelling abroad. It may include illnesses, accidents, or other health situations that must be treated as quickly as possible by a doctor. Such insurance policy is quite different from routine health insurance, as it aims to protect you while you are in another country with relatively little or expensive health care available.

Why Travel Health Insurance is Worth It

Medical Expenses Abroad

Some countries, particularly those with private health systems, are extremely expensive. Visiting the emergency room in places like the United States or Europe might cost thousands of dollars just for a one-night stay in a hospital. Travel medical insurance will reimburse for unexpected costs from a traveller’s medical bills.

Medical Repatriation and Medical Evacuation

Travel health insurance generally covers evacuations if there is a severe medical condition or some kind of emergency, such as an accident that would need special treatment or an illness. The evacuation ensures that you can be taken to a hospital with a facility for treatment or returned to your country if the requirement is met. Sometimes, the cost of evacuation is very high, and evacuation coverage is an important ingredient of international travel insurance.

Peace of Mind While Travelling

Whenever you travel outside your borders, especially to areas you’ve never been to before, you certainly do not want to rack your brain over what could happen if you fall ill or get hurt. Travel health insurance brings you comfort because you will receive care if anything happens, but you will not be burdened by the costs. Thus, you can enjoy your trip without constant stress regarding the risk of health complications.

Emergency Services Cover

Some travel health insurance policies cover more than the services of hospitalisation. The several services include emergency treatment for outpatient care.

What Does Travel Health Insurance Cover?

Medical Coverage

Travel health insurance can also cover any emergency hospitalisation, surgery, or treatment because of some illness or injury. Cover for outpatient care, day-care procedures, and medical evacuation is available in case local treatment facilities are inadequate. In the event of death, repatriation of remains is covered as well, and some policies even cover compassionate visits wherein a family member can travel and be with you during long hospitalisation.

Belongings Coverage

Losing your stuff is very stressful, especially when travelling abroad. International travel insurance covers luggage that is lost, stolen, or damaged. Compensation is also extended to delayed luggage when it takes a little longer than anticipated so that you can buy your essentials as you wait for it. It protects important travel documents such as your passport so that in case you lose one, money is reimbursed to get another.

Trip Coverage

No matter how prudent you are, unexpected events could happen on your trip and cause financial loss. Travel health insurance provides payouts for cancellations, flight delays, and missed connections because of illness, potential airline strikes, or bad weather. If you lose your important passport accidentally, it will pay for the cost of obtaining a replacement one. It also ensures that your advance payments for flights and accommodations are protected from last-minute disruptions.

Do We Need Travel Health Insurance?

For most travellers, travel health insurance is a minimal expense compared to the potential financial burden of a medical emergency abroad. Whether it be as minor as an accident or as serious a health issue, unpredictability is what travel is known for; hence, having coverage is a smart investment. Travellers could face enormous bills for medical treatment, hospital stays, or even evacuation if they do not have insurance.

Some countries require international travel insurance as a precondition to entering the country. So, if you do not have any, the consequences may be denial of entry or other problems. Even though it is not necessary, that kind of insurance ensures that you do not face any health-related issues during your visit.

Which Travel Health Insurance Policy to Choose

The most important considerations for choosing a travel health insurance policy are:

Destination: Medical fees and health care differ by country. So, you need to choose with higher coverage limits if you are visiting a country with costly health care, like the U.S. or Japan.
Policy Duration: Choose a plan that covers the entire duration of your trip. Annual plans are best if you travel frequently.
Activity Level: Your trip will be intense, depending on your activities. Ensure you check a policy that covers skiing, scuba diving, or hiking, as most basic plans exclude such activities.
Coverage Amount: The limit available for medical care costs, emergency evacuation, and repatriation should be checked to ascertain whether it covers one’s requirements.

Conclusion

Travel health insurance, while seemingly a good idea to travel abroad, is actually necessary. All these issues – the high cost of treatments, hidden health risks, and complex workings of an alien healthcare structure – can easily throw your ability to recover financially into a tizzy, which surely is less possible when done under the right insurance cover. Whichever may be the duration of your stay abroad – a short holiday or a long visa tour – it is international travel insurance that gets you complete protection so you can travel with absolute confidence, knowing help is going to be there at the worst possible moment.

Author Profile

Adam Regan: Deputy Editor

Features and account management. 3 years media experience. Previously covered features for online and print editions.

Email Adam@MarkMeets.com