What You Need To Know About Holiday Medical Insurance

July 25th, 2007 Posted in Holiday Medical Insurance

Many of the health insurance companies will offer limited if any cover to you when travelling on holiday. Many companies also cover only care from certain providers in a specific area. If this is the case, then you may need holiday medical insurance. There are different types of cover which can be provided, including medical care, hospital stays, as well as transportation or evacuation to an appropriate medical facility.

When Do I Need Holiday Medical Insurance?

There are several reasons why it may be especially important for you to get holiday medical insurance. If you are from a country that provides managed health care, but only within the country, then you definitely need to insure yourself against potential health problems when you travel abroad. Similarly, if you have private health insurance that only offers coverage at specific regional facilities, holiday medical insurance may be necessary for you to protect yourself from catastrophic medical disasters.

If you have an existing medical condition, such as diabetes or asthma, it might be a good idea to get extra insurance cover for this. In the event that your condition acts up, you want to ensure that you will be able to get the care you need immediately.

Lastly, if you are going to be travelling to an area of the world with generally poor overall medical care, holiday medical insurance may be a very good investment. Even if you are able to get coverage for regional medical care, you are not likely to be able to get your health insurance company to cover transportation or evacuation to a medical facility should you find yourself far from one.

Where Can I Purchase Holiday Medical Insurance?

Holiday medical insurance can be purchased from a variety of independent insurance companies and agents. It is not always a good idea to purchase insurance from a travel agent or from a tour company, as you can often find better rates and coverage elsewhere. Shop around to get a good rate and make sure to read all the details on your policy to make sure it covers everything that you’ll need. Often the small print will include crucial exclusions and exceptions.

What Should I Look For In a Holiday Medical Insurance Policy?

The level of cover required will differ from person to person, but generally speaking, your plan should cover any existing health conditions you may have, major medical expenses in the event of an emergency as well as transportation to and from medical facilities. The last point is especially important if you are travelling to a part of the world where there is poor medical coverage or civil unrest. In the event of an emergency, proper transport to an appropriate facility can be critically important.