Travel insurance for countries w/ State Dept. travel warnings
Dec 7th, 2007, 12:07 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 744
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Travel insurance for countries w/ State Dept. travel warnings
I am just wondering whether it's a general rule that such countries are excluded from U.S. travel insurance plans? It hadn't even occurred to me last time I traveled but I have heard they can bury a clause saying that in the fine print. Is that usually the case, or are there plans that don't? [Of course before I buy any specific plan I will make sure, but I'm just seeking confirmation that they exist before I start poring over details.]
thanks!
thanks!
Dec 7th, 2007, 12:35 PM
#3
Last year we had travel insurance that was voided by the Canadian government travel advisory after the New Year's Eve bombings in Bangkok.................we did go but I was really careful this year to read the fine print of another insurer's policy and speak to them directly to ensure we would be covered.
Net net - I would check very carefully.
Net net - I would check very carefully.
Dec 7th, 2007, 01:15 PM
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 744
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Cruisinred I'm not referring to he general crime statements (which are just called "info sheets"
but rather "travel warnings" which mean the State Dept. is advising not to go to a particular country. Very few countries are on that list, but Indonesia and the Philippines, where I hope to visit, are.
I am worried about exactly what Elisabeth describes.
So Elisabeth, it sounds like you're dealing w/ Canadian insurance cos. which might be different, but you were able to find one that covers countries w/ govt. travel warnings? That's encouraging.
but rather "travel warnings" which mean the State Dept. is advising not to go to a particular country. Very few countries are on that list, but Indonesia and the Philippines, where I hope to visit, are.I am worried about exactly what Elisabeth describes.
So Elisabeth, it sounds like you're dealing w/ Canadian insurance cos. which might be different, but you were able to find one that covers countries w/ govt. travel warnings? That's encouraging.
Dec 7th, 2007, 08:22 PM
#7
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,790
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I live in Indonesia and interact with dozens of business travelers every year. Mostly they have US, Asian or European passports, though I'm sure we've had a Canadian or two as well.
The subject of insurance and travel advisories comes up perennially but I've never had any one actually not come for that reason.
It should be fairly easy to obtain health and evacuation insurance for Indonesia from an international organization that specializes in covering travelers. Try SOS, for example.
The subject of insurance and travel advisories comes up perennially but I've never had any one actually not come for that reason.
It should be fairly easy to obtain health and evacuation insurance for Indonesia from an international organization that specializes in covering travelers. Try SOS, for example.
Dec 11th, 2007, 05:40 AM
#11
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We just returned from a trip to Indonesia (Bali) last week. We had purchased travel insurance from Access America via insuremytrip.com Our coverage included evacuation and trip cancellation. I can't say that I read all of the fine print, but I just did a word search on the policy (on words like state and warning), and I found no clause like the one you described.
Dec 11th, 2007, 05:45 AM
#12
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 33,288
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The only insurance I carry is med evac. I don't carry medical (my own medical insurance covers urgent care in foreign countries) and I don't carry trip cancellation etc.
The med evac insurance does not have restrictions about countries with travel warnings.
The med evac insurance does not have restrictions about countries with travel warnings.
Dec 11th, 2007, 11:31 AM
#13
I used to use Travel Guard US (because they waive the pre existing medical condition clause if you buy insurance within 7 days of booking/paying for the trip) - I just looked at their website site and you actually specify your destination......it gave a quote for Sri Lanka. I also looked at the policy and they have a separate rider you can buy for Terrorism.....maybe that overrides anything? Worth having a look at them.
(They eventually opened an office in Canada that doesn't waive the preexisting condition and I couldn't buy from the US arm after that - rats!)
And yes, I was able to find another Canadian insurer who didn't have that clause - but I called to confirm it as well.
(They eventually opened an office in Canada that doesn't waive the preexisting condition and I couldn't buy from the US arm after that - rats!)
And yes, I was able to find another Canadian insurer who didn't have that clause - but I called to confirm it as well.
Dec 11th, 2007, 12:05 PM
#14
Glad you posted this question.
I use International SOS. I know that there is less expensive coverage, but this is the company that my employer uses to insure employees when they are traveling to foreign countries. This is a big, global, company and they tend to have good benefits. The fact that this company uses International SOS is a big endorsement for me. I haven't used their services yet, but am confident that they will come thru.
I've been meaning to contact them to see if I can get an employee discount. I finally sent them an e-mail just now asking about that and about what countries might be excluded from coverage for what reasons. I will post back here when I find out.
I use International SOS. I know that there is less expensive coverage, but this is the company that my employer uses to insure employees when they are traveling to foreign countries. This is a big, global, company and they tend to have good benefits. The fact that this company uses International SOS is a big endorsement for me. I haven't used their services yet, but am confident that they will come thru.
I've been meaning to contact them to see if I can get an employee discount. I finally sent them an e-mail just now asking about that and about what countries might be excluded from coverage for what reasons. I will post back here when I find out.
Dec 11th, 2007, 09:06 PM
#15
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 7,689
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Having seen your other posts, if you intend to live in Cambodia or Cairo and want to buy "travel insurance" for trips you want to take from those countries, I would suggest that you wait until you get there, and buy insurance while resident in those countries. It is SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper than buying trip insurance from any insurer as a US resident. I bought travel insurance for a cruise I took in August, through the Hong Kong Amex plan but with my US Amex card, and paid US$75 for US$10,000 of coverage (medical and 100% cover for trip cancellation). Had I lived in the US and tried to buy the same coverage through US Amex, I would have paid something over US$500.
However, "trip cancellation" coverage pays for the entire cost of a cancelled trip, including airline tickets, hotels (and in my case the cruise fare). I am not sure that this is what you want for your intended long-stay.
If you want just health insurance to cover you while living abroad and don't want or need the "trip cancellation insurance", then you could look into "traveler's health" insurance that will provide major medical coverage (and in some cases evacuation costs) for you when you are outside the US. Traveller's health insurance is generally not cancelled due to riots, etc, only "trip insurance" is; there is a big difference between the types of policies. This is generally not expensive as you aren't using US medical facilities. (It often will cover you for stays of up to 30 days in the US.) You can buy this on a monthly or longer basis. I have not had this type of coverage in more than 15 years myself, but some places to start to look might be the tips put together by the US State Dept at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/...ures_1215.html or these companies http://www.travelguard.com/
http://www.worldwidemedical.com/travel.htm or http://www.nyig.com/. Also ask your current health insurance company if they provide it. Again, this would not pay for your air tickets if you had a cancel a trip, but would pay for major medical expenses if you are injured or get sick abroad. It's good coverage for someone like you who plans to be abroad for a while
I have SOS coverage through my company, I believe it is fairly expensive and may be more coverage than you need. Our company also provides a major medical health plan for ordinary health care needs, the SOS is really the additinal for emergency servcies while we are traveling from home, again, this may not be what you need, as it may NOT cover you in your "resident" country of Cambodia or Cairo. Read the plan.
However, "trip cancellation" coverage pays for the entire cost of a cancelled trip, including airline tickets, hotels (and in my case the cruise fare). I am not sure that this is what you want for your intended long-stay.
If you want just health insurance to cover you while living abroad and don't want or need the "trip cancellation insurance", then you could look into "traveler's health" insurance that will provide major medical coverage (and in some cases evacuation costs) for you when you are outside the US. Traveller's health insurance is generally not cancelled due to riots, etc, only "trip insurance" is; there is a big difference between the types of policies. This is generally not expensive as you aren't using US medical facilities. (It often will cover you for stays of up to 30 days in the US.) You can buy this on a monthly or longer basis. I have not had this type of coverage in more than 15 years myself, but some places to start to look might be the tips put together by the US State Dept at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/...ures_1215.html or these companies http://www.travelguard.com/
http://www.worldwidemedical.com/travel.htm or http://www.nyig.com/. Also ask your current health insurance company if they provide it. Again, this would not pay for your air tickets if you had a cancel a trip, but would pay for major medical expenses if you are injured or get sick abroad. It's good coverage for someone like you who plans to be abroad for a while
I have SOS coverage through my company, I believe it is fairly expensive and may be more coverage than you need. Our company also provides a major medical health plan for ordinary health care needs, the SOS is really the additinal for emergency servcies while we are traveling from home, again, this may not be what you need, as it may NOT cover you in your "resident" country of Cambodia or Cairo. Read the plan.
Dec 11th, 2007, 09:34 PM
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 744
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for all the replies--I am definitely a little confused though. You're right Cicerone I will be living in either Phnom Penh or Cairo for about a year, neither of which is subject to a State Dept. travel warning. I wanted to stop in Philippines or Indonesia on the way there which is why this question came back.
I basically want coverage that would evacuate me from wherever I am should I need some sort of major surgery. I have been warned by people here that health care isn't great in Cambodia, sounds better in Egypt but I think either way I want to be flown home to my family if I get into some sort of accident or illness. Does that mean I shouldn't be looking for travel insurance? I don't care about the trip cancellation coverage. I just want to ensure I have good medical in case something happens while I'm abroad, and I don't want my coverage where I'm working to be invalidated b/c I travel to a "warned against" country!
I hope that makes sense...this insurance stuff is so much more confusing than it should be. I used insuremytrip.com last time and really got the feeling speaking to them on the phone that they tell you what you want to hear, they aren't very helpful when it comes to fine-print questions.
thanks for all the help!
mp413
I basically want coverage that would evacuate me from wherever I am should I need some sort of major surgery. I have been warned by people here that health care isn't great in Cambodia, sounds better in Egypt but I think either way I want to be flown home to my family if I get into some sort of accident or illness. Does that mean I shouldn't be looking for travel insurance? I don't care about the trip cancellation coverage. I just want to ensure I have good medical in case something happens while I'm abroad, and I don't want my coverage where I'm working to be invalidated b/c I travel to a "warned against" country!
I hope that makes sense...this insurance stuff is so much more confusing than it should be. I used insuremytrip.com last time and really got the feeling speaking to them on the phone that they tell you what you want to hear, they aren't very helpful when it comes to fine-print questions.
thanks for all the help!
mp413
Dec 11th, 2007, 11:36 PM
#17
I think that what you are looking for is described here: http://tinyurl.com/ysxv7a
That membership is an "assistance" package that includes evacuation and repatriation coverage. They also sell, as options, trip cancellation insurance and coverage for medical expenses. They have an office and a clinic in Pnom Penh (there is a webpage describing the services at the clinic) and "alarm centers" in Bangkok and HCMC.
SOS might not be for you but I think their webpage provides a decent description of their coverage to compare them against other providers as you shop around (which I didn't do since the prices for a short trip were ok with me).
That membership is an "assistance" package that includes evacuation and repatriation coverage. They also sell, as options, trip cancellation insurance and coverage for medical expenses. They have an office and a clinic in Pnom Penh (there is a webpage describing the services at the clinic) and "alarm centers" in Bangkok and HCMC.
SOS might not be for you but I think their webpage provides a decent description of their coverage to compare them against other providers as you shop around (which I didn't do since the prices for a short trip were ok with me).
Dec 12th, 2007, 01:23 AM
#18
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,790
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
mp413, I don't know anything about health care in Cambodia or Egypt, but I can tell you how it works in Jakarta. I have a comprehensive policy with SOS that covers both access to a local clinic for minor ailments and evacuation insurance for major problems.
You should note how evacuation insurance works: The insuring party is the one who determines if you need to be evacuated and they do not necessarily send you to your home country. In Indonesia (and I would think in Cambodia) they would send you to Singapore.
I ALSO have an international health insurance policy which I would use if I needed serious, but non-emergency, health care, like an operation.
Usually the local policies are country specific, i.e. my SOS Indonesia policy only covers me in Indonesia. If I travel to another country where health care is dodgy I would use my international policy.
If you are working abroad most likely your employer would pick up the expense of health insurance in the country that you are assigned to. If the additional travel were work related your employer should be responsible for evacuation insurance as well. If personal, maybe not.
You should note how evacuation insurance works: The insuring party is the one who determines if you need to be evacuated and they do not necessarily send you to your home country. In Indonesia (and I would think in Cambodia) they would send you to Singapore.
I ALSO have an international health insurance policy which I would use if I needed serious, but non-emergency, health care, like an operation.
Usually the local policies are country specific, i.e. my SOS Indonesia policy only covers me in Indonesia. If I travel to another country where health care is dodgy I would use my international policy.
If you are working abroad most likely your employer would pick up the expense of health insurance in the country that you are assigned to. If the additional travel were work related your employer should be responsible for evacuation insurance as well. If personal, maybe not.
Dec 13th, 2007, 08:46 AM
#19
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Last yr I faced the ins. problem going to Indonesia. I found that Visa had exactly what I was looking for - health and accident, but amazingly, they also had a claus that they WOULD pay a certain amount in the case of terrorism. Many business org.s I belong to and all my banks offer ins. but all with the killer clause, so Visa is hero in this case.
Dec 13th, 2007, 02:48 PM
#20
SOS answered my 2 questions right away:
1) It is possible to get a 20% discount on membership. They are actually going to credit my cc with the 20% discount for membership for an upcoming trip that I had already paid for.
2) Their answer to what countries are covered:
"We provide coverage in every country in the world. The only four countries that you have to pay a specific fee for coverage in are Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and North Korea."
1) It is possible to get a 20% discount on membership. They are actually going to credit my cc with the 20% discount for membership for an upcoming trip that I had already paid for.
2) Their answer to what countries are covered:
"We provide coverage in every country in the world. The only four countries that you have to pay a specific fee for coverage in are Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and North Korea."
