Roy Safaris mandates that tourists have a medical insurance. They've recommended I sign up with the flying doctors locally in Tanzania.

Does anyone have any suggestions for medical insurance? I have Blue Cross of California for the US - ofcourse it doesnt extend to Tanzania..

They probably mean medical insurance that's part of a traveler's insurance package. We've used TravelInsured and Travelex. Go to www.insuremytrip.com and fill out the generic "what do you want" fields. They will show you a multitude of products. Or search this site for "insurance". There a million opinions and ways to do it.

Make sure that you clearly understand what benefits are offered to you in any package. Some of the descriptions can be vague. It pays to call and talk to someone before you pull the trigger and buy over the internet.

Jim

Call Blue Cross to make sure that your policy doesn't have provisions for emergency coverage in other countries. Our Blue Cross policy did.

Are you sure you're not covered by Blue Cross outside of the US? Do they mean medical or evacuation coverage?

Roy Safari's asked us for insurance cards as well. I assumed it was because we were going to Kilimanjaro which is a bit high risk. I did not get any additional insurance coverage [I've traveled the world extensively and never gotten additional coverage] and nothing was said to me in country about it. To me it's all a matter of how risk averse you are.

While BC/BS might cover you for medical bills outside of the States, you also have to consider evacuation coverage, which I'm sure BC/BS doesn't cover.

And, while a number of travelers have never before considered trip insurance, most visits to Africa are prepaid, so it's a good idea to insure your investment.

You don't necessarily have to be older or ill for medical; young people can/do get ill, have accidents and should be covered "just in case." Likewise, after paying for your trip, there maybe a need to cancel or midway thru your visit, have to interrupt your adventure.

Yes, insurance is an added expense, but I no longer chance traveling without it. Not, even if only flying off to Europe.

Check www.insuremytrip.com others have used a combination of STA w/ Medjet. There are a number of options out there to fit every traveler.

Concerning Blue Cross insurance; remember you will have to pay out of pocket for all costs to be reimubrsed later by BC; the hospitals overseas are not going to accept your insurance and bill BC. Also, typically they will reimburse you for the usual and customary cost of a procedure and you are responsible for the difference if any; you have already paid it out of pocket. So, with BC overseas you have some coverage but not the same as being insured by BC at home; your costs can still be significant.

tanz_2007, did you simply present your bluecross card as proof of insurance?

Yes, they asked for our passports and insurance cards to make copies. I did not mean to imply I have BC I have Aetna insurance. They cover out of country costs like any out of network service and I am quite okay with that so I would not and did not purchase any additional insurance. I agree with the other posts that insurance is such a personal choice that everyone has to evalute thier own situation.