travelinwifey

Yes, we just purchased travel insurance for the first time since we are travling with my 77 year old FIL and 69 year old MIL.

This is through CSA travel insurance and it covers pre-existing medical conditions, emergency medical expenses, emergency transportation, trip delay, and lost/stolen baggage.

MIL fell when we were in France and had to use a wheelchair the rest of the vacation, so this time we are cautious though I'm sure we will be just fine

onthegogo

Thanks everyone for sharing your information, thoughts and ideas on travel insurance......We definitely from now on are going to purchase the out of country health/evaculation coverage. Happy travelling!

FainaAgain

My absolutely heatlthy then 19-year-old son got flu in Germany and was admitted to a hospital. I was so glad I called my business health insurance company to confirm the whole family has the worldwide coverage.

At that time we had Cigna. He had to pay out of pocket, brought all papers from the hospital, and we got reimbursed 100%.

Now I have Blue Cross - supposedly I won't need to pay out of pocket, just show the card in case of emergency.

I strongly advise to get emergency coverage, you never know what may happen.

h2babe

Mine also covers out of the country service (BC/BS). Fortunately, I havent had to use it, but they have a direct access # I can call from outside the US for any visits in the foreign country. And or outpatients/emergency room visits, I just need to send in my paperwork and they will reimburse me. And I requested paperwork to be mailed to me for my file.

I have never thought about getting insurance myself until this year. My friend got married in Jamaica this past February and her grandpa had to be admitted to the hospital toward the end of our trip. He's 87, so he was not in the best health condition, but anyways, the treatment and medication and the overnight stay at the hospital etc cost them at least US$2000. I think he might had gotten too tired or too much sun, not sure his exact conditons.

So after seeing what happened, when I came back to the US, I called my insurance and got info on *my* coverage. Although I am 27 and in a great physical condition, it definitely gives me a peace of mind knowing that I have that insurance to cover me in case some unfortunate event happens. Good luck and happy travels!

anitabelle

WoW! This is so incredible how many of you really look into medical insurance! We have so many patients from out of the country not having insurance that they are having to pay full! Some countries do waiver the costs but other countries do not, so getting a travelers insurance is a smart way to do it even if your husband,wife are physicians! Very smart! Just remember to bring the medicines with the label bottles!
Anita

Underhill

After a quick scan through this thread I'm not sure whether someone mentioned

insuremytrip.com

There you can get excellent comparisons of coverage and prices, and customer service is excellent--someone called me within an hour of my submitting a query by e-mail.

Seamus

2 things -
Yes, I do get travel insurance, usually through www.insuremytrip.com, usually a basic policy for trip cancellation and the small but very expensive possibility of needing medical evacuation,
and the other thing -
PLEASE remember that your BC BS is generally not the same as anyone else's BC BS (unless you are on the exact same group policy, as when you work for the same employer). So if you have a concern, do NOT assume that what someone posts here also applies to you, even if the carrier is the same. The ONLY thing that determines your benefits is the certificate of coverage ("COC&quot that is specific to each group plan. The ONLY way to know what, if any, coverage you have when traveling is to review your COC. You usually receive a description of coverage when you begin a policy, or you can request a copy from your plan. Do NOT rely on a verbal response from someone working customer service at your plan - ask them to send you written confirmation.

John329

Best advice is to check with both your health insurance company and with your credit card company for the rental car coverage. Most traditional group medical insurance plans will provide coverage outside the USA however, some of the newer type plans, like HMO's and PPO's may restrict coverage, sometimes to only emergency life threatening conditions. Likewise not all credit cards provide rental car coverage. If you find that you need coverage there are a couple of travel insurance comparison sites that do a good job; worldtravelcenter.com, quotewright.com, and insuremytrip.com.

Susan33

We have been buying travel insurance for each of our trips. So far, we have not had to use the insurance, but we feel better knowing we are covered.

My question is: Is there insurance available for multiple trips rather than single trips?

sandi

Susan33 -

Yes there is insurance for multiple travel. Consider regular business travelers, news people, photographers, others whose life has them continually on the go. While many of these folks are covered by business insurance, there are companies who do provide for individual travelers.

I'm not sure which company covers for "comprehensive" insurance - interuption/cancellation, baggage delays/lost, flight delays, medical, evacuation, etc. - but I know that MedJetAssist offers an annual family policy - about $300. But this is medical evacuation only, though they provide support services e.g., where to get, find, etc. And I believe, SOS International offers annual policies of some sort.

Check www.insuremytrip.com - contact some of the insurers (Access America, Travel Guard, CSA, etc.) listed and see what they have to offer.

Susan33

Sandi, thanks for the information. I'll do some checking on companies.

John329

Concerning the annual coverages; Travel Guard, Access America, Travelex, and HTH all offer annual travel insurance plans. Some are "comprehensive" plans that offer trip cancellation/interruption coverage as well as medical expense. Make sure you look at them closely because they tend to have fewer covered reasons than per trip policies. Do your homework. You can get a good idea of per trip plans that are available by going to quotewright.com, worldtravelcenter.com, or insuremytrip.com and comparing the benefit limits and wording. Only one of these sites, quotewright.com allows you to compare benefit wording on a side by side basis. The other sites only give you the wording on a popup basis.

pat

I never used to get it, but when we were in Russia, my neice`s husband was killed in a traffic accident back home in Phoenix. She did have travel insurance, and used it to get home. Since then, I get it too, as it really doesn`t cost that much and you never know whatr will happen.

geraldineb

Hi , I always buy the insurance through travel guard insurance.They have several policies. Get a copy of each before you put a deposite down on any trip. Read through all Insurance coverages and decide which you want. You can get pre-existing conditions covered if you buy within a certain time period. These insurance for a pretty reasonable price ( I think) cover travel insurance for air, hotel, etc. they cover medical and emergency dental, if some one gets sick or ills in the party t will send a relative over. It also has evacuation of a body in case of death. It will also send you to the closest hospital that specializes in burn or other severe problems. if your traveling companion gets ill or some problem you can cancel your trip and they will get you back. I have had to make two claims on my policies, my father had to make one claim, my sister had to make two claims. We have found them to be very good to have.

francophile03

But keep in mind(if I'm understanding this correctly) that Travel Guard and other ins. companies won't cover you for that trip interruption or medical evacuation if you've got a preexisting condition and the trip was interrupted by those preexisting conditions. However, they will do so provided you purchase the insurance from the time you pay for your trip.

yeadonite

The trouble with preexisting condition is what does it mean? If you have high blood pressure (as many seniors do) but have it under control but have something happen on your trip ie a stroke is that covered? I tend not to trust insurance comapnies.