Medical Insurance Requirement by Czech Rep.
Jan 14th, 2006, 03:35 PM
#21
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Greetings, just joined this board, as I'm researching a trip to Prague/Budapest. The insurance issue is very timely for me, as my son is leaving on Thursday for a 4 month study program in Prague. He applied for his student visa in early/mid-November, when the instructions mentioned nothing about providing proof of medical insurance. This past Monday, 9 days before he was scheduled to leave, he got a letter from the Czech consulate saying that while his visa was approved, he needed to provide the proof of medical insurance. They enclosed a detailed list of what they would accept as proof: in short (a) an insurance card plus a brochure from the insurance company with specific items highlighted, or (b) an original letter, on letterhead, from the insurance company affirming name, policy number, coverage dates, specific coverages, etc.
My husband works for a large corporation, and getting the proper proof turned out to be a bit of an ordeal. The insurance company would send us nothing of substance, and said we'd have to contact his benefits office. Six or seven people later, I finally got someone to help, in the form of a letter outlining precisely the coverage that the consulate's letter said was required. Armed with only the insurance card and a faxed, not original, letter from the benefits office, not the insurance company, my son and I went to the Czech consulate in New York (thank goodness we live nearby!) with the hopes that these 2 things would be sufficient.
I'm happy to report they were - he walked out with his visa in just under 2 hours. No one questioned what we had brought.
The one item that many people might have trouble with is the evacuation/repatriation coverage. When I was talking with the insurance company directly, I was told by 2 people that our policy did not cover those. I was able to easily find coverage on the internet - internationalstudentinsurance.com - for about $100 for 6 months. You don't need to be a student - they have family coverage as well. As it turns out, our benefits office will cover those items, and our letter stated as much.
Reading this board for the first time, I'm surprised that this is now required of all travelers - at least we now know who to go to to get the proper proof. Good luck to everyone else, and happy travels!
My husband works for a large corporation, and getting the proper proof turned out to be a bit of an ordeal. The insurance company would send us nothing of substance, and said we'd have to contact his benefits office. Six or seven people later, I finally got someone to help, in the form of a letter outlining precisely the coverage that the consulate's letter said was required. Armed with only the insurance card and a faxed, not original, letter from the benefits office, not the insurance company, my son and I went to the Czech consulate in New York (thank goodness we live nearby!) with the hopes that these 2 things would be sufficient.
I'm happy to report they were - he walked out with his visa in just under 2 hours. No one questioned what we had brought.
The one item that many people might have trouble with is the evacuation/repatriation coverage. When I was talking with the insurance company directly, I was told by 2 people that our policy did not cover those. I was able to easily find coverage on the internet - internationalstudentinsurance.com - for about $100 for 6 months. You don't need to be a student - they have family coverage as well. As it turns out, our benefits office will cover those items, and our letter stated as much.
Reading this board for the first time, I'm surprised that this is now required of all travelers - at least we now know who to go to to get the proper proof. Good luck to everyone else, and happy travels!
Jan 16th, 2006, 02:53 AM
#22
I tried finding the web site mentioned by the person in the prvious post but all I get is a red Hat Test Page.
I work for a very large company and getting any kind of information is almost impossible.
In any evet, it appears repatriation isn't covered.
I decided to investigate taking the easy way and purchasing emergency medical travel coverage and evacuation insurance for 15 days. We are both between the ages of 60-65.
I cam across two companies where the cost appears to be in the $150US range for both for the duration. This may be the lesser of all evils.
I'm really not interested in insuring things like the trip, etc.
The companies are Travel Guard and Intermedical Insurance.
Has anybody heard of or dealt with these companies? Thanks.
I work for a very large company and getting any kind of information is almost impossible.
In any evet, it appears repatriation isn't covered.
I decided to investigate taking the easy way and purchasing emergency medical travel coverage and evacuation insurance for 15 days. We are both between the ages of 60-65.
I cam across two companies where the cost appears to be in the $150US range for both for the duration. This may be the lesser of all evils.
I'm really not interested in insuring things like the trip, etc.
The companies are Travel Guard and Intermedical Insurance.
Has anybody heard of or dealt with these companies? Thanks.
Jan 17th, 2006, 06:45 PM
#24
I have investigated Travelex.
They have a plan that has nothing to do with trip cancellation.
It includes Emerg. Medical (500k), repatriation and lost luggage.
It's under $50 per person (depending on age) for a 2 week trip.
For myself and my wife it will come to under $90.
They have a plan that has nothing to do with trip cancellation.
It includes Emerg. Medical (500k), repatriation and lost luggage.
It's under $50 per person (depending on age) for a 2 week trip.
For myself and my wife it will come to under $90.
Jan 18th, 2006, 11:02 AM
#25
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This from the Dept of State website:
CZECH REPUBLIC - *Passport required. Visa not required for business and tourist stay of up to 90 days. Visa required for employment and extended stays and should be obtained before travel. Must provide proof of sufficient funds and health insurance coverage. If not staying at hotel, motel, hostel, etc. registration at the local police station is required within 3 business days after arrival. For specific requirements, consult the Embassy of the Czech Republic, 3900 Spring of Freedom St., NW, Washington, DC 20008 (202/274-9123) or the nearest Consulate General: Los Angeles, CA (310/473-0889) or New York, NY (212/717-5643). Internet: www.mzv.cz/washington
CZECH REPUBLIC - *Passport required. Visa not required for business and tourist stay of up to 90 days. Visa required for employment and extended stays and should be obtained before travel. Must provide proof of sufficient funds and health insurance coverage. If not staying at hotel, motel, hostel, etc. registration at the local police station is required within 3 business days after arrival. For specific requirements, consult the Embassy of the Czech Republic, 3900 Spring of Freedom St., NW, Washington, DC 20008 (202/274-9123) or the nearest Consulate General: Los Angeles, CA (310/473-0889) or New York, NY (212/717-5643). Internet: www.mzv.cz/washington
Jan 18th, 2006, 11:26 AM
#26
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Myer, I think Travelex is a wellknown company, so that sounds find. (Travelex is pretty big in CR, actually). Even though I really don't need or want any of this insurance, I figured the path of least resistance would be to buy a repatriation-only policy plus emergency medical for about $50 a person for two weeks. At least those are the approximate quotes I got. The criteria are written in reference to travel policies, so that will be easiest if by any chance they ask for it when entering. Regular policies won't even have something like whether it covers $35K or whatever, because regular insurance generally only has lifetime limits or limits on individual services.
I think it will be unusual for any health insurance to cover repatriation in the sense of the remains if you die. The thing I resent is the implicastion that you have to have insurance for that. If I died, I could well afford to pay to have my body shipped home, so why would I buy insurance for something I can afford to pay, that isn't supposed to be why you buy insurance.
I actually did ask Andrea why you had to have insurance if you could prove you had enough money for that and wouldn't a bank or financial statement suffice, but she never did respond to that one. The whole thing is pointless if you have to prove you have at least $35K in coverage if you can prove your estate has a lot more money than that.
I do wonder why they did this; it just seems kind of funny for the CR to do this for every single tourist when other countries don't.
I think it will be unusual for any health insurance to cover repatriation in the sense of the remains if you die. The thing I resent is the implicastion that you have to have insurance for that. If I died, I could well afford to pay to have my body shipped home, so why would I buy insurance for something I can afford to pay, that isn't supposed to be why you buy insurance.
I actually did ask Andrea why you had to have insurance if you could prove you had enough money for that and wouldn't a bank or financial statement suffice, but she never did respond to that one. The whole thing is pointless if you have to prove you have at least $35K in coverage if you can prove your estate has a lot more money than that.
I do wonder why they did this; it just seems kind of funny for the CR to do this for every single tourist when other countries don't.
Jan 18th, 2006, 01:31 PM
#27
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You don't have to be dead to be repatriated. The term more commonly refers to returning an incapacitated person to their land of residence (some policies us the term medical evacuation). If you are seriously disabled, a commercial airliner doesn't have the facilities to carry you, so you have to make arrangements with one of the specialty companies that provide a plane, and flight crew, and a medical crew. Its something few of us could afford, so insurance seems a good idea.
I was a federal employee, and we have our choice of perhaps 20 or 30 health plans. As I plowed through them I found that very few covered medical treatment overseas beyond buying a bandaid, and none included repatriation or medical evacuation. Also, medicare does not cover overseas claims, although I think it might cover Canada and Mexico (I'll check that when I'm older).
My vague recollection is that when I was researching it, I found that some of the policies covered repatriation only to the nearest suited medical facility, not to your home land, so that is something to check into when you are shopping.
I was a federal employee, and we have our choice of perhaps 20 or 30 health plans. As I plowed through them I found that very few covered medical treatment overseas beyond buying a bandaid, and none included repatriation or medical evacuation. Also, medicare does not cover overseas claims, although I think it might cover Canada and Mexico (I'll check that when I'm older).
My vague recollection is that when I was researching it, I found that some of the policies covered repatriation only to the nearest suited medical facility, not to your home land, so that is something to check into when you are shopping.
Jan 18th, 2006, 04:16 PM
#28
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I happened to have gone in and out of CR several times in December 2005 via plane and train and no-one ever mentioned insurance, although I was coincidentally covered by insuremytrip.com. They have several Travelex plans among many others and you can compare every detail.
Jan 18th, 2006, 04:44 PM
#29
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Hmmm -- my kid is going to CR in April with a school orchestra. I've heard nothing about this. Since this is a tour group (ugh) I wonder if they know about it? Not too many kids carry insurance cards!
Jan 19th, 2006, 04:45 PM
#30
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cleveland--Blue Cross covers treatment abroad--it even provides lists of preferred providers.
I checked several private insurers offering medical evacuation/repatriation insurance that have been mentioned on Fodors. When I read the fine print, none of them provided transportation to the victim's home country unless treatment was not available someplace closer.
I didn't check them all, but I would suspect it might take the services of a very good lawyer to actually get transportation back home.
I checked several private insurers offering medical evacuation/repatriation insurance that have been mentioned on Fodors. When I read the fine print, none of them provided transportation to the victim's home country unless treatment was not available someplace closer.
I didn't check them all, but I would suspect it might take the services of a very good lawyer to actually get transportation back home.
Jan 20th, 2006, 12:00 PM
#32
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RufusTFirefly,
You are right. Of the 4 or 5 federal employee plans that cover overseas treatment, Blue Cross seemed the best to me so I have just switched.
I found a travel insurance policy with Travel Insured International that does cover repatriation to your home, or a hospital near your home, but only if you can get a physician to certify that it is medically necessary, and some sort of assistance company to concur. Unfortunately for most, the policy I found is one specially arranged for USAA members, so I don't know if their public policies offer a like feature.
Incidentally, I noticed they offer coverage for repatriation of one's mortal remains, in the amount of $20,000. Perhaps there is more to returning mortal remains than I had anticipated, which was to tell my wife to cremate me and UPS the ashes home.
You are right. Of the 4 or 5 federal employee plans that cover overseas treatment, Blue Cross seemed the best to me so I have just switched.
I found a travel insurance policy with Travel Insured International that does cover repatriation to your home, or a hospital near your home, but only if you can get a physician to certify that it is medically necessary, and some sort of assistance company to concur. Unfortunately for most, the policy I found is one specially arranged for USAA members, so I don't know if their public policies offer a like feature.
Incidentally, I noticed they offer coverage for repatriation of one's mortal remains, in the amount of $20,000. Perhaps there is more to returning mortal remains than I had anticipated, which was to tell my wife to cremate me and UPS the ashes home.
Jan 22nd, 2006, 03:50 AM
#34
I received a call from the Czech consul in Miami and what he said is quite interesting.
They (the Czech Republic) is just conforming to the European standard that exists in the other countries. I was quite surprised to hear that having insurance is required in the other countries. I've never been stopped at a border.
In any event, for under $50 per person for 2 weeks I'll buy it from Travelex and be covered in all the countries.
They (the Czech Republic) is just conforming to the European standard that exists in the other countries. I was quite surprised to hear that having insurance is required in the other countries. I've never been stopped at a border.
In any event, for under $50 per person for 2 weeks I'll buy it from Travelex and be covered in all the countries.
Feb 22nd, 2006, 12:32 PM
#35
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I thought I would bring this to the top. Today my TA called me and Globus had sent an email stating that insurance papers should be with you when entering the Czech Republic. She was surprised that I already knew about it. Thanks to the great Fodors travelers.
Feb 22nd, 2006, 08:42 PM
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We depart in 14 days for Prague from Canada with a school group of 35 travellers. Our TA has ensured we have the proper medical insurance. Hope this helps wliwl. Evidence of insurance will be attached to each traveller's airline ticket.
Feb 23rd, 2006, 03:19 PM
#38
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Hi Faini,
We used Atlas. We got $100.00pp off the cruise. Avalon (Globus) gave us $400.00 off the air price, however, if you figure out this discount that Avalon gives it is basically not very good. I checked the air prices and found that Avalon charges more for the surcharge, etc. and we didn't save that much at all. The air on Expedia was cheaper than what they were giving us. But we went with them because of the transfers, then they had us with a 7 hour layover in London so we had them change the flight and we get into BUD in the a.m. DH does not know we had to pay extra for the better flight so we will be making the most of the day! Where are you traveling to? Have fun wherever you go!
We used Atlas. We got $100.00pp off the cruise. Avalon (Globus) gave us $400.00 off the air price, however, if you figure out this discount that Avalon gives it is basically not very good. I checked the air prices and found that Avalon charges more for the surcharge, etc. and we didn't save that much at all. The air on Expedia was cheaper than what they were giving us. But we went with them because of the transfers, then they had us with a 7 hour layover in London so we had them change the flight and we get into BUD in the a.m. DH does not know we had to pay extra for the better flight so we will be making the most of the day! Where are you traveling to? Have fun wherever you go!
Feb 23rd, 2006, 03:38 PM
#39
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I will join the Trafalgar group in Jerusalem, Israel on March 9. Made my own arrangement, but Trafalgar (or maybe Affordable Tours?) gave me a voucher for a free ride from the airport to the hotel.
Going back I would get another voucher if I'd leave the same day, but as I am staying 3 days after the tour and made my own hotel and air reservations, I will not get a voucher for that.
I always make my own air reservations. For what I save on the air price, another $10-20 for a shuttle doesn't break the bank.
Going to Switzerland, I had an option to buy a $20 shuttle pass... and the shuttle in Zurich airport was about $16.
Maybe it's cheaper to buy the air through a travel agency, but for me it was always the other way. Never been on a cruise, but plan to go in the fall. No reservations yet.
Going back I would get another voucher if I'd leave the same day, but as I am staying 3 days after the tour and made my own hotel and air reservations, I will not get a voucher for that.
I always make my own air reservations. For what I save on the air price, another $10-20 for a shuttle doesn't break the bank.
Going to Switzerland, I had an option to buy a $20 shuttle pass... and the shuttle in Zurich airport was about $16.
Maybe it's cheaper to buy the air through a travel agency, but for me it was always the other way. Never been on a cruise, but plan to go in the fall. No reservations yet.
Jul 20th, 2006, 12:37 PM
#40
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well, I just recently returned from my vacation which included traveling to the Czech Republic (and Poland), so I thought I'd report on what happened due to this new requirement. AS I think I said, I had even spoken to the person at the Czech Embassy in Washington personally, and they insisted this was a requirement now, but were sketchy on implementation and didn't even seem to realize what would be involved in proving your current insurance covered you.
Anyway, it was easier, so I bought a Travelex policy for $88 which covered health and lost luggage or changes, etc. It seemed easiest. I noticed on another thread about someone's son getting ejected from LIthuania, as I recall, they claimed an insurance card was evidence. I know that's silly as an insurance card doesn't prove any coverage at all as they don't have expiration dates and also don't detail coverage. However, if I was asked, I was going to show them my insurance cared just to see what they did, even though I had documentation of my Travelex policy.
Anyway, nobody asked me anything at the Czech border (I entered at the airport) about insurance, and I didn't seem them asking anyone else, either, but of course, I couldn't really see or hear that many people. I just know with the dozens of people in line at immigration control and it moving fairly quickly, they couldn't be asking for that much.
So, nobody asked and I do bet this is in place for use only when they want to keep someone out. As for someone's Czech consul claiming he or she knew about all other European country rules -- I don't know, I'm a skeptic and tend not to believe people when they say stuff like that, since he was trying to justify the CR having that new rule. I also just tend not to believe anyone who says all countries do about anything, as that's rarely true. I also don't find it credible that all European countries did this except for the CR.
Anyway, it was easier, so I bought a Travelex policy for $88 which covered health and lost luggage or changes, etc. It seemed easiest. I noticed on another thread about someone's son getting ejected from LIthuania, as I recall, they claimed an insurance card was evidence. I know that's silly as an insurance card doesn't prove any coverage at all as they don't have expiration dates and also don't detail coverage. However, if I was asked, I was going to show them my insurance cared just to see what they did, even though I had documentation of my Travelex policy.
Anyway, nobody asked me anything at the Czech border (I entered at the airport) about insurance, and I didn't seem them asking anyone else, either, but of course, I couldn't really see or hear that many people. I just know with the dozens of people in line at immigration control and it moving fairly quickly, they couldn't be asking for that much.
So, nobody asked and I do bet this is in place for use only when they want to keep someone out. As for someone's Czech consul claiming he or she knew about all other European country rules -- I don't know, I'm a skeptic and tend not to believe people when they say stuff like that, since he was trying to justify the CR having that new rule. I also just tend not to believe anyone who says all countries do about anything, as that's rarely true. I also don't find it credible that all European countries did this except for the CR.
