5 Reasons to Purchase Travel Medical Insurance before your Next Trip

This post is sponsored by MedEx of UnitedHealthcare Global to teach people about the importance of travel insurance.

Until recently, travel insurance has not been something I’ve considered purchasing. Maybe it’s because I’m getting older, or because my husband and I lost money on the last cruise we took after my mother-in-law became ill and couldn’t travel with us, or because I recently had a scare when traveling, but purchasing travel insurance is starting to make sense to me.

Last month, my husband and I were traveling when he got really sick. We had to cut our trip short, visit an ER and schedule several follow-up visits to the doctor’s office before we finally found out the culprit. My husband, who is only 44, had suffered a mild stroke. I was so thankful the stroke wasn’t more severe. All I could think of was thank goodness we weren’t traveling out of the country when this happened- as we had two international trips planned at that time. This episode actually prompted us to cancel one of those trips. I can’t even tell you how relieved I was that I’d procrastinated in making the final booking arrangements and placing a down payment on that trip. We would have lost quite a bit of money. Despite some hesitation, we’re still planning a trip to Mexico later this month to see our son who has called Mexico his home for the past five months. Even though we’ll only be a few short hours from the American border,  I’ll definitely purchase travel medical insurance for this trip.

MedEx of UnitedHealthcare Global offers choices when it comes to insurance coverage and provides coverage that other travel insurance providers don’t offer. Here are some reasons to purchase travel medical insurance from MedEx.

5 Reasons to Purchase Travel Medical Insurance

1. Finding quality care

When you or a loved one needs medical care in another country, you want to make sure you are getting care from a reputable professional. Travel medical insurance links you with an emergency response team to help direct you to a doctor whose credentials have been verified.

2. Keeping costs in line

Doctors and hospitals in other countries will typically expect you to pay up front before starting any treatment. Everything comes out of your pocket while you are still traveling. But what would you do if the amount needed is more than you have? Or greater than the limit on your credit card?

You’d also need to keep careful records and submit everything for reimbursement once you get home. And because these doctors are outside of your plan’s network, you have no control over how much they may charge.

Travel medical insurance from UnitedHealthcare Global is designed to help with these costs at the time of service. Depending on the plan you choose, you may have a deductible. But that’s a choice you make ahead of time.

3. Getting home in a medical emergency

Maybe it’s a broken arm from a hiking accident or something much more serious. You can get help with:

• Evaluating your medical needs
• Choosing the best method of transport — including emergency medical evacuation to get home or rejoin your trip
• Making travel arrangements for your family
• Having appropriate care once you get home

Even the cost of bringing someone from home to be with you may be covered.

4. Handling non-medical problems

The emergency response team can assist you — from a lost or stolen passport to emergency funds transfer or a referral if you need legal help. It’s a little like having a trusted friend back home to help you navigate in an unfamiliar land.

5. Safeguarding what you have already invested

For most people, traveling abroad is something they save up for, have fun planning and look forward to with pleasure. In addition to helping with medical situations, you can add coverage for lost baggage, trip cancellation or trip interruption to your travel medical policy to help with costs that may arise in those situations.

Even better? A basic travel medical policy can cost about the same as a nice meal at a restaurant. For a 7 day trip, that’s only a few dollars a day! When you think about how much you are investing in your trip, it’s a small price to pay for added confidence.

Why Travel Medical Insurance?

No one expects to get into a car accident, break a leg skiing or like my husband, have a stroke. But those things happen. And when they do, travel medical insurance may make all the difference in helping you feel secure when you’re traveling abroad. It offers you more than just a trip cancellation policy—it offers you certainty in an uncertain world. If you become ill or injured while traveling, many medical facilities require payment up front before any treatment. But purchasing a medical policy from MedEx will cover these payments and other expenses such as monitoring of treatment, emergency travel arrangements, transfer of insurance information, and much more.

How much does Travel Medical Insurance Cost?

I was surprised to learn that travel medical insurance is very affordable. For about what it would cost you to dine in a nice restaurant, you can purchase a travel medical policy. For a week long trip, that breaks down to a few dollars a day. That’s it. A small price tag to give you the assurance that you and your family will be well taken care of if the need arises while on vacation.

How can I Learn More?

Are you interested in learning more? Check out MedEx international travel insurance plans from UnitedHealthcare Global. You’ll have a choice of coverage and deductible levels, sports riders, lost baggage coverage, and more. Staffed by UnitedHealthcare Global professionals, the MeDex Emergency Response Center is ready to help 24 hours a day year-round. Visit MeDex for plan options and pricing.

NOTE: TRAVEL INSURANCE PLANS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE FOR RESIDENTS OF WASHINGTON STATE OR NEW YORK.