Do you buy health insurance when traveling out of the country?

[Aerial Dag]

My concern is airlifting back home, if needed, and getting better medical care for serious issues rather than rely on the usual, local doctors.

That was my concern in Africa. Most cc cover a portion of it. From Sapphire:

If you or a member of your immediate family are injured or become sick during a trip far from home that results in an emergency evacuation, you can be covered for medical services and transportation up to $100,000.

Of course the question is, how much does a typical med evac actually cost?

[ckmk47]

I didn't know the Sapphire covers so much.
Maybe I don't need separate travelers insurance.

[Aerial Dag]

I didn't know the Sapphire covers so much.
Maybe I don't need separate travelers insurance.

Just be aware that all CC require that you speak to their 3rd party provider BEFORE you initiate any sort of transportation to get approval. Otherwise they won't pay.

[ckmk47]

Just be aware that all CC require that you speak to their 3rd party provider BEFORE you initiate any sort of transportation to get approval. Otherwise they won't pay.

I assume the same is true even of regular travel insurance.
But if something like that was needed, cv"s, I'd probably have some 'macher' friend working the phones making the arrangements.  It would be his problem to make the extra phone calls. 

[yelped]

Travel insurance is cheap. And they cover more things than cc insurance. Not sure why people try to cheap out on it. Use Squaremouth to compare policies.

[Aerial Dag]

Travel insurance is cheap. And they cover more things than cc insurance. Not sure why people try to cheap out on it. Use Squaremouth to compare policies.

Free > Cheap
If someone feels that their risk for the extra coverages are low and the credit card coverages for things like trip delay and lost baggage are adequate then why waste the money on a redundant insurance policy? You wouldn't buy CDW insurance if your card already covers primary insurance. Same logic applies here. Obviously if you need additional coverage (trip cancellation) or additional limits (very remote medevac) then it pays to get another policy.

[ckmk47]

Chase Sapphire Reserve:


covers medical expenses poorly

Emergency Medical and Dental Benefit
If you’re 100 miles or more from home on a trip, you can be reimbursed up to $2,500 for medical expenses if you or your immediate family member become sick or injured.²

But covers evacuation well

Emergency Evacuation & Transportation
If you or a member of your immediate family are injured or become sick during a trip far from home that results in an emergency evacuation, you can be covered for medical services and transportation up to $100,000.²

2These benefits are available when you use your card. Restrictions, limitations and exclusions apply. Most benefits are underwritten by unaffiliated insurance companies who are solely responsible for the administration and claims. There are specific time limits and documentation requirements. Please refer to your Guide to Benefits for a full explanation of coverages, or call the number on the back of your card for assistance.

[ckmk47]

It looks like I need a policy for medical expenses.

[ckmk47]

It looks like I need a policy for medical expenses.

Using Squaremouth, I put in that I don't need trip interruption coverage, since the coverage limits on Chase for the SR card are high enough.
I signed up with  Global Alert Preferred for $28 for a 10 day trip.
The same coverage with the trip interruption was $94.

[SamCan]

Depends in each trip, some cases such as pregnancy are excluded by many credit card insurances, even those who cover the mother will not cover the baby in case born during a trip

Hi most Canadian Visa infinite, Work Elite Mc, and Amex charge cards provide travel medical insurance for the cardholders immediate family up to $2 million regardless of method of travel and card used for booking. They won't cover anything to do with pregnancy within ( and some even after) 9 weeks of the due date. Must have a provincal health insurance plan. Every credit card has different terms so read them carefully

For US residents cardholders of the CSR only get $2500 when booing the travel with the CSR.

[Dan]

$2,500 goes farther in other countries where healthcare costs less than it does in the US...

[Alexsei]

Hi most Canadian Visa infinite, Work Elite Mc, and Amex charge cards provide travel medical insurance for the cardholders immediate family up to $2 million regardless of method of travel and card used for booking. They won't cover anything to do with pregnancy within ( and some even after) 9 weeks of the due date. Must have a provincal health insurance plan. Every credit card has different terms so read them carefully

For US residents cardholders of the CSR only get $2500 when booing the travel with the CSR.

Do they cover a baby born premature?

[mgarfin]

$2,500 goes farther in other countries where healthcare costs less than it does in the US...

Im reading this thread and think most ppl are buying insurance in case something big happens C"S.
Hospitalization and some basic testing/imaging is going to cost more than $2500 in a modern country and in a 3rd world they will rip you off in any case.

[Matovu]

$2,500 goes farther in other countries where healthcare costs less than it does in the US...

Do the CC provide the Insurance even though the ticket wasn't purchased thru them ?

[shmooz]

Do the CC provide the Insurance even though the ticket wasn't purchased thru them ?

No. The only one may be amex plat. I think they provide evac without purchase through them. Check the t&c

[YesThatsMe]

I usually pay less than that for $500K medical evacuation coverage and $250K primary medical besides for all the additional coverages like trip delay, lost baggage, missed connections....

Just bought this same policy on Squaremouth with AXA, paid $43 for under 30 days

[KSMH]

For adventurers trip including extreme sports I buy world nomands, for typical trips I buy Atlas.

This is all after I broke my finger in Jordan. The total hospital cost was $40 which included x rays, doctors, pain med and splint........

If you ever brake your finger it's by far the cheapest option and they have great service. LOL


I also once bought for a small segment of  a trip world nomands [ jnb-lvi-jnb ] not the entire trip though, world nomands does take into consideration the length of travel and it reflects a major portion of the cost.

[ExGingi]

If you ever brake your finger it's by far the cheapest option and they have great service. LOL

You mean breaking it in Jordan is the cheapest option with great service?

My daughter who lives OOT buys an annual policy that covers her entire family for trips of up to 90 days at a time that are greater than 100 miles from home. She loves it. Since many health insurance plans don't include out of state coverage, she doesn't have to think twice when going to the Dr. when visiting us or when they go away for the summer. It's all covered for an amazingly low price. Only $50,000 per person for medical, but it is enough for the peace of mind it gives her.  It's also nice that I was able to sell it to her...

[KSMH]

What does it cost?

[as2]

What does it cost?

Only $50,000 per person for medical