Lost luggage. Jet lag. Dehydration. The downsides of travel aren’t necessarily reduced when your trip is short. The same is true for some of the most common medical risks associated with travel – and that’s why travel medical insurance is a worthwhile travel expense, even if your trip is a short one.
What are the most common accidents for travelers?
Motor vehicle accidents are the No. 1 reason travelers may end up in a hospital or doctor’s office. People who cross time zones and go directly from the airport to the seat of their rental car may be jet-lagged, unfamiliar with the roads, unaccustomed to the vehicle, and distracted by being in a new place. On a short trip, their bodies have little time to adjust to these differences. Other common risks for travelers, such as insect or animal bites and swimming hazards, are just as likely to affect people on short trips as travelers on longer holidays or business trips.
What does travel medical insurance cover?
Because of the risks related to travel and the costs of medical care and transport abroad, the SentinelMED team always recommends travel medical insurance. The purchase costs for such policies are typically minimal compared with the benefits they provide. For example, if you have health insurance, it may not provide medical coverage outside the United States. If it does provide coverage, it may only cover a doctor’s visit and not medical transportation, scans or x-rays, prescription medicines, or a medical evacuation.
With travel medical insurance, you can request reimbursement for the costs of medical or dental care that can’t wait until you get home. Examples of expenses include:
- Necessary medical care for anything from treatment for a sprained ankle to a heart attack or stroke
- A visit to a dentist to check on a broken tooth, an infection, or an abscess
- X-rays and other scans for broken bones or head injuries
- Medical equipment and mobility aids, such as crutches or a wheelchair
- Medical transport or evacuation to get you home safely after a serious injury or illness
Reimbursement for a medical evacuation is probably the biggest reason to purchase travel medical insurance. That’s because medical evacuations can be extremely costly; you can expect to pay from $20,000 to more than $100,000, depending on the remoteness of your location and the mode of transport, such as a private aircraft, helicopter, commercial airline, ground ambulance, or a combination of these.
How much does travel medical insurance cost?
You can expect to pay about 4% to 10% of the prepaid portion of your trip. The length of a trip is one of the variables used to calculate the overall cost of coverage, which means shorter trips may cost less than longer ones.
Before purchasing a policy, review coverage and exclusion details carefully to make sure you know whether you are purchasing travel insurance, travel medical insurance, or a policy that includes both. Travel insurance policies typically include reimbursement for lost luggage, canceled flights, and other trip disruptions. Some policies also include travel medical insurance coverage, but it may not be enough for your needs, especially if you have a chronic illness, are taking a cruise, or plan to engage in riskier activities while traveling, such as scuba diving. You may need to purchase an additional policy to provide reimbursement if you get sick or injured.
About SentinelMED
SentinelMED provides medical transport, medical repatriation, and medical escort services for people who need assistance to travel long distances. Our team includes doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals who have decades of experience in travel and emergency medicine. They work closely with treating medical professionals and travel insurance providers to coordinate safe, cost-effective transport for patients anywhere in the world.
At SentinelMED, we understand the complexity of delivering exceptional care to people who need assistance during travel. Please contact us to learn more about the services that SentinelMED offers or its staff.
