Medical Insurance
You can’t assume your insurance will go with you when you travel. It’s very important to find out before you leave. You should ask your insurance company two questions:
(1) Does my policy apply when I’m outside the United States?
(2) Will it cover emergencies like a trip to a foreign hospital or an evacuation?
In many places, doctors and hospitals still expect payment in cash at the time of service. You can’t simply give them your insurance card and expect it will go through. If your policy doesn’t go with you when you travel, it’s a very good idea to purchase a separate policy for your trip.
The Social Security Medicare Program does not provide coverage for hospital or medical costs outside the United States.
Why should I be concerned about medical coverage abroad?
What questions should I ask my health insurance company?
Can the U.S. government assist me if I become disabled overseas?
Where can I find a list of physicians abroad?
What’s the difference between Travel Insurance and Travel Medical Insurance?
What insurance information should I carry with me abroad?
Where can I find a list of companies that provide medical evacuations and services?
Where can I find a list of companies that provide travel insurance?
Why should I be concerned about medical coverage abroad?
- The Social Security Medicare Program does not provide coverage for hospital or medical costs outside the United States.
- Many health insurance plans do not provide coverage overseas. Those that provide "customary and reasonable" hospital costs abroad may not pay for your medical evacuation back to the United States which can cost $10,000.00 and up depending on your location and medical condition.
- Many foreign doctors and hospitals require payment in cash prior to providing service.
- Uninsured patients may be refused service.
- Countries with socialized medicine may not provide full services to non-residents.
- Payment of hospital and other expenses abroad is the responsibility of the traveler.
- Some countries require tourists to carry accident or travel insurance. Check the Country Specific Information for the countries you plan to visit for detailed information.
What questions should I ask my health insurance company?
- Does this insurance policy cover emergency expenses abroad such as returning me to the United States for treatment if I become seriously ill?
- Does this insurance cover high-risk activities such as parasailing, mountain climbing, scuba diving and off-roading?
- Does this policy cover pre-existing conditions?
- Does the insurance company require pre-authorizations or second opinions before emergency treatment can begin?
- Does the insurance company guarantee medical payments abroad?
- Will the insurance company pay foreign hospitals and foreign doctors directly?
- Does the insurance company have a 24-hour physician-backed support center?
- Senior citizens may wish to contact the American Association of Retired Persons for information about foreign medical care coverage with Medicare supplement plans.
Can the U.S. government assist me if I become disabled overseas?
- If an American becomes ill or is seriously injured abroad, a U.S. consular officer can assist in locating appropriate medical services and informing family or friends.
- If necessary a consular officer can also assist in the transfer of funds from the United States.
- Payment of hospital and other expenses is the responsibility of the traveler.
Where can I find a list of physicians in the country I plan to visit?
- For detailed information on physicians abroad, the authoritative reference is The Official ABMS Directory of Board Certified Medical Specialists, published for the American Board of Medical Specialists and its certifying member boards.
- U.S. embassies and consulates abroad maintain lists of hospitals and physicians, many of which are posted on the embassy or consulate web site.
What's the difference between Travel Insurance and Travel Medical Insurance?
- Travel Insurance insures your financial investment in your trip. Typically it covers such things as the cost of lost baggage and cancelled flights, but it may or may not cover costs of medical attention you may need while abroad.
- Travel Medical Insurance covers costs of medical attention you may need while abroad.
What insurance information should I carry with me abroad?
- Carry both your insurance policy identity card as proof of your insurance and a claim form.
Where can I find a list of companies that provide medical evacuations and services?
Several private organizations will provide medical information and insurance for overseas travelers. Most charge a fee for this service. The following is provided for informational purposes only and in no way constitutes an endorsement, expressed or implied, by the Department of State.
| U.S.-Based Air Ambulance or Medical Evacuation Companies | |
| ADVANCED AIR AMBULANCE Miami, FL 800-633-3590 / 305-232-7700 |
AeroCare Air Ambulance Services Sugar Grove, IL 1-800-823-1911 / 1-630-466-0900 |
| AIGAssist American International Group, Inc. Houston, Texas 800-626-2427; 01-713-267-2525 |
AIR AMBULANCE NETWORK Tarpon Springs, FL 800-327-1966 |
| Air Ambulance International Houston, TX 800-513-5192 / 832-934-2390 Fax 832-934-2395 |
AIR AMBULANCE PROFESSIONALS Fort Lauderdale, FL 800-752-4195 / 954-491-0555 |
|
AirEvac |
AIRMD AIR AMBULANCE SERVICES Clearwater, FL 800-282-6878 / 1-727-530-7972 |
| AIRescue INTERNATIONAL Van Nuys, CA 800-922-4911 / 818-994-0911 |
AIR MEDIC - AIR AMBULANCE OF AMERICA Washington, PA 800-245-9987 |
| AIR STAR INTERNATIONAL Thermal, CA 877-570-0911 / 800-991-2869 e-mail: AirStar1@aol.com |
AIR RESPONSE Orlando, FL 800-631-6565 / 303-858-9967 |
| AMERICAN CARE, INC. San Diego, CA 800-941-2582 / 619-486-8844 |
American Jets Ft. Pierce, FL 1-888-633-5381 / 772-380-4167 Email: jimh@americanjet.net |
| AMERICAN JET AIR MEDICAL Houston, TX 888-I-FLY-AJI / 713-641-9700 |
Angel MedFlight Worldwide Air Ambulance Scottsdale, AZ (877) 264-3570 / 1-480-634-8017 |
| Assist-Card Miami, FL 1-800-874-2223 / 786-437-0100 Also provides travel insurance services |
AXA ASSISTANCE 122 S. Michigan Ave Suite 1100 Chicago, IL 606031 (800) 874-4372 http://www.axa-assistance-usa.com |
| CRITICAL AIR MEDICINE San Diego, CA 800-247-8326 / 619-571-0482 |
CRITICAL CARE MEDFLIGHT Lawrenceville, GA 800-426-6557 |
| INFLIGHT MEDICAL SERVICES INTERNATIONAL INC. Naples, FL 800-432-4177 / 941-594-0800 |
INTERNATIONAL SOS ASSISTANCE Philadelphia, PA 800-523-8930 / 215-244-1500 Also provides travel insurance services |
| LIFE GUARD INTERNATIONAL, INC. Las Vegas, NV 1-888-FLY'N-ICU (1-888-359-6428) e-mail: lgii@flyingicu.com |
MedAire Tempe, AZ 480-333-3700 e-mail: info@medaire.com |
| MEDEX ASSISTANCE CORPORATION Baltimore, MD 888-MEDEX-00 / 800-537-2029 Also provides travel insurance services. |
MED ESCORT INTERNATIONAL INC. Allentown, PA 800-255-7182 / 610-791-3111 |
| MEDJET INTERNATIONAL, INC. Birmingham, AL 800-356-2161 / 205-592-4460 |
MERCY MEDICAL AIRLIFT Manassas, VA 800-296-1217 (Service area: Caribbean and part of Canada only. If necessary, will meet commercial incoming patients at JFK, Miami and other airports.) |
| NATIONAL AIR AMBULANCE Ft. Lauderdale, FL 800-327-3710 / 305-525-5538 |
SMARTRAVEL Alexandria, VA 800-730-3170 / 703-379-8645 Provides a range of travel medicine services |
| STAT AIR INTERNATIONAL San Diego, CA +1 619-754-6550 / 1-800-557-5911 Email: service@statair.com (Provides air ambulance, med-evac, travel assistance and medical escort on private and commercial flights worldwide) |
TRAVEL ASSIST NETWORK CORPORATION |
| TRAVEL CARE INTERNATIONAL, INC. Eagle River, WI 800-524-7633 / 715-479-8881 |
TRAVELERS EMERGENCY NETWORK Tierra Verde, FL 800-ASK-4-TEN e-mail: ten@intrex.ne t |
| TRINITY AIR AMBULANCE INTERNATIONAL Fort Lauderdale, Florida Phone: 954-771-7911 Email: Contact@TrinityAirAmbulance.com (Provides Air Ambulance/Med-evac's worldwide, Travel Assistance & Medical Escorts on commercial flights) |
Premier Jets Portland, Oregon 800 635-8583 (Toll Free) / 503 681-3064 |
|
Foreign Based Companies
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| AEA INTERNATIONAL Singapore U.S. Phone: 800-468-5232 Service worldwide, also provides travel insurance services |
AUSTRIAN AIR AMBULANCE Vienna, Austria 43-1-40-144 |
| Jetflite Helsinki International Airport Vantaa, Finland 358-9-870-2544 |
EUROPASSISTANCE Johannesburg, South Africa 27-11-315-3999 |
| GERMAN AIR RESCUE (DRF) Filderstadt, Germany 49-0711-7007-0 e-mail: alarmzentrale@drf.de |
LUXEMBOURG AIR RESCUE Luxembourg 352-420-440-1 |
|
TYROL AIR AMBULANCE |
IAS MEDICAL AIR AMBULANCE |
|
Executive Medical Services Companies
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|
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HEALTH QUEST TRAVEL INC. |
WORLD CLINIC Burlington, MA 800-636-9186 |
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Medical Escort Companies
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| AIR MEDICAL ESCORT SERVICES 1135 Kildare Farm Road Suite 200 Cary, North Carolina 27511 1-877-400-0463 / 919-342-4598 |
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Where can I find a list of companies that provide travel insurance?
Several private organizations will provide medical information and insurance for overseas travelers. Most charge a fee for this service. The following is provided for informational purposes only and in no way constitutes an endorsement, expressed or implied, by the Department of State.
|
U.S.-Based Travel Insurance Companies
|
|
| ACCESS AMERICA, INC. Richmond, VA 866-807-3982 |
ASA, INC. International Health Insurance Phoenix, AZ 888-ASA-8288 |
| BETINS Tacoma, WA 866-552-8834 / 253-238-6382 e-mail:info@betins.com |
CLEMENTS INTERNATIONAL Washington, DC 800-872-0067 / 202-872-0060 http://www.clements.com e-mail: info@clements.com |
| CSA TRAVEL PROTECTION San Diego, CA 888-873-5484 http://www.csatravelprotection.com |
Expat Global Medical Advance, NC 336-998-9583 Email: john@expatglobalmedical.com |
| GATEWAY INTERNATIONAL INSURANCE PLANS Marsh Consumer Washington, DC 202-367-5097 / 800-282-4495 email: gateway@marshpm.com |
HEALTH CARE GLOBAL (also known as MEDHELP or WALLACH & COMPANY or HEALTHCARE ABROAD) Middleburg, VA 800-237-6615 / 540-687-3166 |
| HIGHWAY TO HEALTH Fairfax, VA 703-322-1515 (Also provides destination-based travel health information for cities worldwide.) |
INSUREMYTRIP.COM |
| INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL GROUP (IMG) Indianapolis, IN 800-628-4664 / 317-655-4500 |
MultiNational Underwriters, Inc. Indianapolis, IN 800-605-2282 e-mail: insurance@mnui.com |
| M. H. Ross Travel Insurance Services Northridge, CA 800-423-3632 |
PETERSEN INTERNATIONAL UNDERWRITERS, INC. Valencia, CA 800-345-8816 e-mail: piu@piu.org |
| QuoteWright.com America's Travel Insurance Store East Hartford, CT.800-821-4940 http://www.quotewright.com e-mail: service@quotewright.com |
Seven Corners, Inc. Carmel, IN 800-335-0611/317-575-2652 |
| TRAVEL ASSIST NETWORK CORPORATION South Bend, IN 866-500-0333/+1 574-272-5400 email: info@travelassistnetwork.com |
TRAVELEX |
|
TRAVEL GUARD |
Travel Insured International, Inc |
|
TRAVEL INSURANCE SERVICES |
USA ASSIST |
| UNIVERSAL SERVICE AND ASSISTANCE Alexandria, VA 800-770-9111 / 703-370-7800 |
WORLDWIDE ASSISTANCE Washington, DC 800-777-8710 ext. 417 |
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Foreign Based Companies
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| INTEGRA GLOBAL Hallein , Austria 43-6245-71303 e-mail: info@integraglobal.com |
Worldwide Caution
Travel Warnings
- Korea, Democratic People's Republic of 08/27/2010
- Mexico 08/27/2010
- Afghanistan 08/13/2010
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