International Medical Insurance: An Essential Purchase for New International Travelers

Are you one o the many Americans planning to travel outside the country for the first time? Whether you are traveling for business or pleasure, there are many things you will need to do to get ready. Researching the country you are visiting, obtaining a passport, and finding the right lodging and transportation are just a few of the important tasks on our to-do list. Make sure that your preparation includes purchasing international medical insurance. It may save you thousands of dollars in emergency medical expenses.

According to a report prepared by the U.S. Travel Association, only 30% of citizens have a passport. That number seems a bit low, especially in comparison to similar countries like Canada and the United Kingdom, in which 60% and 75%, respectively, have passports. However, the association reports that the number was only in the teens a few years ago, so it represents real progress. And it tells us that more and more Americans are venturing abroad for the very first time.

While those citizens may have great health insurance plans provided by their American employers, typically those plans can only be used in the U.S. So when they are traveling abroad, they are unprotected in the event of a medical emergency. That means they will need to pay for any doctor’s visit, prescription, hospitalization, or other medical issue will have to be paid for in full from their own pocket.

For Americans who are used to paying only $30 as a coinsurance payment, suddenly facing bills of hundreds or thousands of dollars is a shock they are unprepared for. However, a solution exists in the form of international medical insurance. It allows policyholders to get health coverage abroad that is as high in quality and as affordable as they get at home. For first time international travelers, a small investment in this type of insurance could save quite a bit in the long run.

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