Do Not Forget to Pack Your Travel Health Insurance
All too often people leave the country and remember their passports, toiletries, and extra socks. But, they tend to forget their health insurance. Most people do not realize that their health insurance does not have a passport and will not go with them 99 times out of 100. Some international corporations have international coverage, but that is very rare.
One of our associate brokers recently had a client who traveled from Washington DC to Nha Trang, Vietnam, which is a popular beach town 300 miles and a 12 hour bus ride from Ho Chi Minh City. The client went to a clinic in Nha Trang after experiencing vomiting and stomach pains. After being diagnosed with a perforated duodenal ulcer, the client needed to be transported by air ambulance to Bangkok, Thailand – due to the inadequate facilities at both Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh City. Once the client was fit to fly, the insurance company paid for the return trip for both the client and spouse.
Travel Health Insurance Breakdown
Medical Services in Vietnam – $1,788
Air ambulance evacuation to Bangkok – $45,000
Medical services in Thailand – $28,523
Patient and non-medical escort – $11,232
Total Insured Expenses – $86,543
Premium paid for the Travel Health Insurance – $23
We are not sure whether the client bought travel insurance, which is designed to cover trip costs. But, if they did, then they would likely have received a refund for at least a good portion of the cost of the trip as well. But, not having to come out of pocket $86,543 was probably good enough. That was likely the smartest $23 they ever spent.