Overseas medical coverage options in the wake of coronavirus

Medical coverage for traveling overseas is a major consideration. It's especially so with the current coronavirus menace. If you are traveling on a visitor visa you must ensure that your travel plan includes medical coverage.

There is good news for travelers going overseas. Travel insurance policies with emergency medical and evacuation coverage are still available. This is despite the doubts about insurers and brokers withdrawing the facility in the wake of coronavirus.

Travel insurance providers are still offering coverage for medical emergencies on trips abroad. Travelers going abroad are preferring taking medical coverage than canceling their trips. They are looking for comprehensive travel insurance policies. Such policies are expected to cover medical exigencies as with coronavirus.

But many travelers are concerned. This is because many insurers are currently excluding the coverage for coronavirus-related emergencies. Among the rest of them, there are those who give case-by-case coverage. It is up to the traveler to ensure what extent of coverage the insurance provider is offering.

There are 2 types of travel insurance policies that are generally offered:

• Comprehensive travel insurance or
• Travel medical

Both policies offer emergency medical coverage. The stipulations could be in effect though, as with limitations on canceling trips.

Travelers could also get medical expenses covered if coronavirus infects them while traveling. But getting such benefits is tough for travelers in certain cases. This happens when airlines and emergency medical evacuation providers restrict or deny them. In such a situation, travelers better know the risk status of the locations they are planning to visit.

For those concerned with travel insurance prices, there's a relief. This is because regulations do not allow an unfair increase in such prices. It's advised that travelers avoid traveling overseas without emergency medical coverage. Many such coverage policies serve as primary insurance without any deductibles.

Medical coverage of at least $50,000 is recommended for international trips. For evacuation, coverage of at least $100,000 is best. If the trip is to a very remote place or on a cruise ship, it's advised to increase the coverages to $100,000 and $250,000.

If travelers want an alternative for comprehensive coverage, they could try medical-only plans. These plans give a similar or even expanded range of emergency medical benefits. Such policies cost much lesser than the comprehensive ones. But they may not compensate policyholders for matters like delays, lost luggage or trip cancellations.

A comprehensive plan and medical plan differ in basic aspects. The former considers the total trip cost. The latter considers age and travel duration. Both travel insurance plans usually cover emergency medical and dental care. Dental care services are available only for dental accidents. They are not applicable to routine dental checks.

There are plan providers who offer 24-hour assistance. They offer translation services and medical referrals. They also offer prepayment to foreign medical providers, if enough advanced notice is given. These services may be offered at an extra cost.

If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit, Invest or Migrate overseas, talk to Y-Axis, the World’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company.

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