If you travel abroad, you MUST make sure your: Group, Individual or Medicare Supplemental Health Insurance provides coverage while you are abroad. Some do, most don't. If you are not sure, I can review your current policy and advise you accurately.
If you don't have adequate coverage, you could be exposed to substantial financial loss. Medical providers and facilities WILL do everything in their power to get paid for their services. They may require money up front, they may try to hold you within their country subject to satisfying your bill.
Accidents and Illness can occur at any time. Here is a real life example, paraphrased, from an article in the Naples Daily News dated April 22, 2007.
A mother and daughter took part in a church relief trip to Jamaica, Unfortunately, they experienced a devastating auto accident that required acute medical care and hospitalization. The combined medical and hospital bill was approximately $111,000. The mother and daughter would not be released from the Jamaican hospital until the bill was paid. The mother and daughter finally received the assistance of the US Embassy and were released to come back home and continue their medical care. It took an additional two days of frantically calling airlines to find a flight back to Florida for less than $20,000, as their medical conditions did not allow them to fly on commercial airlines.
The article didn't say what type of arrangements were made to satisfy the financial obligations in Jamaica from this unfortunate occurrence, however, one would be lead to believe there was a substantial sum paid, perhaps by other family members, the US government, of perhaps they are in debt. A charity trust fund was set up by the Church to aid the pair with their medical bills. In any event...
You DON'T have to be put in this type of potential situation. Foreign Travel Insurance can provide SUBSTANTIAL benefits for acute illness and accidents that occur while you are abroad. The travel insurance companies typically have relationships with all of the major providers and facilities in most foreign countries to help you find the most stable and competent medical care available. The coverage INCLUDES substantial benefit for Medical Emergency Flights to bring you back home, to the USA, as soon as possible.
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