If you’re like most business travelers you worry less about terrorism, kidnapping, mugging or even the more mundane snafus like airport security or canceled flights than you do about on-the-road medical emergencies.
According to a recent insurance industry survey, more than half of all travelers worry about the possibility of serious injury or being felled by a serious illness such as a heart attack or stroke while away from home. Most travelers surveyed said that if they faced a medical disaster, they would want to be returned to the nearest advanced medical facility, preferably one close to home. Unfortunately, few business travelers have procedures in place to make sure this happens.
To be ready for an unforeseen medical emergency, you should:
1. Find out what coverage you already have but didn’t know about.
2. Evaluate travel medical coverage policies.
3. Find a medical evacuation policy.
4. Have medical resources at your fingertips.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Determine what coverage you already have
Some corporate health coverage plans include provisions for medical emergencies away from home. There are also major credit cards that offer a range of benefits for medical emergencies.
I recommend: : Review (or ask your
insurance agent to do it for you) your existing personal and corporate health insurance coverage. While most company health care plans cap payments for away-from-home medical emergencies at a low amount or do not cover expenses incurred outside the U.S. at all (Medicare is included in the latter), a thorough review establishes a starting point. Be sure to check out any coverage available through your
major bank card too. Some corporate cards such as the
American Express Business Card will cover you and your employees for medical or dental treatment or emergency evacuation anywhere in the world if you’re more than 150 miles away from home (annual premiums apply).
Find coverage that best meets your needs
If you’re a road warrior traveling to the far reaches of the globe, your need for a blanket travel insurance policy will be greater than if you make only one or two trips a year. It’s important to note that travel insurance policies may or may not cover added services like medical evacuation, travel expenses to bring a family member to your bedside or to send home your unattended minor children traveling with you, or repatriation of your remains.
I recommend: Review and compare travel insurance coverage packages at
InsureMyTrip,
Seven Corners,
Travel Guard,
Travel Insure,
MedEx,
CIGNA and
CSA. Several of these user-friendly sites allow you to obtain quick quotes and purchase coverage online. If you have
employees who will travel too, make sure the policy covers them as well.
Find a medical evacuation policy
If you are injured or become ill at a distant location, the cost to return you to a quality medical facility can be as high as $30,000 to $100,000 depending on circumstances. If your travel insurance policy does not include medical evacuation, give serious consideration to independent evacuation coverage on a per-trip or annual membership basis.
I recommend: Look into services available from
International SOS (they have their own fleet of state-of-the-art “flying critical care units”),
AirMed (one-time quote or annual coverage) and
Medjet Assist (one of the most comprehensive, this service will return you to a hospital of your/your doctor’s choice if you’re injured or become ill 150 miles or more away from your home base. And there’s no ‘medical necessity’ clause).
Know where to look for medical advice and services
When you’re in a distant city and medical problems strike, what do you do? The wait might be a long one at the nearest emergency room and the hotel doctor might not be immediately available.
I recommend: Before you leave home, get the name of a physician at your destination city at
Web MD. Use this
U.S. State Department site to find U.S. Embassy and Consulate lists of doctors and hospitals abroad. To tap into the specialty skills of a medical team wherever you are in the world, look into member services available from
World Clinic.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- Some corporate and premium credit cards offer referral assistance in the event of a medical emergency. Familiarize yourself with services available from your bank card before you leave home.
- Some health insurance plans allow access to patient medical records online. If yours is one of them, be sure you know how to access your file when you’re traveling. You might need it.
- Many hospitals, clinics and doctors at foreign destinations do not accept credit cards, and most require payment upfront.
- If you don’t have medical evacuation coverage, expect to make a sizeable upfront payment to access service. Carry a bank card with a high credit limit.
- If you have a pre-existing medical condition, be sure to carefully review policy restrictions before purchasing travel insurance coverage.
- Some medical evacuation services will only take you to the nearest medical facility, not necessarily one close to your home. You will still be responsible for any onward expenses when you are able to travel.
- Some HMOs pay for services rendered abroad, but the cap on the amount paid can be low. Know before you go.
- Look for a travel insurance policy that offers a 24-hour hotline to help you find doctors or hospitals and medical professionals who will consult with you and the local doctor.
- Most travel medical policies exclude coverage for flying in noncommercial aircraft and engaging in high-risk sports such as mountaineering.
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