egd207 Posted January 8 Report Share Posted January 8 New to traveling outside of USA. I know travel insurance helps with costs of cancellations of plans. But on the medical side of things doesn't your own medical insurance cover you for healthcare? I've read some stories of people getting hit with huge bills after becoming ill (heart attack etc) on cruise ships and not having travel insurance. Just trying to understand how this works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AshleyDillo Posted January 8 Report Share Posted January 8 It depends on your specific health insurance policy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Natalfaz Posted January 8 Report Share Posted January 8 It depends also were u are from and where u are traveling 2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpeedNoodles Posted January 8 Report Share Posted January 8 Most health insurance does not cover anything out of the country. I'd personally not leave the country without travel insurance. Baked Alaska, 4ensic and ChessE4 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teddy Posted January 9 Report Share Posted January 9 I’d hate to rely on my health insurance to pay for a life flight from Cozumel or somewhere similar. SpeedNoodles, Baked Alaska, 4ensic and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAYNO Posted January 9 Report Share Posted January 9 Our Medicare Advantage HMO has paid for all medical services on the ship while cruising the Caribbean. Both on the ship, and in port at the beginning of the cruise, the providers involved all billed our insurance directly. Had hospitalization been prescribed, that's where the travel insurance is valuable, to fly a patient to a modern hospital. . The Fox and PPPJJ-GCVAB 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egd207 Posted January 9 Author Report Share Posted January 9 Thank you for this information. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregD Posted January 9 Report Share Posted January 9 I always get travel insurance, especially after my cousin broke his neck while in Jamaica. It's a small price to pay for peace of mind. To give you an idea of costs, his medflight from Jamaica back to Florida was $30000 that had to be paid out of pocket. PPPJJ-GCVAB, Wilson and WAAAYTOOO 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrimsonCruiser Posted January 14 Report Share Posted January 14 As others have said, most US health insurance providers do not cover international expenses OR you may run into the issue that wherever you're at just doesn't even accept your insurance. Travel insurance - the type that includes medical - is designed specifically to cover you anywhere in leiu of your home policy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Galveston Steve Posted January 15 Report Share Posted January 15 Also, if you happen to have "traditional" Medicare, it does not cover any costs incurred outside the USA. Many Medicare Advantage plans will reimburse costs outside the country as "out of network", but you still have the pitfalls/risks expressed by others above. At best, you would likely have to pay out of pocket (will they accept a credit card???) and then submit bills for reimbursement back home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pattycruise Posted January 15 Report Share Posted January 15 14 hours ago, Galveston Steve said: At best, you would likely have to pay out of pocket (will they accept a credit card???) and then submit bills for reimbursement back home. I had inquired of my medical insurance if they cover out of the country. I was told I would have to pay out of pocket and then seek reimbursement (a rate of which sucks) Galveston Steve 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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