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Sturdy walking shoes? Check. Camera? Check. Travel Insurance?
When friends and family come to visit, no one envisions a medical emergency during their European vacation, but in the military community, we try to plan for everything. You never know when a visitor might need medical services on the local economy. From replacing lost medication or treating the flu to something life threatening, like a car accident or heart attack, visitors need to arrange healthcare insurance before their trip.
One of the worst-case scenarios is someone not being able to return home on a commercial aircraft and requiring a medical flight back to the United States. A medical flight alone can cost approximately $13,000 or more, depending on the need for medical equipment and accompanying medical personnel.
Some people are surprised to learn that Medicare and some health insurance companies do not pay for health care outside the United States. Some have special rules for health care outside the U.S., such as requiring patients to pay their bills out of pocket and filing a claim with the health insurance company for reimbursement.
All of these examples have the potential to create extreme financial hardship for those involved if medical insurance is not available or doesn’t extend outside the United States.
Visitors who do not have a military/retiree/DOD civilian Identification Card are not eligible for care at a Military Treatment Facility except for emergencies to save sight, life or limb. At times, even those who are eligible may need to receive care in the local community if an appointment isn’t available or if a military treatment facility is not nearby.
Those interested in obtaining travel insurance should carefully research covered services and limits. Does the travel insurance include a medical flight back home? Will the travel insurance pay hospitals directly or will the patient need to pay out of pocket for an expensive surgery and file for reimbursement later?
These are all important questions your visitors should ask before their trip so they can enjoy their European vacation, knowing they are covered if a medical need arises and ensuring a worry-free visit for hosts and guests.
