Why Buy Travel Medical Insurance?

Travel medical insurance is recommended for international travelers by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Department of State, and your favorite travel bloggers (think Goats on the Road and Nomadic Matt).

Even if you’re a picture of health, you never know what kinds of emergencies might befall you abroad, and many domestic health insurance plans do not cover you outside of your home country – or they only provide limited coverage. If your domestic plan does not provide coverage, and you choose to travel abroad without insurance, you may be solely responsible for any emergency medical bills you incur.

As a result, a common injury could end up costing you a significant amount—or, as the CDC puts it—“a large out-of-pocket expenditure of perhaps thousands of dollars."

For example, a broker leg could cost up to $7,500 for treatment. And a  three-day hospital stay could costs $30,000. These high costs “can sometimes lead people without coverage into deep debt, or even into bankruptcy,” shares healthcare.gov.

 

Examples of Costs for Medical Treatment

(Actual claims submitted to travel medical provider WorldTrips)

 

• Kidney infection = $29,662.80
• Head injury = $67,299.79
• Pneumonia hospitalization = $99,625.53
• Broken leg = $119,624.46

Travel medical insurance is generally very affordable, often starting at just a dollar a day. But travel medical insurance doesn’t just offer coverage for medical expenses; it can provide you with access to quality care and a host of vital emergency travel benefits. See how in the real-life examples below!

 

 

Check out these real emergency situations regarding actual WorldTrips customers:

 

 

Real-Life Example #1: Repatriation of Remains after a Tragic Accident in Thailand

Thailand -> United Kingdom = $5,323

A 21-year-old British citizen teaching in Thailand was struck by traffic and died later that day. WorldTrips worked with his parents, the local hospital, and government officials to arrange for the care, preparation, and return of his remains to his home country.

 

 

Real-Life Example #2: Trip Interruption Due to an Unexpected Death in the Family

United States -> Nigeria = $3,312

A 33-year-old Nigerian fellow in a U.S.-based leadership development program learned of his father’s passing due to cardiac arrest. WorldTrips provided assistance with travel arrangements for him to return home for the funeral.

 

 

Real-Life Example #3: Political Evacuation of an American en Route to Lesotho

Namibia -> United States = $3,303

An American was en route to Lesotho when the U.S. Department of State issued a travel warning for her destination.  Arrangements were made for her safe return from Namibia back to the United States and the trip was covered under her travel medical policy.

 

Cost Comparison of Emergency Medical Expenses with and without Atlas Travel medical insurance from WorldTrips:

 

Real-Life Claim Example #1: Multilobar Pneumonia and Tonsillitis

This policy holder was traveling overseas when he was bitten by an insect and developed an infection leading to multilobar pneumonia and tonsillitis. His illness required 11 days in a Bangkok hospital. Unfortunately, the language barrier made diagnosing him difficult, and hospital employees regularly brought him bills and demanded cash payment. WorldTrips was able to arrange direct payment with the hospital.

• Traveler’s total responsibility without a travel medical insurance policy: $12,149.37
• Traveler’s total responsibility with an Atlas Travel medical insurance policy from WorldTrips: $568.78

• Total Savings = 95%