Americans uncertain over travel health insurance coverage, as appetite for travel increases

One in four Americans will experience a medical event abroad, but 46 per cent believe their domestic health insurance would cover such an event, reveals a new survey conducted by Harris Poll and sponsored by GeoBlue.

Seventy-six per cent of travellers likely don’t have adequate health insurance coverage for international trips, according to GeoBlue.

Of the 2,086 respondents, 77 per cent know medical care abroad is as important as a nice stay and a good flight. Additionally, 87 per cent recognise that a medical event is a realistic possibility. However, 52 per cent believe it would never happen to them, which is a concern as the majority of people do not have adequate health insurance coverage in another country.

This concern is growing alongside the appetite for international travel post-pandemic. Nearly two-thirds (64 per cent) of people are making plans to travel internationally in the next five year and 46 per cent are planning an international trip in the next two years. Additionally, 30 per cent of Gen Z and 27 per cent of Millennials said they would work remotely abroad if their job allowed them to, while 59 per cent are worried about falling ill abroad.

Lynn Pina, Chief Marketing Officer at GeoBlue, said: “Eager to travel and work from anywhere, Americans are making plans and getting their passports in order, but far too many don’t make arrangements for medical coverage abroad even though they know an illness or accident in a foreign country is a very real possibility.

“Consumers and their employers alike need to make sure these travellers have adequate health coverage while abroad.”

She concluded: “Think of it this way, if you need a passport, you need an international travel medical plan.”