US travellers don’t know if their domestic health plan covers international health costs
A survey by InsureMyTrip has found that half (49.4 per cent) of Americans are unclear about whether their domestic health insurance plan works outside of the US
The survey, which was conducted between 23 and 24 May 2022 and received 1,329 completed responses, also found that only 28.3 per cent of respondents could affirmatively state that their plan definitely did cover medical expenses outside of the US, while a further 22.3 per cent stating that they knew for certain that their plan did not cover international medical costs.
Depending on the specific plan and area of travel, medical coverage on insurance plans can vary widely widely, with some policies offering in-network coverage, limited coverage, or even no coverage at all. InsureMyTrip also warned that basic government-provided Medicare coverage does not provide emergency medical care for travellers outside of the US – however supplemental plans such as Medicare Advantage and Medigap are available which can provide limited additional coverage.
Travellers should be aware of deductibles and seek out dedicated travel insurance
The firm recommended purchasing dedicated travel insurance to serve as primary or supplemental coverage when abroad. It also suggests that travellers should be aware of any limitations to their domestic health insurance policies when outside of the country, because ‘in most cases, there are gaps in coverage’.
InsureMyTrip says that travellers should be aware of:
- Deductibles – the amount that must be paid for covered services before insurance kicks in
Co-insurance: the amount a patient is responsible for a covered health care service
Co-payments: a set amount owed for a covered health care service.
Travellers should also seek to understand any destination-specific requirements, including required vaccinations.
Familiarity with the limitations of health insurance coverage should be a key priority for US travellers this year, as enthusiasm for international travel returns following the restrictions of the pandemic. According to Allianz Partners USA’s 14th annual Vacation Confidence Index, Americans are planning to spend more on summer vacations in 2022 than ever before.