"Health Insurance Broker"

So you’ve been an international student for some time now, living on your own in a foreign country. You’ve been skyping back and forth with your parents, dealing with the intermittent phone calls that are sometimes hard to coordinate with the time change. But this time they’ve announced that they are ready to come for a visit.

Whether your parents will be coming to visit for a week, month, or perhaps are planning to move into your dorm room, you will want to make sure that your parents are covered on their trip abroad. In many cases, international travel insurance may not come to your parent’s mind, as they are busy packing their bags with your favorite items – although unfortunately customs put a limit on some foods that will remain in the back of your mind – but on the top of your to-do list when you come home.

The Travel Medical plan is designed for individuals traveling outside their home country – including travel insurance for your parent’s journey to visit you overseas. The plan provides coverage for inpatient and outpatient services, prescription drugs, emergency medical evacuation, repatriation, doctor office visits, etc.  By having your parents properly insured, this will provide them with the peace of mind that they can travel around with ease and comfort. This can be especially important in countries where the medical system may be just as foreign as the language. And the added plus – one less thing to worry about!

Going abroad to Mexico is a unique opportunity – whether you will be learning Spanish, doing a study abroad trip, or vacationing. Although Mexico has public health care available to its citizens/permanent residence through the Instituto Mexicano de Seguro Social, these services are not available to visitors. Instead, you will need to seek treatment in private facilities with your own insurance plan. It is important to know that Mexico does not have any reciprocal health care agreements with other countries – meaning that you will need to have your own health insurance in place for the duration of your trip.

The Travel Medical plan is a trip insurance that will cover you while outside your home country, including in Mexico. The plan can be managed completely online allowing you to have full access to your trip insurance. The plan will cover you for hospitalization, doctor visits, prescription medication, emergency medical evacuation and repatriation. A convenient feature with this plan is that you’ll be able to choose the doctor or hospital of your choice as there is no network in Mexico.

By having suitable trip insurance in Mexico, you’ll be able to rest assured that you have adequate coverage as you venture through the ruins, stroll across the beach, or go shopping in a bodega.  The Department of State states on their website that they “strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation.”

After January’s earthquake, many volunteer groups have been traveling to Haiti to assist in disaster relief efforts. The earthquake measured a 7 on the Richter scale and caused extensive damage to the area surrounding the capital, Port Au Prince. If you plan on assisting with the relief in Haiti, it is important that you are properly insured.

First, you’ll want to check to see if your current insurance plan provides international coverage. If they do not, you may want to consider a travelers insurance.

Many travel plans will cover you outside your home country; however your plan may have additional restrictions if a travel warning is issued. In fact, some travelers insurance may reduce their benefits or restrict coverage all together if the US State Department issues a travel warning before you leave. On January 14, 2010, the US State Department issued a warning for Haiti urging citizens to avoid travel because of the damage.

What does this mean for you?

You will want to double-check to make sure that your travelers insurance will cover you on your trip to Haiti.

A well-suited option is the International Travel Medical Insurance – this travelers insurance will cover you outside your home country whether you plan to be in Haiti for 5 days or for 3 years. This plan provides the essential coverage you’ll need, including doctor visits, hospitalization, emergency medical evacuation and repatriation.

If you have questions about coverage, please contact our customer service representatives for further assistance.