The Role of Travel Medical Insurance in Managing Travel Risks
Should something arise on a trip abroad that requires medical treatment, medical costs could become exorbitantly costly. Travel health insurance provides an important safety net that may reduce these unexpected expenses.

As with other insurance policies, travel medical plans come with both deductibles and coverage limits that must be satisfied before purchasing them. The cost will depend on factors like age and length of trip.

1. Medical Evacuation
If you become sick or injured during your travels and the local hospital does not have adequate facilities to treat you, medical evacuation coverage will get you to a more suitable facility - usually by air transportation - which is known as emergency medical evacuation (medevac).

Travel insurance policies at https://auras.insure/ often cover this expense, which can run into the thousands. They also typically pay hotel costs and meals for your bedside companion while you're hospitalized, as well as providing repatriation benefits if you die while away from home.

Independent travel insurance plans also provide emergency medevac coverage, though this coverage tends to be less extensive than what is provided by medical transport membership organizations such as Medjet.

2. Lost or Stolen Luggage
Air travel has been particularly stressful this summer. According to Department of Transportation data, 220,000 bags were "mishandled," meaning lost, damaged, delayed or stolen by airlines and received compensation; while many travelers find the thresholds inadequate in covering high-value items. Travel medical insurance with baggage coverage may provide necessary compensation.

Experts advise travelers to place identification and destination details inside their luggage, use brightly-colored ribbons or stickers, and keep an eye out for their luggage on carousels. When checking bags due to tight connections or convenience, leaving plenty of time between layovers may reduce risk of mishandled luggage mishaps; comprehensive travel medical insurance plans, credit cards, homeowners or renter's policies often offer some form of baggage coverage as well.

3. Medical Payments
Falling sick or injured when traveling abroad can be financially disastrous, since most domestic health plans don't extend coverage overseas. Travel medical insurance provides coverage of emergency medical expenses incurred during an international journey.

Understanding the terms of any policy before purchasing is important, for example coinsurance can play a part in determining how much a traveler will owe and what amount an insurer will cover.

Some policies also exclude claims related to substance use or participation in risky activities, so travelers who are concerned with these exclusions should add add-on riders. If a fatal accident does occur, some plans offer death benefits that cover cremation/burial costs locally as well as repatriating remains back home.

4. Pre-Existing Conditions
If you have a medical condition, travel medical insurance can help cover unexpected illness or injury costs. But before signing any policy, be sure to review it thoroughly to ensure it covers both your specific situation and risks associated with your trip.

Before the Affordable Care Act (ACA), many people were either denied individual health insurance policies or charged higher premiums because of pre-existing conditions, leading to much debate over health care reform. Pre-existing conditions remain one of the major obstacles to healthcare reform today.

Although the Affordable Care Act prohibits insurers from denying coverage or increasing rates for Americans with pre-existing conditions, some companies still employ a more limited definition and impose waiting periods or exclude coverage altogether - for instance travel medical policies may use different definitions than what are permitted under ACA rules.

5. Additional Coverage
Travel medical insurance plans provide additional financial protection against risks that could arise on an overseas journey, typically at a reasonable cost. Coverage can usually be purchased for most trips.

Travel health plans typically provide coverage for doctor's visits, hospital stays, diagnostic tests and prescription drugs; in addition, some plans offer emergency evacuation and 24/7 phone assistance services.

Most policies exclude preexisting conditions unless waived through a look-back period and don't cover routine dental care or pregnancy costs, hazardous sports like bungee jumping and sky diving are usually excluded; other coverage might still be available, however. Atlas Travel and Patriot Travel offer special "natural disaster" add-ons which reimburse costs incurred during travel due to natural disasters.