What Do You Guys Think

When you travel to the states for a visit, or to anywhere for that matter, do you buy short term health insurance? If so, where do you get it? Prices??? Coverage?

TIA

The private health insurance I have here covers me, so no need for anything extra.

Until we became of an "advanced" age, I used to buy it through BUPA. I was very happy with their service and their rates. This time when spouse when north for 10 days, it cost around $100 CDN; I got it through a site for returning Canadians. I can't imagine what it will cost for the two of us for one month! I wouldn't leave home without travel insurance (even though it doesn't cover pre-existing conditions)! Not worth it.

When travelling through the U.S. of A. on my way to/from Canada, I take out a travel insurance policy from CAA (Canadian version of AAA). It is $25 for 7 days (60-65 age group) and can be obtained on-line from their web site. I have a CAA membership for roadside assistance and therefore get an additional discount for their travel insurance. The organization is self insured.

Recently a family member was visiting me here in Mexico and took out a policy to cover his trip duration. He took a bad fall and cut his leg deeply. I had to take him to an emergency ward in the nearby city we were visiting to get stitched up. Since it was a private hospital, the bill came to $7,500 MX. He was reimbursed quickly upon submission of receipts.

My Mexican health insurance doesn't cover me outside of Mexico, so I reluctantly bought a short term emergency health insurance policy when I had to go back to the U.S.

A woman named Julie Ray sells policies. She's reachable by e-mail at julianneray @ gmail.com. I have a local phone # for her also, if you don't reach her by e-mail. But in the past she's been quick to respond.

Ah, thanks Rosie, EXACTLY what I'm looking for. I'll shoot her an email and let you know if I don't hear back.

Don't buy a thing, check yourself into a hospital if necessary, let the USA solve your medical issues, go back to Mexico, don't waste the money, good old USA takes care of everyone! LMAO!

Right.

http://www.insuremytrip.com/

Jim is right.

Claro que si!
I don't think they'll even register you in a US ER these days unless you have some kind of insurance.
Waiting to hear from Rosa's gal.

If you are an American Express cardholder, take a look at their Travel Insurance. We pay $18/month and coverage starts anytime we are 100 miles away from home in the US or anywhere in the world.

My late mother travelled to Ireland for 6 months out of the year.
She bought a relatively inexpensive travel insurance for her trip.

I say relatively, because when she needed to be transported back to Canada after an accident, the insurance company sent a nurse and 2 assistants to bring her back.
They also had to book 5 seats for her on the flight back (so that she could be laid down across them during the flight).
They paid for her transportation by ambulance to the airport (not a small distance), and transportation to her hospital in Toronto.
They also paid for my sister to accompany her on the flight.

It's all relative. If you do not use it then it is expensive.
If you do need it then it can be the best investment you ever made.

Check your wallet/purse/murse. If you are paying additional for a credit card (ya know - those that charge U a yearly fee to use them), they can come with significant medical percs, such as flying U home. I recall my dead parents, Canadians, taking advantage of this perc in the fine print of their credit card contract (that stuff that comes with Ur card that no one ever really reads). It covered them for all this important stuff for that 180 day time frame ex - home. CB, U may want to read the fine print on that Alaska card ur payin for. Those- pay for premium cards- have some serious shit attached. Read them. In a lot of ways, those credit cards are cheap insurance. Guess what ? It's cheap insurance, in many ways. The insurance companies cut a deal with the card people knowing, full well, that very few read the fine print and will ever make a claim. So, everybody , highly reccomend reading the fine print, especially U Snowbirds.

We used Julie and it cost us $100 for the two of us for 1 month.

Julianne Ray, CTC
Ray Travel Resources

www.RayTravelResources.com

+52 376 766 2795 - phone (Mexico)
520 464 2407 - phone (US line)
504 285 7212 - fax (US line)
Skype - julianne2005

OFFICE HOURS - M - F 9 AM - 6 PM CST
2163 LIMA LOOP #071363
LAREDO, TX 78045

borderreiver wrote:Check your wallet/purse/murse. If you are paying additional for a credit card (ya know - those that charge U a yearly fee to use them), they can come with significant medical percs, such as flying U home. I recall my dead parents, Canadians, taking advantage of this perc in the fine print of their credit card contract (that stuff that comes with Ur card that no one ever really reads). It covered them for all this important stuff for that 180 day time frame ex - home. CB, U may want to read the fine print on that Alaska card ur payin for. Those- pay for premium cards- have some serious shit attached. Read them. In a lot of ways, those credit cards are cheap insurance. Guess what ? It's cheap insurance, in many ways. The insurance companies cut a deal with the card people knowing, full well, that very few read the fine print and will ever make a claim. So, everybody , highly reccomend reading the fine print, especially U Snowbirds.

Thanks for the tip BR. I will check it out.

Actually it is almost scandal level rated from many of these insurance companies in terms of denying claims. Yes read the fine print and don't
lie about previous conditions or they will never pay anything.

Z

Thanks, Hensley, Julianne hasn't returned my email so I will call her. Thanks for the info.

We've dealt with this often and by far the best coverage for the money we have found is through World Nomads (.com). Like pretty much all travel insurance there are age restrictions but the amount of coverage for what you spend far surpasses what I've found through Trip Insurance Store, Insure My Trip or any local agent. Check 'em out.

And yeah, one dare not travel back to the U.S.A. without asset insurance, which is really what this is. Your health you can insure by taking care and living here, but traveling in the land of $30,000 per day ER visits and litigious lawyers is hazardous to your wallet!

A P.S. on insurance is that if you plan on renting a car up there you'll have to fork over the big bucks for liability insurance coverage unless you've kept U.S. insurance for your car here. Visa and other credit cards often cover collision/comprehensive when you pay for the rental car with them (check your terms carefully) but they don't cover liability, which is essential. You often have to call the rental car company you plan on using to find out what they charge for liability. It ain't cheap - often $15-20 a day.

Thanks, everyone, for your help! Much appreciated. Julie emailed this morning and will call me this afternoon. I'll go from there.

Very good point coffeeguy! Many people haven't taken time to read the fine print from the credit card companies to understand exactly what the coverages are on rental cars and to my knowledge, none of them cover liability since that is typically covered by decent personal vehicle policies.

Some insurance policies here have liability coverage in US as part of policy.

Z