For anyone going on a foreign trip the basic knowledge of visitor insurance is necessary. International travel involves a long process and many formalities but one thing that is often underrated by travelers is Visitor Health Insurance. Simply put, visitor health insurance is quite similar to travel medical insurance.
It is meant for covering medical emergency expenses during international travel. Despite being so important, people don’t really understand what does it mean and how it can help in difficult times? Keep reading below to find out what visitor insurance is and what the possible implications in its context are.
Visitor Insurance Meant for International Travel
Every year millions of tourists travel to foreign countries and are vulnerable to medical emergencies while traveling. Sometimes, they make get an accident or they may get an illness that needs immediate aid. In such cases, visitor health insurance plans come to their rescue.
It must be noted that visitor health insurance is meant for anyone traveling on international trips. Some people often consider that only U.S. travel needs visitor health insurance but it not the case. No matter which country you travel to, you must carry a visitor health insurance plan to avoid any medical emergencies. For domestic travelers, visitor health insurance is not required in the U.S.
Visitor Health Insurance Quite Synonymous to Travel Medical Insurance
Visitors need to understand that visitor health insurance is just like a travel medical insurance plan. Since the medical treatments in foreign countries especially the U.S. is considerably high so a plan must be there to protect the travelers from the soaring expenses. The expensive medical care in foreign countries has made it a necessity for the visitors to take the insurance plans well in advance.
Just because a foreign country welcomes its tourists doesn’t mean it will welcome them for medical emergencies too. In case of a medical crisis, you generally have two choices either you spend on expensive healthcare services and go bankrupt or you return to your home country as soon as possible.
Plans of Visitor Health Insurance
Generally, visitor health insurance plans in the U.S. have two categories, one is a fixed plan and the other is a comprehensive plan. The fixed plan offers a cap on the kind of insurance service provided by the company. According to the plan, you pay less and enjoy the claim as to and when the need arises. But you can only claim up to the amount agreed in the insurance agreement.
In a comprehensive plan, you pay the whole amount and the policy covers the health care expenses in return. After you have paid your deductible and other payments, the company provides you with medical help according to the amount covered in the insurance policy. A comprehensive plan is more popular than a fixed plan in the U.S.
Coverage under Visitor Health Insurance
The extent of coverage by the visitor health insurance policies depends on the type of plan you have subscribed to. Most of the insurance companies would cover general emergency medical illness, health issues, and other chronic diseases too. Some plans like comprehensive plans can even help you to network with the specialized doctors in the city where you are stuck during the travel.
Conclusion
If you are heading to foreign countries without a visitor health insurance plan, then you may not be able to bear the expenses of medical care. Before you plan any international visit, you must assess your health insurance plans. Protect yourself by planning and choosing the right insurance plan.
