Frequent Travelers Health Insurance

The intrepid traveler faces a variety of dangers, and the possibility of sickness or injury ranks high on the list. Insurance companies know that illness and accidents on vacation at home or abroad can mean costly medical fees, so if you travel frequently you may find that your health insurance premiums reflect your increased health risks.

Health Risks of Domestic and International Travel

Leaving home can be hard on your body. Long hours in cars and airplanes and unfamiliar food often mean that your immune system is not functioning at its normal level. Combined with an increased exposure to new diseases that your body has not yet developed antibodies for, these conditions can result in mild to severe illnesses requiring expensive medical care.

Frequent travelers, ask for a health insurance quote!

Common Travel Illnesses and How to Prevent Them

• Malaria – Malaria, characterized by shivering followed by joint pain, fever, and sweating, is transmitted by mosquitoes. In severe cases, malaria can cause coma and death. The disease is most common in tropical areas, such as Asia, South America, and Africa. You can prevent malaria by using mosquito repellent containing the ingredient DEET, and sleeping under a mosquito net if possible. There are also malaria tablets you can take before traveling to a tropical area.
• Cholera – If you’re traveling to developing or third-world countries, beware of drinking or eating contaminated food and water. Symptoms of cholera include upset stomach, severe diarrhea, vomiting, and fever. The disease develops quickly, and could cause death within a few hours without treatment. To prevent cholera, do not drink tap water, and be wary of food sold and cooked in unsanitary conditions.
• Traveler’s thrombosis – Also known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), traveler’s thrombosis can be caused by sitting for long hours on a plane, bus, or car, which causes a clot in the legs. In a worst case scenario, the clot can break off and travel to the brain, causing a stroke. To prevent DVT, get up and walk around often to maintain circulation in your limbs.

There are other region-specific diseases you should be wary of. For example, the avian flu in Asia and measles, mumps, and polio in Africa. The Center for Disease Control’s website has information about health concerns of countries around the world. Check their site for health updates and any preventative medications or vaccines you should take before traveling to risky areas.

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Getting Health Care While Abroad

Before your trip overseas, check with your carrier to see if your policy provides coverage outside of the United States. If so, carry your insurance card and claim forms with you when you travel, and if you use medical services, keep copies of medical records and bills. You will likely have to pay upfront for medical services overseas, and file a claim when you return home.

If you do not currently have a medical plan, or if your policy doesn’t extend outside the U.S., be aware that medical facilities overseas will vary in quality. You may also want to consider buying a supplemental plan that will provide coverage overseas.

Travel, Illness, and Your Health Insurance

How will contracting an illness during travel affect your health insurance policy? If you currently have health coverage and fall ill during your trip, you should not have to worry about your insurance being canceled (this is true in the majority of states). Depending on the type of plan you have, however, you may have to pay more to see a specialist or obtain prescriptions to treat your illness.

The bottom line is, if you’re planning on traveling sometime in the future, it’s best to obtain a health insurance policy. Even if it doesn’t pay for medical services overseas, your financial burden will be lessened when you return and need to receive treatment for an illness that befell you on your trip. In addition, if you contract a serious illness while abroad and try to apply for coverage when you return, you could be turned down for having a preexisting condition. So start early and get a health plan that will protect you and allow you to relax on your trip!

Do you travel for work or play? Request a health insurance quote today!

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