Allianz Ireland has just told me they have nothing for a situation which seems as plain vanilla as can be. What has been your experience or what am I missing?
US based, covered in US via Medicare etc
International travel to various locations
Need medical cover when travelling outside the US
I can't make it any simpler! Would I get a different answer if I started with Allianz stateside?
TIA
Look at websites that compare travel insurance policies such as insuremytrip.com.
What is the "etc."? Do you have secondary insurance at home?
The etc in my US coverage is Medicare Supplement and Prescription Drug, neither of which are useable outside of the US
The etc in my US coverage is Medicare Supplement and Prescription Drug, neither of which are useable outside of the US
My Medicare supplement plan covers emergency medical care outside the US. I have to pay for it upfront, but then I get reimbursed when I come home.
For medical coverage, I would look at either BCBS Global Coverage or Medjet. Both of these cover medical problems and also medical evacuation if needed. That's really where you need the insurance because that can get extremely expensive, ranging in the tens of thousands of dollars or even higher.
If you are a US resident, you need to get US based insurance.
I have an annual Allianz policy that covers me when I'm over 150 milles from home. But they offer per trip coverage as well.
If you have a Medicare supplement policy, check to see if it offers you any coverage outside the US. Medicare alone does not. My supplement policy does cover a little but I added extra due to specific needs.
Medjet only covers emergency evacuation and not general medical coverage.
I just purchased 10 days for Scotland for my mother from Allianz. You need to call the U.S. phone number.
I have international medical coverage thru my personal insurance. I do purchase medjet coverage.
Do you want emergency medical coverage while traveling? Your Medicare Supplement plan probably has some coverage. For more emergency medical transportation or repatriation coverage look at bundled travel insurance, or something like Geo Blue and/or MedJet.
If you’re intentionally seeking medical care while abroad then that’s a different kettle of fish. I see that Geo Blue has an expat plan that allows that.
What Mardee said. I would call my Medicare Part C & D provider in the USA and ASK them. I have "Senior Advantage", covers $50,000 outside USA, and yes you'd have to pay out of pocket initially & get reimbursed. I carry their paperwork and hotline telephone number with me but haven't needed to use it.
I can't make it any simpler! Would I get a different answer if I
started with Allianz stateside?Yes, very likely. It does depend upon what state you live in.
cabraddick, I see from previous posts that you traveled to Rome just last month. Did you purchase travel insurance for that trip?
Editing to add: it looks like you have a trip to France scheduled this month?
As others are saying, there are a number of companies that provide medical insurance for travelers. However, you may be running into limitations of the policies, such as:
It sounds like you are already overseas? If so, I doubt they would issue a policy "mid-trip"
Coverage is usually for a limited time, maybe 40 days per trip and up to so many trips (if a yearly policy) or for a defined period, starting on your departure date.
Coverage is for emergency/urgent illness and accidents, if you are looking for insurance that would cover an elective, non-urgent, or routine procedure, you are probably out of luck.
If you are resident overseas, or on an extended trip (months and months) then you need to look beyond the "travel policies" and more at "ex-pat" medical coverage. Maybe if you share more about your need and situation, someone might have more input.
