Making overseas medical insurance claim-and denial of coverage

I've needed to use my insurance while in Mexico. The coverage was instant.... Sort of and not. You call the number first, they approve basic stuff and go from there.... Ie Dr visit, transportation to hospital, IV meds monitoring xray... (thought I may have broken a rib from coughing... Excruciating pain from pneumonia) they wanted to get my gp notes since I told them I had pneumonia a month prior so now it was a preexisting condition. I had to pay upfront before I could leave the hospital. Initially they denied my claim but lucky for me I also has a uti so after fighting they paid me back $2000. Now I make sure to pay the extra for preexisting conditions if I need.

I had Travel Guard trip insurance for a 54-night trip to Europe. I was quite sick in Berlin and had to visit the equivalent of an emergency room. I had to pay 100 Euro up front. Once I got home and got around to filing my claim online, it was very very easy. I had to scan my doctor's notes and bill and attach them to the online claim form. An agent called me the next day or so, and I had a check in my hand less than a week after I started the process. I even made a mistake and asked for $100 USD, and they corrected it to the exchange rate that day without further comment back to me, so I received the 109.xx that I had paid out.

As with any insurance, part of the secret is to follow procedures on the claim and to send as much documentation as you have.

Mine is just one experience, but certainly I would say Travel Guard was a real company, with very good online tracking so you could see exactly what was happening.

Note that "pre-existing conditions" don't always require extra money to cover. Prompt purchase of the insurance sometimes provides the protection being discussed. Many customers don't bother to read the boring small print. But if you make a claim, the small print isn't so boring! It's essential.

I once called to discuss pre-existing conditions at a particular company. They explained that, as the language hinted, those conditions were for the TRAVELERS. My elderly mother's pre-existing conditions were not excluded from MY coverage for MY trip. (Other companies may vary - I'm just making a point about fine print.)

We've had one claim with Travel Guard. Spouse suffered an injury while on a cruise and was treated by the ship's doctors on board and had the cost added to the cruise bill just for convenience. Filed a claim with Travel Guard when we returned. They did require us to furnish a reasonable amount of documentation. It was nothing, however, that was inconvenient or hard to supply. We had a check in less than two weeks.

If you have personal medical coverage here in the U.S., check to see what is and is not covered. Our Blue Cross-Blue Shield covered us fully while abroad. We simply paid the doctors and submitted claims. OTOH when we travel to Europe now, we buy medical evacuation coverage along with trip delay protection in case another volcanic eruption grounds all flights.

This is our experience in Sept. 2016.

We planned a trip to Germany and Austria for August 2016.
The only things we prepaid were for our airfare, directly with Lufthansa, and a rental car through www.gemut.com. The car rental cost was fully refundable up until day of departure, so no problem there.
We bought 2 Premium Economy seats on Lufthansa for $2,880. Non refundable fares.
We purchased AIG Travel Guard Trip Insurance with the pre-existing condition included. This was needed to be purchased within 10 days of our first trip purchase. Check with each plan for requirements.
I wound up needing Hernia Surgery in mid August and we needed to cancel our trip. I first called AIG Travel Guard. I printed the forms from the AIG Travel Guard website and filled out my parts, which included listing any doctor appointments, ER and hospital visits for the last 6 months. After completing my sections I sent the doctors/surgeon parts to his office. He mailed them back to me. They also required proof of the airfare cost and proof that it had been paid. Within 6 weeks we had a check for the airfare. Pain free (no hernia pun intended). It may have gone quicker, but I waited for my credit card statement and cashed check to prove payment of the airfare.
These are essential:
1- Keep all receipts from the first trip payment on.
2- Keep a good record of medical appointments, ER visits and any hospitalization dates and doctors and diagnosis 6 months prior to a trip if possible. May come in very handy.
3- Call the Insurance carrier.
4- Read the fine print when filling out your claim. I filled it out and then noticed it said to fill out using ALL CAPITOLS. Filled out the forms a second time. I also gave this (ALL CAPS) info to my doctor just in case he didn't see it.
I would not plan another costly trip without this insurance. Thanks to AIG Travel Guard for making this process pretty straight forward and uncomplicated.

Before purchasing travel insurance, be sure you know just what your regular medical plan will (and will not) cover. Our Medicare plan covers medical care needed when we're away from home. We've been reimbursed for an ambulance ride and overnight stay in an ER in Arles, France; doctor's visit and a hospital visit for tests in the Bahamas; doctor's office visits in Bath and Prague; and a doctor's visit to our hotel room on Budapest. In most cases, we've paid by credit card at the time and, then, have been reimbursed. In Arles, we were told that a bill would be sent and we simply submitted that to our insurer. In Bath, we were told that, since they had no way to collect money from us, there would be no charge.

We do purchase a plan from EA+ In case we need medical evacuation. We mostly self insure for cancellation possibilities, lost luggage, etc. I think it's important to consider your own situation before looking for a one-size-fits-all travel policy.

I believe Nancy is describing a supplemental Medicare plan, not basic Medicare. As far as I know, standard Medicare benefits provide no coverage in Europe.

Yes, mine is a supplemental plan, but the point I was trying to make is that it's a good idea to know exactly what your plan (Medicare or otherwise) covers before purchasing additional coverage.

Nancy, what supplemental do you have. I thought I had the best and they only cover 250

We used Travel Insured for the last few trips - recommended by our travel agent. I usually get it mainly in case something catastrophic happens (we are 45, 46 and our two kids.). For our Christmas market trip we were delayed overnight in London due to fog and had to make some itinerary changes. We were reimbursed $1100 and I was pretty pleased. :)

Medicare supplemental (medigap) policies that cover foreign travel:
https://www.medicare.gov/supplement-other-insurance/medigap-and-travel/medigap-and-travel.html

Medigap coverage outside the U.S.

If you have Medigap Plan C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, M or N, your plan:

Covers foreign travel emergency care if it begins during the first 60
days of your trip, and if Medicare doesn't otherwise cover the care.

Pays 80% of the billed charges for certain medically necessary
emergency care outside the U.S. after you meet a $250 deductible for
the year.

Foreign travel emergency coverage with Medigap policies has a lifetime
limit of $50,000.

Plans E, H, I, and J are no longer for sale....

I always carry Travel Guard (AIG) insurance and try to buy as soon as I have paid the deposit for my first part of the trip. This way it is suppose to cover preexisting conditions. I have not had to file for medical claims, but on my last two trips to Europe this summer, I had cancelled flights, delays, and lost luggage resulting in extra hotel costs, clothing, and unused tickets/tours. I scanned all my receipts , filled out the paperwork, and had checks within 7 days. Always keep all your travel paperwork until you are.back in the US (even your boarding passes). I was very thankful I had Travelguard.