Travel Insurance Medical Only feedback

It's not exactly the same, but I have an expat policy with Alianz, who also does the sort of policy that you are looking for. They have paid every claim with no problems at all.

We always buy GeoBlue for our international trips. We used it for the first time this past spring when a misstep off the curb landed us in an urgent care type situation in France. We kept all the receipts and submitted them when we returned home, and were reimbursed within a few weeks.

I suppose we are really purchasing medical coverage to guard against a major medical situation. The cost of the policy we purchased was more expensive than the cost of our trip to France's version of urgent care...but none the less, it all worked as expected.

I've heard of others using Aliianz and then if you are concerned about medical evacuation, there's Medjet.

I have gotten medical evac insurance from GeoBlue before and it went well, but of course, never had to use it. I generally don't get regular medical insurance since my Medigap plan covers medical emergencies.

I've read good things about tripinsurancestore.com which only works with a small group of insurers that they trust to treat clients right. You might want to browse their website and give them a call.

My personal observations and beliefs on the subject, which if you believe, might shape your decision making a little on the subject.

1. There have been so few claims that there isn’t a great database of reviews based on actual experience.
2. Most people don’t review unless it’s negative so you will read a lot of negatives but that doesn’t necessarily mean the policy is bad. How many misguided expectations have we seen on this forum for instance.
3. You will be hard pressed to find a hospital, doctor or clinic in Europe that accepts insurance as payment (I do know one that does in Budapest if you come this way, but it very, very rare).
4. Because no one will accept your insurance you will have to pay cash. Make sure you have the money in your ATM account or Credit Card. How much? How sick do you plan to be? Do you want to go into the public system in Romania or would you prefer a private clinic (go with the private).
5. Some policies will give you a cash advance. I have no idea the hoops you will have to jump through to get that money and how long it will take to get it. I wouldn’t bank on it, or if I did it would be after I paid a lot out of pocket.
6. European healthcare tends to be less expensive than the US. So what would cost you $250.000 in the US might only cost you $25.000 in Europe. You have $25.000 in your bank account?
7. European healthcare systems are not universally the same. The only one that I have heard more good than bad about is Austria’s. But good and bad are relative and in this case relative to the type and style and comfort of care you would expect to receive in the US (ignoring the cost). Many systems just don’t come close to what you are use to, but I suspect that they will all keep you alive.
8. Private care will generally be more like what you are use to in the US, so if you have the option go that way first. Might not be a bad idea to search out one good private clinic in each of your stops. Will your travel policy pay for private care? But rather than waiting a week to get into the public system for a sprained ankle, might be worth paying out of pocket at a private clinic.
9. Because the type of care may not meet your expectations, an evacuation policy might be in order. I checked them out years ago and MedJet was the one that was the most flexible and most likely to fit my needs. Things may have changed though.
10. If you do get an evacuation policy, read carefully under what conditions and to where the policy will take you. Some take you home, some take you to the nearest coast, some do it if you want it some do it if thats what has to happen to keep you alive.
11. Make sure you are not going to an excluded place. A country at war for instance. Or maybe Israel (i really dont know),
12. Make sure you are not participating in an activity that is not covered. I went flying in Ukraine a few years ago, no I am not a pilot; read the fine print a while later to discover it wasnt covered.

I usually buy medical coverage and evacuation for wife and self for overseas trips. American Express offers a something like a hundred thousand dollar coverage for a month for two for about $60.

I thank Mr. E. for putting together that list. Everything on it rings true to me.

Thanks for the info all

Thank you, acraven. You should really have something, but it's always going to be a subjective shot in the dark and a massive learning curve if something does happen.