How much medical coverage is recommended for different parts of the world

[alc13]

We both have Medicare and need medical insurance when we travel internationally.  I know medical costs are lower outside the US.  Any ballpark estimates for what we'd want if traveling in the EU?  Caribbean?  

[GeezerCouple]

2 hours ago, alc13 said:

We both have Medicare and need medical insurance when we travel internationally.  I know medical costs are lower outside the US.  Any ballpark estimates for what we'd want if traveling in the EU?  Caribbean?  

 

Any "ballpark estimates" of overseas medical costs would depend upon what injury or illness occurs, and how it progresses in *your* body.

 

I would be reluctant to determine my travel medical insurance coverage by where I expect to be going.  What if it is determined that you need to be transferred for more appropriate care, and that is in "a nearby country", which happens to be much more expensive?

 

And to the best of my memory, the insurance coverages are determined by the particular policy type.  One doesn't typically select "Policy A" and then select $X vs $Y for the medical coverage limit of that policy.  Perhaps there are some policies like that, but I don't think it's common.

The policies tend to be a "package", so one is getting a medical limit of $Z, but also certain coverages and limits for other travel problems.

GC

[klfrodo]

3 hours ago, alc13 said:

 I know medical costs are lower outside the US.  

I'm quite sure that is true but let me share my experience.

There is/may be a huge difference in some countries with lower health care costs and that could be attributed to how patients are treated and by what lengths and means are used.

 

My wife tripped and fell in Cancun. Possible fracture and severe lacerations on her head. She definitely needed stitches. She received excellent care in the local emergency department. For the lacerations, they actually called in a plastic surgeon to apply the sutures. That raised the costs by a ton. (Not nearly as much as it would have here in the States though). That would never have had happened to someone from the local population. Especially someone who was seen at one of the local free clinics. I verified this by asking a local tour guide the next day.

Basically, what I'm getting at is although healthcare is much less expensive in other countries for the general population, your privilege and assumed wealth may get you into a higher level of care if available, thus more expensive.

 

To get back to the original question, my policy max will vary on where I'm traveling. For me? $100K primary minimum.

[iamtrustworthy]

2 hours ago, alc13 said:

We both have Medicare and need medical insurance when we travel internationally.  I know medical costs are lower outside the US.  Any ballpark estimates for what we'd want if traveling in the EU?  Caribbean?  

Hi alc13,

 

It's lot cheaper to get medical treatment outside the USA. I've never seen one greater than $74,000.

 

I recently had a customer who had a heart attack in Panama City and his hospital bill for 10 days was $31,000. The medical transport back to Ohio was just under $40,000.

 

As for what you need, Are you covered by Medicare with a supplement you bought on your own, have Tricare or are on a former employers' retiree health plan? Or do you have Advantage plans?

 

Steve Dasseos

 

 

[alc13]

47 minutes ago, iamtrustworthy said:

Hi alc13,

 

It's lot cheaper to get medical treatment outside the USA. I've never seen one greater than $74,000.

 

I recently had a customer who had a heart attack in Panama City and his hospital bill for 10 days was $31,000. The medical transport back to Ohio was just under $40,000.

 

As for what you need, Are you covered by Medicare with a supplement you bought on your own, have Tricare or are on a former employers' retiree health plan? Or do you have Advantage plans?

 

Steve Dasseos

 

 

Sorry, I meant Medicare supplements.  (As an aside, the Advantage plans in our area are regional, and don't even cover travel outside our state and may be one or two others).  So we do need some coverage.

 

 Your Panama example is exactly what I was hoping to hear - thanks for that information.

[iflyrc5]

I additional medical insurance you really need to have medical evacuation insurance to get you back home if you can fly commercially and that can be VERY expensive depending on your condition.

[Babr]

19 hours ago, iflyrc5 said:

I additional medical insurance you really need to have medical evacuation insurance to get you back home if you can fly commercially and that can be VERY expensive depending on 

 

Any comprehensive travel policy includes evacuation, which means it will transfer you to another hospital if the hospital where you were first admitted can’t provide the care you need. It does not necessarily mean repatriation. Most often, the patient is returned home by commercial air once he has recovered, even if it requires a medical escort. In unusual circumstances, the patient may be returned by air ambulance if it is determined to be necessary, and he is able to survive the flight.

 

Membership (not insurance) in a medical transport group  like MedJet gives you more control over the decision about when and where to be transported once you have been admitted to a hospital. There are still some limitations. Check their website for details. 

[iamtrustworthy]

On 7/15/2023 at 1:12 PM, alc13 said:

Sorry, I meant Medicare supplements.  (As an aside, the Advantage plans in our area are regional, and don't even cover travel outside our state and may be one or two others).  So we do need some coverage.

 

 Your Panama example is exactly what I was hoping to hear - thanks for that information.

Hi alc13,

 

You're welcome.

 

Here's how your Medicare Medigap plan covers you outside the USA:
https://tripinsurancestore.com/medicare-does-not-cover-you-outside-the-usa/

 

Steve Dasseos

[alc13]

4 hours ago, iamtrustworthy said:

Hi alc13,

 

You're welcome.

 

Here's how your Medicare Medigap plan covers you outside the USA:
https://tripinsurancestore.com/medicare-does-not-cover-you-outside-the-usa/

 

Steve Dasseos

Didn't know that!  Good to know there's some emergency coverage, although capped.

 

I read my policy to say that if we don't have primary coverage the secondary coverage provided in the policy kicks in.  Is that correct?  So if we exceeded the Medigap emergency limit we'd be covered by a travel policy with secondary coverage?

 

[iamtrustworthy]

On 7/18/2023 at 5:39 AM, alc13 said:

Didn't know that!  Good to know there's some emergency coverage, although capped.

 

I read my policy to say that if we don't have primary coverage the secondary coverage provided in the policy kicks in.  Is that correct?  So if we exceeded the Medigap emergency limit we'd be covered by a travel policy with secondary coverage?

 

Hi alc13,

 

> So if we exceeded the Medigap emergency limit we'd be covered by a travel policy with secondary coverage?

 

You are correct.

 

Steve Dasseos

[Smitheroo]

On 7/15/2023 at 2:12 PM, alc13 said:

Sorry, I meant Medicare supplements.  (As an aside, the Advantage plans in our area are regional, and don't even cover travel outside our state and may be one or two others).  So we do need some coverage.

 

 Your Panama example is exactly what I was hoping to hear - thanks for that information.

I think its risky to rely on one person's experience

[alc13]

1 hour ago, Smitheroo said:

I think its risky to rely on one person's experience

If you mean don't count on medical treatments being cheaper outside the US, that's actually quite likely, if not a near certainty.

[Smitheroo]

2 minutes ago, alc13 said:

If you mean don't count on medical treatments being cheaper outside the US, that's actually quite likely, if not a near certainty.

I realize that is the general opinion however there was one person here commenting that his family member received care (expensive) that a local would never receive probably because of perceived wealth.  (being an American)  Whether or not this person needed a plastic surgeon (which added to the expense, but on the other hand you would probably want a plastic surgeon where the face is involved) wouldnt matter. If the care was received, payment would be expected.    Overall the cost of medical care is thought to be  less outside the US but specific examples would need to be considered

[alc13]

7 minutes ago, Smitheroo said:

I realize that is the general opinion however there was one person here commenting that his family member received care (expensive) that a local would never receive probably because of perceived wealth.  (being an American)  Whether or not this person needed a plastic surgeon (which added to the expense, but on the other hand you would probably want a plastic surgeon where the face is involved) wouldnt matter. If the care was received, payment would be expected.    Overall the cost of medical care is thought to be  less outside the US but specific examples would need to be considered

I didn't notice you are also from Maine!  Well, we must find a way to agree.  I can go along with needing to consider specific examples - I suppose some scenarios could end up being more expensive.

[Smitheroo]

13 minutes ago, alc13 said:

I didn't notice you are also from Maine!  Well, we must find a way to agree.  I can go along with needing to consider specific examples - I suppose some scenarios could end up being more expensive.

maybe not *more* expensive but *as* expensive as the US.  Like the plastic surgeon example, 

[Smitheroo]

On 7/15/2023 at 1:16 PM, iamtrustworthy said:

Hi alc13,

 

It's lot cheaper to get medical treatment outside the USA. I've never seen one greater than $74,000.

 

I recently had a customer who had a heart attack in Panama City and his hospital bill for 10 days was $31,000. The medical transport back to Ohio was just under $40,000.

 

As for what you need, Are you covered by Medicare with a supplement you bought on your own, have Tricare or are on a former employers' retiree health plan? Or do you have Advantage plans?

 

Steve Dasseos

 

 

So, are you saying that medical coverage of 1,000,000 is way over what is necessary? 

[iamtrustworthy]

You might find this Blog post I wrote on August 20, 2023 helpful

https://tripinsurancestore.com/blog/is-it-worth-paying-more-to-have-500000-medical-coverage/

 

Steve Dasseos