Do Not Plan International Travel Without Visitor Insurance Coverage

Friday, November 27th, 2009 at 6:28 am

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Overseas travel can be fun and exciting, but it can also mean a heightened possibility of falling ill. No matter how much planning is done, unexpected situations might crop up during travel. Without visitor insurance, managing the illnesses and unforeseen events can cause a huge deficit in the travel budget.

Visitors insurance maintains most characteristics of a short-term insurance plan. Plan periods can be anywhere from five days to a year, with a possibility of extension at the end of the plan period. The terms and conditions of visitors insurance are similar to other short-term plans.

Along with medical benefits, plan holders can also purchase coverage for trip cancellation. Typically, purchasing visitors insurance is easy and can be done by anyone. It is important that visitors consider various factors before choosing an appropriate visitor insurance plan.

Visitors’ health insurance typically covers costs related to hospitalization and outpatient care, prescriptions (excluding regular medicines for pre-existing conditions), emergency medical evacuation, accidental death and dismemberment, and the sending of the mortal remains home in the case of death of the plan holder.

When buying visitors’ insurance, check if your policy features trip insurance. This covers common unforeseen non-medical issues during travel—for example, flight cancellation and delays, lost baggage, and lost items during travel. If the plan holder wishes, he/she can purchase additional hazardous sports coverage for activities like skiing and bungee jumping. Whatever be the plan, it is a good idea to find out all about the benefits a plan offers.

Your visitors’ insurance policy is designed as a short-term plan, and will exclude several conditions. Pre-existing conditions and the prescription drugs required for their management are also usually excluded, although some plans may offer limited benefits for the sudden onset of specific conditions. However, some plans offer limited coverage for the onset of specified previously existing conditions.

In the United States, reputed visitors’ insurance plans usually feature a large number of healthcare professionals within their network. This means that the plan holder can avail of cashless settlement, as the hospital directly bills the insurance company. Usually, you don’t have to get a medical exam before buying visitors insurance.

Visitors insurance is designed for visitors to the United States, as well as for visitors to other countries. The plans are underwritten by reputed companies such as Lloyds, AIG, and Nationwide. Purchasing visitor insurance enables the visitor and the host to enjoy a worry-free trip.