Health insurance/medical care when travelling overseas

[spartana]

I plan to leave to travel full time for a long while starting in Europe. I'm a US citizen who uses the Veterans (VA) Healthcare system and don't have regular private health insurance. What options are there for traveller healthcare and insurance? Especially if I need to be evacuated back to the US for care. Also is there a one-size-fits-all policy that can be used across different countries worldwide or must you buy a new policy within each country or region? What is the usual cost? TIA

[Catbert]

Not a subject I know much about, but this is where I'd start:

https://www.forbes.com/advisor/l/best-travel-insurance/?utm_content=Annual_Insuarance_Phrase&utm_term=annual%20travel%20insurance%20policy-Phrase&gclid=CjwKCAiAyfybBhBKEiwAgtB7fnVXVGMnhu7Z-EQb9TOY-qJiQYLJUzDtQWgPJhYM1ybICIUO3p12uRoCFnYQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Check to see what your credit cards might offer as well as what limits they have.  For example, my Sapphire Reserve card has evacuation coverage up to idk 100k.  However, it will get you a "suitable" location not necessarily the US. 

Some insurance will limit coverage to trips of less than xx days (often 100).

Good luck both with insurance and the new phase of your life.

[Goldielocks]

This may or may not be helpful...
Check to see if you can get the worldwide coverage "excluding treatment in the USA".   Those travel medical policies tend to be much much cheaper. (half price?) You may need to call to confirm with an agent that you are allowed to buy it.

 As a Canadian, this is what I have used in the past.

It is interesting that you don't have an option with VA to add on travel medical insurance (paying for it), and that they only have the FMP program for international healthcare.

[jim555]

https://www.squaremouth.com/ is a site I was looking at for travel insurance.  Haven't used them since my "slow travel" plans are still on hold for now.

[Gremlin]

Just be aware that travel insurance may not be appropriate if it is full time. Many travel insurance policies (even annual policies) may cap at 180 days away per annum. A local health insurance policy for your primary destination(s) may be more appropriate.

Whatever you sign up for, make sure you read the fine print

[daverobev]

I remember one joke about the cost of breaking a leg in the US being equal to flying to Spain to see a bullfight, breaking a leg there, getting care there, staying during recuperation, going to see another bullfight, breaking the other leg, getting care, recuperating, then flying back to the US...

So depending on your deductible it may be cheaper to be 'uninsured' in at least western Europe.

You might try the 'expatfire' subreddit, I'm sure there will be people there who have what you describe.

This random blog post https://expertvagabond.com/travel-insurance-tips/ mentions https://www.hthtravelinsurance.com/glCitizens_plans.cfm which seems to go through to https://www.geobluetravelinsurance.com/products/longterm/xplorer-5-overview.cfm

[jim555]

You would need good repatriation insurance so you can come back and get treated here. 

UK (and I suspect other countries) will cover A&E (emergency care) for visitors for free.  Getting admitted is when they start charging.

[flyingaway]

I have never bought any medical insurance for overseas travel purpose. I did have some medical problems and needed to visit doctors in China (severe cough, ear infection, etc.) and got blood tests, chest x-ray, and other tests, medications, etc, for about $200. I bought over-counter medicines at local pharmacies for $1~2 for bad food problems in Laos and Vietnam, minor foot injuries in Myanmar and solved the problems.

In my opinion, many blogs advocating certain travel insurances are for their ads purposes. I would not bother to file claims and battle with the insurances (translating the receipts and documents?) for a few hundred dollars.

[jim555]

I have never bought any medical insurance for overseas travel purpose. I did have some medical problems and needed to visit doctors in China (severe cough, ear infection, etc.) and got blood tests, chest x-ray, and other tests, medications, etc, for about $200. I bought over-counter medicines at local pharmacies for $1~2 for bad food problems in Laos and Vietnam, minor foot injuries in Myanmar and solved the problems.

In my opinion, many blogs advocating certain travel insurances are for their ads purposes. I would not bother to file claims and battle with the insurances (translating the receipts and documents?) for a few hundred dollars.

The "getting hit by a bus" thing is why you have health insurance when traveling.

[tj]

On bogleheads, they are always recommending going to tripinsurancestore.com  - calling them  on the phone and they will be able to suggest a policy for your circumstances vs. you having to do all the research and hope for the best.

[iluvzbeach]

I’ve previously priced coverage through Allianz at around $250/pp for the year. It basically covers emergency care & repatriation in the event more serious medical attention, or hospitalization, is required. Not sure whether the 180 day limit applies.

Here’s a link for policies up to 9 months in length:

https://www.allianzcare.com/en/personal-international-health-insurance/products-and-services/flexicare.html

They also have options for 12+ months.

[bacchi]

Cigna also has international plans: https://www.cignaglobal.com/. Worldwide ex-US coverage is cheap.

[Gremlin]

Thanks for all the info and links. Will check them out.Haven't delved too deep yet but made a plane reservation for late Dec so guess I need to get on it asap.

Can you let us know what you come up with?  I'm sure that this would be useful knowledge for the wider forum group.

[Goldielocks]

Spartana,
Try googling "expat health insurance".... I saw above that you were getting a rabbit hole for travel insurance, but what you want sounds more like what people on working visa's need.   That was the type I got when I returned to Canada after working elsewhere, and before my resident -based insurance kicked in.

This is the type I am talking about.... I have zero idea how to figure out the lowest cost provider, this is just a random one, but you want the "excluding USA" plan.

https://www.internationalinsurance.com/cigna/medical/

[Goldielocks]

Spartana,
Try googling "expat health insurance".... I saw above that you were getting a rabbit hole for travel insurance, but what you want sounds more like what people on working visa's need.   That was the type I got when I returned to Canada after working elsewhere, and before my resident -based insurance kicked in.

This is the type I am talking about.... I have zero idea how to figure out the lowest cost provider, this is just a random one, but you want the "excluding USA" plan.

https://www.internationalinsurance.com/cigna/medical/

I did look at Cigna and looks like you need to have a foreign address and or residency to qualify - neither of which I will have - and probably covers more medical care things well beyond emergency care and evacuation I won't need. But will look into it further as it does cover a lot of countries.

Ah, good point.  Did you say you are going to multi country?  Because you can get country specific medical, for brazil / france / spain are reasonable expat rates, although need to read up on the evacuation coverage there, too.

[Catbert]

https://www.gocurrycracker.com/geographic-arbitrage-wins-again/

Some discussion of health insurance overseas, but more specific info in the comments.