Traveling is fun, but if there’s a medical emergency, it could turn a trip of a lifetime into a financial disaster. Like, what if you had an arm broken, you went to an emergency room, and you got a $5,000 bill? Or what if you had to spend a night in a hospital in Europe and it drained your bank account?
Most people think that the expenses are a lot less than they actually are. Having the right coverage with the insurance company Auras can protect your health and your wallet at the same time.
Why Medical Emergencies Abroad Are So Costly
Prices of medical services in the US are quite high and depend significantly on your level of coverage. Imagine going to an emergency room in the US, and you had a broken arm, that bill would be 1,500 to 5,000 dollars.
Medical evacuation is even more expensive, costing $10,000 to fly a patient across the country to a hospital. These costs are a huge eye-opener, especially to people traveling in a country that provides free health coverage. If you have no insurance and you have a medical emergency, it could ruin your trip financially.
Common Healthcare Costs Faced by Overseas Travelers
Some typical healthcare costs travelers deal with include:
- Visiting an emergency room.
- Ambulance and transport services.
- Diagnostic tests like X-rays, blood work, and MRIs.
- Medications and other prescriptions.
- Surgeries or other procedures.
- Repatriation flights.
Let’s say you’re in New York and take an ambulance, which will cost over a grand. Then, you take a basic surgery in Australia that costs over $10,000, and that is without any insurance coverage. Travelers tend to think that these things won’t happen to them, but slips, sudden sickness, and other travel-related injuries happen a lot more than you think!
Why Your Regular Health Insurance Coverage Isn’t Enough When You’re Travelling
Most domestic health insurance policies cover little to nothing in other countries. Even policies that do cover emergency health care will often exclude care that includes hospitalization stays, medical transports, or any pre-existing conditions.
This gap in coverage is dangerous because travelers assume they have some form of coverage, only to discover that they have to pay an unregulated bill or prescription, and then, in the event of an emergency transport, they will have to pay out of pocket. That is where travel insurance from Auras comes in to close that gap in international insurance coverage.
How Travel Insurance Prevents Financial Disasters
Buying travel insurance is cheap, but in case of financial trouble, it can save you a lot of money. Travel insurance will also cover:
- Hospital and emergency care anywhere in the world.
- Evacuating a person and bringing them back home for medical reasons.
- Emergency dental care.
- Sickness-related trip interruptions.
Without a travel insurance plan, the person may have to pay a lot of money in case of an emergency. Even minor medical problems can be very expensive if they happen in a foreign country. Buying insurance will not help you, but it will help you focus on it.
The Business Traveler’s Dilemma
Professionals who relocate or frequently travel for work have more contact and exposure to travel medical risks.
- Long-haul flights have a higher chance of deep vein thrombosis or fatigue.
- Traveling a lot puts stress on a person.
- Trying to schedule a routine and stick to it for the day will be stressful.
- Sickness or injury will disrupt work, but it will also be stressful. Having insurance from Auras will help you focus on work and not on the insurance plan.
Checklist for Business Travelers Before Departure
To ensure you have the right travel insurance plan, check the steps below:
- Review your plan detailing benefits, limits, and exclusions.
- Add emergency assistance contact numbers to your phone before saving them.
- Have both digital and printed copies of your insurance documents.
- Study the health risks and the vaccinations needed for each country.
- Set aside a small amount of money before insurance pays for any emergency expenses.
This ensures the checklist works, allowing you to focus on your job without worrying about a medical emergency.
Keeping Your Health and Money Safe
Travel, especially for work, can be good and risky at the same time. Being sick or hurt on a trip can be detrimental to your health and financially draining. When you get insurance from a good company, like Auras, you get to protect your health and your money.
Having insurance means you have protection. You will be able to travel and not worry about getting a big medical bill because you will get help right away. Protecting yourself with a small expense now will save you money later.