Medical Insurance

[emmsmama]

The only thing I haven't extensively researched yet is insurance for our trip. I'm not concerned about trip insurance for plane travel as we are driving and the condo is fairly easily refundable if something really unforeseen came up. The tickets I bought are non-expiry so I'm not worried about that either.

The only thing I'm wondering if I should get insurance for is medical. I'm just worried about if we had to take a trip to a clinic or hospital unexpectedly. Obviously nobody plans for that to happen, however being from Canada I don't know how it would work if we needed even minor medical care in the US.

So does anybody have info./advice they could share about medical insurance?

 

[tribus121]

I would contact your Insurance broker ( that you use for car/home insurance )as long as you are under 65 it should not be too expensive that is what i used to do before i was coverd through work

 

[TammyLynn33]

I use PC travel insurance it was reasonable and they were quite friendly and helpful.

 

[highland3]

Travel medical insurance should be a must-do on your checklist.

Thankfully, we've never had to use it... but the one time you do, it will be invaluable.

Shop around, but keep an eye on the small print and the services it covers.

 

[tmli]

The question you need to be asking yourself about medical insurance is Are we covered? If the answer is no......buy it!!!

 

[DearDaisyinDurham]

Travel medical insurance should be a must-do on your checklist.

Thankfully, we've never had to use it... but the one time you do, it will be invaluable.

Shop around, but keep an eye on the small print and the services it covers.

twice we've had friends w/ major medical issues while traveling - one had a heart attack in Florida; the other had a serious accident in St. Lucia. Their policies saved them thousands of $$$$.

We've never had to use it but we always always buy it. You might check your credit card companies, sometimes if you pay for your trip w/ the card you get free coverage. Beyond that, we've bought through CAA, RBC & the Flight Centre. HTH.

 

[FayeW]

I just did an online quote for CAA, and I think it is reasonable. Came to $60. for a family of 4 for 11 days coverage.

How does that compare to plans that others have used?

 

[CanadianGuy]

Faye:

That sounds quite reasonable.

Do be sure to check with your and your spouse's employer ... Frequently the optional medical benefits that you might have through your employer include good hospitalization plans for travel from GlobalAssist.

Knox

 

[Mrs. M. Mouse]

Faye that sounds very reasonable for 11 days. We're covered by CAA as well and thankfully have never had to use it but it's nice knowing it's there just in case!

 

[FayeW]

Faye:

That sounds quite reasonable.

Do be sure to check with your and your spouse's employer ... Frequently the optional medical benefits that you might have through your employer include good hospitalization plans for travel from GlobalAssist.

Knox

My husband is a Federal Government employee. Apparently our medical insurance will cover us, but we can't find the cards that you need with your plan and entitlement on it. Last time he insisted we not take travel insurance because we were "covered", but then never brought the card with him. Our daughter got sick and was treated at the first aid station at Universal. They were recommending going to an Urgent Care facility and all I pictures was dollar bills with wings on them. Thankfully, she recovered soon and didn't need any further treatment, but I was really upset with hubby for insisting on not buying travel insurance (or making sure he has what we needed!).

Since then, I have made an arbitrary decision to buy the insurance. Does any body know if having employee insurance will void the travel insurance? Basically, if I have coverage elsewhere am I required to use it, or can I buy my own?

 

[grover]

We buy blue cross, 105.00 covers us for any travel through out the year.
It is easy to use-I have had to use it in the USA..just gave them the info and they billed them direct-no hassel at all.

 

[michelle1]

My Ds had to go to a walk in clinic in Florida last summer with an ear infection and it cost me $135 so needless to say this year we bought insurance. We were going to purchase insurance to cover our 2 week trip to California which would have been $60 but instead bought a 1 year family plan for $135. At least 1 of us is in the States at least 10 times over the year and my Dh travels alot for business so it made more sense to do it that way. We bought it through our bank and it covers absolutely everything you can think of.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Our medical insurance was purchased through RBC for our upcoming January trip. Coverage for 2 adults and 1 twelve-year-old came to $54 for a week. Small change, really, considering the overall price of the trip.

 

[emmsmama]

I use PC travel insurance it was reasonable and they were quite friendly and helpful.

Thanks for all the info everyone. I deal with PC so I think I'm going to check them out first, then CAA if needed. We leave in 2.5 weeks so I better get my butt in gear on this.

 

[drcandon]

CAA is usually where we get out travel insurance, they are about the same as everyone else.

I did find out that if you book - rather charge - your entire trip ( ie flights, Disney vacation, car etc etc) though a reliable credit card company like Visa or MC then you can get full insurance from them as well..of course this assumes you pay it off...

Also if you work for the various levels of govm't you can get insurance from some as well..

 

[BLR]

My first post!

Back in March we made our first trip to Disneyland and the person organizing the trip had purchased medical insurance through BCAA. We ended up using it when my son had an asthma attack and spent a few hours in the Anaheim medical clinic, unfortunately missing a day at Disneyland but thankfully he was ok. The only complaint I have in regards to this incident was that the insurance company BCAA used took forever to pay the $700.00 bill to the point where it went to a collection agency but in the end they paid it, 6 months late and after several calls, faxes and a bit a bad language.

We went again in May and this time I used my employers plan (Federal Government who use Sunlife) which covered myself and my family. Fortunatlely this time we didn't need it. If you are travelling, best place to start is to check your employers plans to see if it does cover you and your family. In the case of Federal Government employees, go to the Sunlife website, logon and the info is all there including a card you can print out incase you need to contact Sunlife in the event you end up in the hospital. Your HR dept will also have the info on medical insurance.

Also, if you do need medical help when your down there, call or have someone call you insurance company immediately from the clinic or hospital.

Speaking from experience the best advice I can give is get in get insurance! I'm amazed at how many people I talked to don't have travel insurance, you probably won't need but if you do, that small investment can save you a lot of money and stress!

 

[emmsmama]

Does any body know if having employee insurance will void the travel insurance? Basically, if I have coverage elsewhere am I required to use it, or can I buy my own?

From the policies I looked at last night online (CAA and PC), both had clauses in them that said that if you had coverage elsewhere they would only cover what was not covered by the other plan.

I'm going to call PC today. It is $66 through PC for just medical for 17 days and it's $93 through CAA according to their online quotes. My only concern is that both had clauses that if they deemed you could return home for treatment and you chose not to then you wouldn't be covered. So what happens if we one of us go to a clinic with a sore throat 2 days into our trip and they say go home? Doubtful because from what I understood from the plan policies, they would have to pay our transportation home, but it just makes me worry when they have so many darn conditions and exclusions

 

[FayeW]

Yes, I read that in the policies as well so that was why I was concerned. My husband called the 800 number for Sun Life and requested an information booklet and new access cards, but it was just a voice mail system, so no idea if they have actually been sent out yet.

 

[minnie56]

We have Travelwell30 added to our annual Homeowners policy. Costs $82 a year for our family of 4..and covers us for every trip we take up to 30 days per stay.

For Trip cancellation and interruption..I use RBC. Always. Tho I do have interruption on my new Infinite card.

 

[OntFamily]

From the policies I looked at last night online (CAA and PC), both had clauses in them that said that if you had coverage elsewhere they would only cover what was not covered by the other plan.

I'm going to call PC today. It is $66 through PC for just medical for 17 days and it's $93 through CAA according to their online quotes. My only concern is that both had clauses that if they deemed you could return home for treatment and you chose not to then you wouldn't be covered. So what happens if we one of us go to a clinic with a sore throat 2 days into our trip and they say go home? Doubtful because from what I understood from the plan policies, they would have to pay our transportation home, but it just makes me worry when they have so many darn conditions and exclusions

Your insurance company would only send you home for treatment, if it would be less expensive for them if you received treatment in your home province.

So, for a sore throat, don't worry about it. If you suddenly require major surgery, and it is not an emergency situation, they'll pay to send you are you're family home.

One key point about the exclusions in travel insurance bought for a trip (as opposed to employer sponsered out of country medical insurance). Most will not cover you for pre-existing conditions. Medical insurance from your employer will cover pre-existing conditions.

A few years ago a friend of mine was diagnosed with a heart issue, 7 days before leaving for a USA trip (he was prescribed a heart drug). Three days before travel, he bought out of country medical insurance. In the USA, on his vacation, he had a heart attack, and required open heart surgery. The cost was $100,000. His insurance carrier refused the claim as they said the problem was pre-existing (as he was on heart medication).