Panning for the worst case…

[rbslos18]

An associate who is contemplating taking  a cruise is not yet convinced of the value of trip insurance, My argument that the insurance is part of the price. So I want to try another approach. 

What is the range of medical and evacuation bills Steve and others have seen?

 

[Jersey42]

In my opinion, everyone should have good travel medical and medical evacuation insurance.  If your existing health insurance is not adequate, it is usually very inexpensive to purchase a policy for just medical and evacuation. I believe it is more of a personal choice if you want to insure some of other coverages such as cancelation, interruption, trip delay and baggage. 

 

Take a look at one of Steve's recent blog posts regarding medical and evacuation costs.

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

 

Here are some excerpts from that link:

The most expensive medical claim I have ever seen was $74,000. The guy had a heart attack in Singapore in 2015. Accounting for inflation, it’s a still lot less expensive to get ill or injured in other countries (than the USA).

 

the most expensive medical transportation / evacuation I helped arrange was $127,000. It was on medical jet with a team of six doctors flying from Johannesburg, South Africa to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. Using a medical jet for a long distance transport isn’t very common. The majority are done on commercial airlines with medical escorts. The $127,000 transport was paid by someone who didn’t have any travel insurance.

Edited August 27, 2023 by Jersey42

[rbslos18]

1 hour ago, Jersey42 said:

In my opinion, everyone should have good travel medical and medical evacuation insurance.  If your existing health insurance is not adequate, it is usually very inexpensive to purchase a policy for just medical and evacuation. I believe it is more of a personal choice if you want to insure some of other coverages such as cancelation, interruption, trip delay and baggage. 

 

Take a look at one of Steve's recent blog posts regarding medical and evacuation costs.

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

 

Here are some excerpts from that link:

The most expensive medical claim I have ever seen was $74,000. The guy had a heart attack in Singapore in 2015. Accounting for inflation, it’s a still lot less expensive to get ill or injured in other countries (than the USA).

 

the most expensive medical transportation / evacuation I helped arrange was $127,000. It was on medical jet with a team of six doctors flying from Johannesburg, South Africa to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. Using a medical jet for a long distance transport isn’t very common. The majority are done on commercial airlines with medical escorts. The $127,000 transport was paid by someone who didn’t have any travel insurance.

I fully agree. Insurance is for a catastrophic event. I purchase it with the assumption and knowledge that bad things happen. Having known people who self-insured and lived to regret it, I’m not willing to take chances. I will share your email and Steve’s post with my colleague. Thanks

[rbslos18]

Sorry for the auto-correct. Panning is planning!

[klfrodo]

I can absorb the loss of a $5000 missed cruise.

An unexpected $50 to $100k medical and evac back home would financially devastate me

[Fishboy1947]

On 8/27/2023 at 8:58 PM, klfrodo said:

I can absorb the loss of a $5000 missed cruise.

An unexpected $50 to $100k medical and evac back home would financially devastate me

That’s my approach. I use credit card for travel protection and GeoBlue for medical and evacuation. GeoBlue’s cost is pretty reasonable, especially if you’re under 70