Home Country Coverage in Travel Medical Insurance

While travel medical insurance plans are primarily designed to provide health coverage outside your country of residence, some also offer home country coverage. What is this coverage, and how can it benefit you? Let’s dive into the details.

What is Incidental Home Country Coverage?

Many people who purchase travel medical plans do so for longer trips. For instance, your parents may be visiting you for six months or a year. In these cases, the insured is unlikely to maintain health insurance coverage in their home country. However, they may need to return home for a variety of reasons, such as:

• A work-related emergency
• To spend time with loved ones
• Unexpected personal events like family health emergencies or funerals

In these events, incidental home country coverage can be extremely helpful, as it can continue providing necessary medical coverage for the duration described in the policy even when returning temporarily to your country of residence.

The exact duration and conditions of incidental home country coverage can vary, but they typically will be something like this:

• Maximum of 14 days of incidental home country coverage, or
• 15 or 30 days of incidental home country coverage for every three months of coverage purchased, provided the incidental home country coverage is utilized after three months, or
• Five days of incidental home country coverage for every one month of coverage purchased up to a maximum of 60 days per 12 months of coverage.

Once again, these are just examples of what the incidental home country coverage can look like with some plans. You will need to read the policy document of the plan you’re interested in to view its exact details. Keep in mind that some travel medical insurance plans do not offer any home country benefits, so please contact us prior to purchase if you have any questions.

End of Trip Home Country Coverage

After a long trip abroad, purchasing health insurance as soon as you get back home may be the last thing on your mind. But the possibility of major costs from an accident or illness makes going without coverage too risky. This is where end of trip home country coverage in travel medical insurance can step in.

While not all travel medical insurance plans offer end of trip home country coverage, those that do will typically work something like this:

• One month of end of trip home country coverage for every five months of travel up to two months.

These numbers will vary by plan, so it’s extremely important to look at the policy details before purchasing.

In Conclusion

Home country coverage can be extremely useful for a variety of travelers beyond just vacationers and visiting parents. For instance, if you’re an international student, you should consider this coverage for holiday breaks or after your studies end. And if you’re unable to find a travel medical insurance plan offering end of trip home country coverage that meets your needs, you can also consider short term health insurance to help bridge the gap until you’re able to purchase permanent health insurance.

Breaking Down the Two Types of Visitors Insurance

If you’ve been researching or shopping for visitors insurance, you may have come across some terms you’re unfamiliar with like “fixed coverage” and “comprehensive coverage.” These represent the two primary types of visitors insurance, and they’re very different in the way they provide coverage.

Let’s compare fixed vs. comprehensive coverage visitors insurance plans and discover why it’s always a good idea to spend a little more for comprehensive coverage.

Benefits

• Fixed Plan: After the deductible, plan pays a set amount for each procedure that may not cover the whole cost.
• Comprehensive Plan: After the deductible, plan pays a set percentage to a certain level, then 100% up to the policy maximum.

Deductible

• Fixed Plan: Can be once per event or once per period of coverage.
• Comprehensive Plan: Typically for the full duration of coverage.

Out of Pocket Maximum

• Fixed Plan: Unlimited, as providers can charge as much as they like.
• Comprehensive Plan: No more than your deductible, coinsurance, and possible a small additional amount.

Policy Maximum

• Fixed Plan: An aggregate of all scheduled benefits. May not pay all expenses to policy maximum.
• Comprehensive Plan: All applicable expenses can be paid to policy maximum.

PPO Network

• Fixed Plans: Typically do not participate in a PPO network.
• Comprehensive Plans: Typically do participate in a PPO network for lower rates and direct (cashless) billing.

Providers

• Fixed Plans: You can visit any provider you like and insurance will cover the same, plus you may have to pay up front.
• Comprehensive Plans: You can visit any provider, but providers in your PPO network can charge lower rates.

Travel Coverage

• Fixed Plans: Travel benefits like lost luggage, trip interruption, and emergency reunion coverage are not provided.
• Comprehensive Plans: Travel benefits like lost luggage, trip interruption, and emergency reunion coverage (as well as other coverages) are typically offered.

Buy Comprehensive Coverage

While we do offer fixed coverage plans, we do not recommend them. The only advantage of a fixed coverage visitors insurance plan is the lower initial cost. But any savings from buying fixed coverage can quickly evaporate if you actually need to use the insurance. It only makes sense to cover yourself and your loved ones with a comprehensive visitors insurance plan for any trip to the United States.

Your International Travel Packing List

Traveling abroad is incredibly rewarding, but it can also be stressful if you don’t pack correctly. While many items are available to purchase after your trip begins, they can be expensive. Many other essentials are simply irreplaceable, or incredibly hard to get.

We’ve put together this smart international travel packing checklist. By making sure you bring along each of these items, you can ensure you’ll have an enjoyable, low-stress trip.

Travel Documents

• Passport – Some countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months beyond your scheduled departure, so be sure to check ahead of time.
• Visa – Be sure to verify if a visa is required for you to visit a specific country and start the visa application process far in advance if it is.
• Copies of your birth certificate, social security card, or government-issued photo ID.
• Proof of travel insurance or travel medical insurance.
• Plane/train/bus tickets and boarding passes.
• Reservation confirmations for your hotel, rental car, event tickets, etc.
• Credit and debit cards – Be sure to notify the card issuer in advance that you are traveling.
• Emergency contact list.
• Important addresses, guides, maps, etc.
• Travel document holder such as a money belt or slash-proof purse.

Clothing

• One pair of socks and underwear per day.
• Appropriate daily clothing for your destination for each day of your trip.
• 1-2 pairs of shoes for daily wear.
• 1 set of formal clothing ?and shoes (if applicable).
• Swimwear, flip-flops, and hat (if applicable).
• Leisure clothing for downtime.
• Hat and gloves (if applicable).
• Exercise clothing (if applicable).

Toiletries

• Travel-size shampoo, conditioner, and soap.
• Washcloth or loofa.
• Deodorant.
• Toothpaste, toothbrush, floss, and travel-size mouthwash.
• Shaving kit.
• Hairbrush and hair styling products.
• Glasses/contacts and cleaning kit/solution, plus backup pairs.
• Prescription medication in original prescription bottles with copies of doctor’s RX.
• Makeup and feminine products (if applicable).

Electronics and Leisure Items

• Cellphone and charger.
• Laptop/tablet and charger.
• Portable power bank.
• Power outlet adapter fitting the plugs in your destination country.
• Noise-cancelling headphones.
• Books, crossword puzzles, newspapers, etc.

Miscellaneous Items

• Sunglasses.
• Overnight bag for souvenirs or side trips.
• Jewelry.
• Lint roller.
• Umbrella.
• N-95 mask if concerned about pollution or sickness.

Conclusion

Planning your trip and packing in advance will give you plenty of time to dial in exactly what you need for your journey. Remember that you can replace small items if you forget or lose them, but travel documents should be double checked and kept secure at all times. Enjoy your trip!