Insurance For Travelling To Usa

[tajartale]

So I just got back from visiting home and this year ended up in the ER for some stitches. As I only visit the US every 2 years or so and live the rest of the time in Bangkok or Seoul, I'm not insured. The good news is I qualify for some negotiation of the bill, thanks to my local hospital's indigent care program. But this is not a good way to do things, so I'm wondering if anyone here has any recommendations on how to deal with the problem of health insurance in America when you don't actually live there.

Is it possible to get travel insurance for your home country?

Is it possible to get a temporary insurance plan and then cancel after one month?

Are there other options?

Obviously, it goes without saying that enrolling in full-time coverage for a country I don't live in isn't something I can afford or am interested in. Also, I'm not in Thailand on a working visa so I'm not sure that I would qualify for any of the robust 'international' plans that might (?) cover me in the US. I'm not insured in Thailand either, but from the looks of bills I've gotten over the years from local hospitals, I shouldn't be bankrupted even if I need catastrophic care.

I'm interested in any thoughtful approach here. Those of you living in civilized, socialized-medicine countries, count your blessings!

MY BAD...THERE'S AN INSURANCE FORUM...CAN SOMEONE PLS MOVE THIS THERE? THANKS!

Edited January 21, 2011 by tajartale

[ThaivisaInsurance]

For a brief visit back to the States every couple of years then Travel insurance is fine for emergencies.

For your next visit - or any other types of insurance - you can get an on-line quote HERE as you are a Thai Visa member.

[jfchandler]

I travel back to the U.S. periodically, and always buy medical travel insurance to cover me there (although my Thai medical insurance also includes some cover in the U.S.). The travel medical policy I buy also includes optional collision damage waiver coverage for a rental car, at a bit extra price. For a typical week trip, I think the medical part is about $50 and the car CDW is another $35 or so... total about $85 for one week's trip.

I buy through my regular English-speaking Thai insurance broker in Bangkok, and the coverage is provided by Pacific Cross Insurance/Bon Voyage Travel Insurance. You can purchase coverage for various periods of time, a few days, a week, two weeks, longer up to 6 months maximum.

[tajartale]

I travel back to the U.S. periodically, and always buy medical travel insurance to cover me there (although my Thai medical insurance also includes some cover in the U.S.). The travel medical policy I buy also includes optional collision damage waiver coverage for a rental car, at a bit extra price. For a typical week trip, I think the medical part is about $50 and the car CDW is another $35 or so... total about $85 for one week's trip.

I buy through my regular English-speaking Thai insurance broker in Bangkok, and the coverage is provided by Pacific Cross Insurance/Bon Voyage Travel Insurance. You can purchase coverage for various periods of time, a few days, a week, two weeks, longer up to 6 months maximum.

So it _is_ possible to buy travel insurance to a country I'm already resident in?

If that's the case, then this seems the simplest route. Out of curiosity, do you know what the deductibles are on this kind of plan? Would it have helped pay an ER visit ($1000+) or is it for catastrophic coverage only?

Also, are there residency requirements to purchase health insurance in Thailand? I usually am here on a non-O or sometimes just a tourist visa. Can I get insurance in Thailand then?

This is kind of a moot issue since I suspect I'll be in South Korea from mid-summer. In Korea, I'll have to be employed to be covered by the national health scheme, but my question about travel insurance would still apply. I know there is domestic travel insurance in the US, but it just seemed illogical to me that international travel insurance could be issued for returning to your home country.

Can you help clear up?

[jfchandler]

T, I'm not an insurance agent or broker... just a customer...

But as I understand it, if you're residing in Thailand (pretty much regardless of visa status), then you'd be eligible to purchase the travel insurance I mentioned that would cover you for travel to any country outside your country of residence (Thailand).

I believe the plan I mentioned has a $300 deductible.. But fortunately, over a period of several years, I've never had to use the insurance for any claim... It's underwritten by a company out of Hong Kong...

Here's a link to their policy application and detail...

http://www.pacificcross-insurance.com/pdf/brochures/Bon_Voyage_Travel_Plan_1247720015.pdf

[ThaivisaInsurance]

I travel back to the U.S. periodically, and always buy medical travel insurance to cover me there (although my Thai medical insurance also includes some cover in the U.S.). The travel medical policy I buy also includes optional collision damage waiver coverage for a rental car, at a bit extra price. For a typical week trip, I think the medical part is about $50 and the car CDW is another $35 or so... total about $85 for one week's trip.

I buy through my regular English-speaking Thai insurance broker in Bangkok, and the coverage is provided by Pacific Cross Insurance/Bon Voyage Travel Insurance. You can purchase coverage for various periods of time, a few days, a week, two weeks, longer up to 6 months maximum.

So it _is_ possible to buy travel insurance to a country I'm already resident in?

If that's the case, then this seems the simplest route. Out of curiosity, do you know what the deductibles are on this kind of plan? Would it have helped pay an ER visit ($1000+) or is it for catastrophic coverage only?

Also, are there residency requirements to purchase health insurance in Thailand? I usually am here on a non-O or sometimes just a tourist visa. Can I get insurance in Thailand then?

This is kind of a moot issue since I suspect I'll be in South Korea from mid-summer. In Korea, I'll have to be employed to be covered by the national health scheme, but my question about travel insurance would still apply. I know there is domestic travel insurance in the US, but it just seemed illogical to me that international travel insurance could be issued for returning to your home country.

Can you help clear up?

Yes, you are able to buy the insurance to a country you are resident in and usually there is nil or very little deductible.

As for residence 'status' it does not matter what Visa you are on but the requirements are they one normally stays for more than 6 months in any one year.

For more answers specific to ones own circumstances please email to : [email protected]

For on-line quotes from any insurance company please go HERE

[jfchandler]

Let me correct a detail I mentioned in error above...re the Bon Voyage travel insurance...

In reviewing the policy documents, I did NOT find ANY deductible amount for the policy's emergency medical coverage.. The $300 amount I was thinking of was their daily limit for hospital room and board coverage...

I should also add, the medical part of the coverage only covers accidental injury and emergency treatment... not routine or non-emergency medical issues.