Experts say travel health insurance can be crucial

[RoyGBiv]

I'm posting this more because I know people involved in the story than the subject itself, but the subject is an important one. These kinds of costs can bankrupt people even if they have insurance and run into a company that looks for every excuse they can possibly find not to pay.

By LINDSEY TANNER, AP Medical Writer Lindsey Tanner, Ap Medical Writer – Sun May 9, 1:32 pm ET

--CHICAGO – Plane tickets, check. Passport, check. Medical evacuation insurance? It's probably not something most people think about when packing for a vacation.

...

Their regular health insurance covered many expenses, but not flying him home on a jet specially equipped for transporting critically ill patients and medical equipment. The cost exceeded $100,000.

...

Robby, a 79-year-old retired college professor, slipped on the rain-slicked marble tile in China on July 21. His head hit the ground, but he got up and seemed OK, so they boarded a tour bus heading into the mountains. Robby quickly became ill, vomiting and complaining of sinus-like pain. No one knew yet that his brain was bleeding.

The nightmare that followed included a trip down the mountain in a makeshift van-ambulance to a hospital where no one spoke English. Doctors drilled holes into Robby's skull and removed a huge blood clot. He was flown by air ambulance to Hong Kong for more surgery; then back to the United States.

The supplemental insurance ended up covering Robby's multi-leg trip home, including arranging for several flights with medical experts on board. Robby never recovered, however, and died Dec. 9.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100509/ap_on_he_me/us_med_travelers__health_emergencies

RIP, Mr. Robbins.

[gateley]

1. On the other hand, a friend of my brother's was traveling the world, picked up

something in Egypt, went ahead to Paris, and by the time he got to England was feeling at death's door so went to the hospital. They encouraged him to say he first noticed the symptoms in England, so he was admitted to the hospital and treated there for 6 weeks. No bill.

But China isn't England, and if he had come back to the US his insurance might have not covered whatever expenses, so he was 'lucky' to have been in England when he decided to seek treatment.

[sinkingfeeling]

2. Wouldn't travel outside the USA without it.