Travel insurance is good, but medical expenses are better? What if we join the two for your next trip?
As part of a trip abroad, Social Security offers a poorly adapted coverage. This is why travel insurance is the most comprehensive guarantee that can reduce your rest and compensate you for medical expenses abroad. Discover the care and solution to find the best travel insurance.
- Compared travel insurance: what are the best travel insurances?
- Something happens to me on a trip: what if I don’t have insurance?
- What are the different types of travel insurance?
Medical expenses reimbursed by travel insurance

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The medical coverage granted by the travel insurance will depend on the nature of the guarantees you have subscribed. All contracts are not valid, each insurer is free to offer its own guarantees.
However, in general, basic coverage is quite similar. Thus, when medical expenses are referred to, care and treatments related to an on-site illness or accident are discussed.
If you catch the flu in Spain, if you suffer from gastroenteritis in Spain India or if you fall during a hike in the Yucatan , travel insurance must be able to take care of you. It will compensate you for consultations with a doctor, for the various necessary examinations (radio, etc.) but also for the necessary medications.
Travel insurance: must I advance medical expenses
This will depend on the warranty. Some insurers only offer a posteriori refund, so you have to make the advance of costs. This can be handicapped in terms of the cost of consultations in some countries such as United States or Canada . At approximately $100 for a general practitioner, everyone can’t afford to advance the costs.
Some travel insurances offer direct regulation of medical care if carried out in a specific health network. This support is to consider if you want to preserve your holiday budget.
Refund ceilings for medical care
Choosing your travel insurance is consult the refund caps. Of course, this insurance will cover your medical expenses, but how far? Remember that in some countries the costs are exorbitant. Therefore, it is best to provide for a high ceiling. Make a comparison of the different ceilings to find the most suitable cover for your stay abroad.
Travel insurance exclusions
When you sign an insurance contract, there are fairly systematic exclusions. This may have serious financial consequences. Read your contract to know its exclusions and do not sign if you think these exclusions are too restrictive.
In general, for travel insurance, medical expenses are well taken care of, if it is proven that expenses are unpredictable. Thus, if you have fallen sick before leaving and need follow-up, it is highly likely that your medical care will not be refunded.
We also mentioned an accident. If you fall during a hike, you are compensated. However, if you have a parachute accident, only the extreme sports accident warranty applies. If you have not subscribed, you will not be supported.
Travel insurance for medical care
Be vigilant when signing your contract. Choosing his travel insurance for the reimbursement of medical expenses is read all the small lines of the contract.
If an insurance offers you an extremely competitive price with high refund ceilings, either it is cheap or there is important information to take into account. It is not rare that travel insurance imposes a franchise . For example, when consulting a doctor, she can offer a deductible of € 30 or more. Try, to the extent possible and depending on the price of the contribution, to find free travel insurance.
The costs of hospitalization abroad

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When referring to medical expenses, it is also thought of higher costs than a mere consultation with a doctor. Hospitalization costs can be extremely expensive. In the United States, there are thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars. How can they be handled without the subscription of a travel insurance? This one covers you if you are accidentally injured and you need to be operated or if you get sick and it requires hospitalization. If care is too heavy, it can, as part of your insurance guarantees, take care of your medical repatriation.
Careful once again: before subscribing travel insurance, check ceilings, exclusions, franchises, but also deficiencies. Lack is the time limit for which you pay, but you are not covered. Thus, you can have a 15-day deficiency, which means that the first 15 days during which you are insured, your hospitalization is not supported. You can also have a deficiency at the hospital entrance. Travel insurance can only take care of your hospitalization from the third day for example.
Medical care: travel insurance or social security?

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Health Insurance offers medical care. Within the European Union or the European Economic Area, the European Health Insurance Card (CEAM) allows you not to make advance fees. Outside this area, for urgent and unforeseen care, you can make a refund request upon your return. However, the support will not meet your expectations. It does not reimburse actual costs, but only on the basis of the conventional social security tariff.
You can also, if you have a Credit card high-end Visa Premier or Mastercard Gold type, benefit from your medical expenses. However, it will be necessary to ensure that ceilings are not too low and that exclusions, deductibles and deficiencies are not a barrier to this care.
Comparing travel insurance to reduce the rest

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You go from time to time or are a real globetrotter, you must find the travel insurance that meets your expectations. No one is safe from getting sick or being accidented during his trip. For this, a comparison is required. In fact, Chapka Insurance will offer you some guarantees, World Assistance (Allianz) another protection while Av International or Europ Assistance will offer you another coverage. Know the best value for money so that your stay abroad does not turn into a financial nightmare.
You understood it, leitmotiv is personalised. Your insurance must adapt to your profile. From now on, you are able to purchase insurance tailored to your needs.
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