Comments on: Is the health insurance debate missing travelers? http://www.elliott.org/blog/is-the-health-insurance-debate-missing-travelers/ The travel troubleshooter. Sat, 20 Mar 2010 16:21:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: abigail@ west bengal travel http://www.elliott.org/blog/is-the-health-insurance-debate-missing-travelers/comment-page-1/#comment-35866 abigail@ west bengal travel Mon, 15 Mar 2010 20:07:51 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=9227#comment-35866 A good descriptive article about traveling flight with sickness. People will get lots of help from this article. That's a really very good article through which people make themselves aware about all those staffs and insurance . Thanks for the detail informative post. A good descriptive article about traveling flight with sickness. People will get lots of help from this article. That’s a really very good article through which people make themselves aware about all those staffs and insurance .
Thanks for the detail informative post.

]]> By: Insurnace License http://www.elliott.org/blog/is-the-health-insurance-debate-missing-travelers/comment-page-1/#comment-30426 Insurnace License Fri, 08 Jan 2010 12:53:14 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=9227#comment-30426 I believe adding travelers insurance would only complicate the equation and since not all of us travel abroad it will be an added burden for those who don't in terms of higher taxes. I don't see helath insurance for travelers as an urgent need as having health insurance at home. Those who do travel should definitely look into their options of buying a policy that will cover them through the region they mostly visit. I believe adding travelers insurance would only complicate the equation and since not all of us travel abroad it will be an added burden for those who don’t in terms of higher taxes. I don’t see helath insurance for travelers as an urgent need as having health insurance at home. Those who do travel should definitely look into their options of buying a policy that will cover them through the region they mostly visit.

]]> By: Bela Fleck http://www.elliott.org/blog/is-the-health-insurance-debate-missing-travelers/comment-page-1/#comment-26271 Bela Fleck Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:20:19 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=9227#comment-26271 I always buy travel insurance because at this point, I'm not real sure whether my medical insurance covers me out of the country. As of January 1, I KNOW it does. I will continue to buy travel insurance, though. I always buy travel insurance because at this point, I’m not real sure whether my medical insurance covers me out of the country. As of January 1, I KNOW it does. I will continue to buy travel insurance, though.

]]> By: Topher http://www.elliott.org/blog/is-the-health-insurance-debate-missing-travelers/comment-page-1/#comment-26251 Topher Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:30:19 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=9227#comment-26251 I am very fortunate to have my medical coverage through a HealthPartners (Minnesota) plan that treats any services received in another country just like it would a local out of network provider - meaning they'd pay 50-80% of the bill. Still, I always purchase a travel insurance plan to cover the rest because 20% of a $20K hospital bill is still a lot of money. I'm always baffled by people who skip travel medical insurance. You're already paying hundreds, if not thousands, for your overseas vacation - what's another $50? I am very fortunate to have my medical coverage through a HealthPartners (Minnesota) plan that treats any services received in another country just like it would a local out of network provider – meaning they’d pay 50-80% of the bill. Still, I always purchase a travel insurance plan to cover the rest because 20% of a $20K hospital bill is still a lot of money. I’m always baffled by people who skip travel medical insurance. You’re already paying hundreds, if not thousands, for your overseas vacation – what’s another $50?

]]> By: Caroline http://www.elliott.org/blog/is-the-health-insurance-debate-missing-travelers/comment-page-1/#comment-26241 Caroline Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:31:42 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=9227#comment-26241 Given the debate here, I noted this article from TravelAgentCentral.com with interest. It's about the growth of medical tourism. It notes in part: "According to members of the Joint Commission International (the primary hospital accreditation organization internationally), more than 750,000 Americans sought treatment outside the U.S. in 2007 and that number is projected to grow to 6 million by next year." http://www.travelagentcentral.com/medical-travel/growing-world-travel-rx Chris, there's also some data in the article about the possibility of insurance companies outsourcing to parts of the world where treatments are less expensive. We may get global health coverage in the end, but it sounds more like that decision will be an economic one made by the providers, rather than a mandate from Washington. Given the debate here, I noted this article from TravelAgentCentral.com with interest. It’s about the growth of medical tourism. It notes in part:
“According to members of the Joint Commission International (the primary hospital accreditation organization internationally), more than 750,000 Americans sought treatment outside the U.S. in 2007 and that number is projected to grow to 6 million by next year.”
http://www.travelagentcentral.com/medical-travel/growing-world-travel-rx Chris, there’s also some data in the article about the possibility of insurance companies outsourcing to parts of the world where treatments are less expensive. We may get global health coverage in the end, but it sounds more like that decision will be an economic one made by the providers, rather than a mandate from Washington.

]]> By: barbie45 http://www.elliott.org/blog/is-the-health-insurance-debate-missing-travelers/comment-page-1/#comment-26229 barbie45 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:23:04 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=9227#comment-26229 Jasper i was not being snippy at all; i admire the British very much and have traveled exensively in the UK; I mean knowing how high their taxes are for national health and the need for supplemental insurance. Iam glad; Considering the horror stories I read daily inthe Guardian and Mailunder Labour; I am terrified that the USA IS ON THE WAY THERE TO. Jasper i was not being snippy at all; i admire the British very much and have traveled exensively in the UK; I mean knowing how high their taxes are for national health and the need for supplemental insurance. Iam glad; Considering the horror stories I read daily inthe Guardian and Mailunder Labour; I am terrified that the USA IS ON THE WAY THERE TO.

]]> By: Preston McKinney http://www.elliott.org/blog/is-the-health-insurance-debate-missing-travelers/comment-page-1/#comment-26225 Preston McKinney Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:03:14 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=9227#comment-26225 We advise all of our clients traveling outside of the USA to purchase travel insurance simply because many health insurance policies either do cover or have provisions that will cost you additional money for medical treatment. Travel insurance is used for 2 reasons which allows you to recover your cost if you are unable to travel or to cover medical expenses while outside the USA. I have sold travel insurance with -0- coverage for trip cost but the client has full health insurance coverage up to the limits of the policy. We advise all of our clients traveling outside of the USA to purchase travel insurance simply because many health insurance policies either do cover or have provisions that will cost you additional money for medical treatment. Travel insurance is used for 2 reasons which allows you to recover your cost if you are unable to travel or to cover medical expenses while outside the USA. I have sold travel insurance with -0- coverage for trip cost but the client has full health insurance coverage up to the limits of the policy.

]]> By: Jasper http://www.elliott.org/blog/is-the-health-insurance-debate-missing-travelers/comment-page-1/#comment-26222 Jasper Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:48:11 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=9227#comment-26222 @ barbie45: Oh nice and snipey. But they do take care of foreigners. They can't refuse help. Wouldn't even think of it. Foreigners just need to pay for the bill, just like in the US. The fact that *everybody* gets health insurance in Europe does not mean that payments come out of the sky. People pay dearly for the services. Mostly through their taxes, which are considerably higher that in the US. In some countries, people also need to buy private insurance on top of that. The difference with the US is that nobody can be refused insurance or treatment. I find it rather odd that you assume that a foreigners should get free help. Can you name any country that provides truly free medical care to foreigners? @ barbie45: Oh nice and snipey. But they do take care of foreigners. They can’t refuse help. Wouldn’t even think of it. Foreigners just need to pay for the bill, just like in the US.

The fact that *everybody* gets health insurance in Europe does not mean that payments come out of the sky. People pay dearly for the services. Mostly through their taxes, which are considerably higher that in the US. In some countries, people also need to buy private insurance on top of that.

The difference with the US is that nobody can be refused insurance or treatment.

I find it rather odd that you assume that a foreigners should get free help. Can you name any country that provides truly free medical care to foreigners?

]]> By: Long Island Lost http://www.elliott.org/blog/is-the-health-insurance-debate-missing-travelers/comment-page-1/#comment-26204 Long Island Lost Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:01:25 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=9227#comment-26204 What about workmen's compensation insurance? Are those traveling on business covered by their employers? What about workmen’s compensation insurance? Are those traveling on business covered by their employers?

]]> By: barbie45 http://www.elliott.org/blog/is-the-health-insurance-debate-missing-travelers/comment-page-1/#comment-26186 barbie45 Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:52:44 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=9227#comment-26186 thanks so glad they do not have to take care of foreigners. thanks so glad they do not have to take care of foreigners.

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