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Covid Travelers insurance for BVI
#238465
10/29/2020 02:49 PM
10/29/2020 02:49 PM
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,282 Vero Beach, Fl and South Sound...
tpcook
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OP
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,282
Vero Beach, Fl and South Sound...
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I just had a short conversation with my medical insurance company AARP Medicare Advantage Focus (HMO-POS) Indian River County Florida In the policy it states that there is a $0 copay for emergency care worldwide as well as Urgently Needed Services $0 copay worldwide,
So as I see it any covid event in the BVI would be covered by my policy and thus I do not need to buy a covid policy since I already have coverage.
I will ask my insurance company to provide me with a letter stating the above.
Last edited by tpcook; 10/29/2020 02:50 PM.
tpcook
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Re: Covid Travelers insurance for BVI
[Re: tpcook]
#238756
11/02/2020 11:48 AM
11/02/2020 11:48 AM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,460 Finger Lake Region
crmoores
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,460
Finger Lake Region
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I just had a short conversation with my medical insurance company AARP Medicare Advantage Focus (HMO-POS) Indian River County Florida In the policy it states that there is a $0 copay for emergency care worldwide as well as Urgently Needed Services $0 copay worldwide,
So as I see it any covid event in the BVI would be covered by my policy and thus I do not need to buy a covid policy since I already have coverage.
I will ask my insurance company to provide me with a letter stating the above. Emergency medical care and medical evacuation specifically for sickness from COVID-19? I know some trip insurance policies like Allianz have very specific details on their COVID-19 coverage, whether you are affected prior to or during your trip. I would want definite confirmation my health insurance actually covered sickness SPECIFIC TO COVID-19 while out of my home country, during a global pandemic...If they do that is great!
Last edited by crmoores; 11/02/2020 11:49 AM.
"Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life — and travel — leaves marks on you.” -Anthony Bourdain
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Re: Covid Travelers insurance for BVI
[Re: MIDiver]
#238784
11/02/2020 01:54 PM
11/02/2020 01:54 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,601 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
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Traveler
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Posts: 83,601
Central Florida!
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Yes, that's the rub, medical evac for Corona. Because of how it's rated as a contagious disease, it is very difficult to get medical evac coverage for Corona.
Carol Hill
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Re: Covid Travelers insurance for BVI
[Re: tpcook]
#238794
11/02/2020 02:29 PM
11/02/2020 02:29 PM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,460 Finger Lake Region
crmoores
Traveler
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Traveler
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Posts: 1,460
Finger Lake Region
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Yes I have only seen medical coverage (no medivac) from the policies I’ve reviewed. The COVID-19 sickness coverage does start the day you purchase the policy, not just when your trip starts...I’ve looked at Medjet in the past and it was pricey but will look again since it covers evac - thanks Jason! Brief look, Short-term (15 days) it is $250. Looking at a 6 mo plan for us (cheaper medivac option only) it’s an annual plan and is $575. So a bit pricey on top of our medical insurance, but not if you need it!
Last edited by crmoores; 11/02/2020 02:36 PM. Reason: Follow-up
"Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life — and travel — leaves marks on you.” -Anthony Bourdain
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Re: Covid Travelers insurance for BVI
[Re: tpcook]
#238812
11/02/2020 05:04 PM
11/02/2020 05:04 PM
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,155 GA/NC
GeorgeC1
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A medical evacuation flight is extremely expensive. It’s so expensive that it often creates issues on standard airline flights where people with serious health issues decide to attempt to hide the issue and fly. I can’t see any insurance that will schedule a evac flight just for a positive test unless you are paying well into 4 figures for the insurance.
Last edited by GeorgeC1; 11/02/2020 05:29 PM.
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Re: Covid Travelers insurance for BVI
[Re: tpcook]
#238817
11/02/2020 05:26 PM
11/02/2020 05:26 PM
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 73
FrenchLaundry
Traveler
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Posts: 73
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From my experience, medical evac insurance is inexpensive. Our family has three things when we travel outside the US no matter where we travel. The third item is the only item I believe you would need to meet their requirement. You can contact my-geos.com for more information. 1st - We carry a Garmin Delorme (link below). These things are amazing. You only need one per family. You can text globally any where in the world via satellite communication. It has a slide button (DEFCON 4) that if you slide that switch and hit the button, the Calvery comes for you. There are amazing stories on their website. I carry one with me when ever I travel outside the US. There are 5 countries they won't come and get you - North Korea, Iran, etc.. You can see on their website. They will come and get you on the North Pole. You can turn the subscription on and off per month - I think their lowest service is $14.95 per month or $19.95 per month. https://discover.garmin.com/en-US/inreach/personal/2nd - Through their website, we purchase EVAC insurance. $19.95 per year per person (roughly). This covers from the EVAC location to the nearest hospital. To me that is cheap. See https://my-geos.com/3rd - Through GEOS (my-geos.com), we carry evacuation flight insurance from a hospital / location to a hospital within 50 miles of our personal residence. We pay approximately $149.95 per person per year. If you get in a car accident or other life threatening illness in China, Germany, USVI, BVI, Canada, etc.. They are airlifting your out via a medavac JET. I think you could use that insurance - that if you get COVID and it is life threatening - they will EVAC you out. I would contact GEOS - they may have a specific COVID insurance. They have been great to work with.. As a scenario - we have multiple Delorme devices when we fish remotely in Canada. Each boat has their own delorme, we can text globally, and if my Father was to have a heart attack, we slide the switch, push the button, Calvery comes. Then they take him to Winnepeg (nearest hospital), then he has the option to be a private jet medical EVAC to Minneapolis. All this for $19.95 + $149.95 (check the prices) per year per person. I travel many parts of the world and most places you want to get back to the US. I almost lost a friend to bad water - a month in the hospital in 3rd world. He had know insurance.. The last time I was in the USVI - I was told they had one cardiologist for all the islands. I am not sure that information was accurate, but getting back to the US is key when things are going south. Just my $0.00002.
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Re: Covid Travelers insurance for BVI
[Re: GeorgeC1]
#238864
11/03/2020 10:17 AM
11/03/2020 10:17 AM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,460 Finger Lake Region
crmoores
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,460
Finger Lake Region
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I can’t see any insurance that will schedule a evac flight just for a positive test unless you are paying well into 4 figures for the insurance. No a positive test result, you are in a medical emergency situation and have a real need for the evac. Many medical and comprehensive travel insurance policies include medivac coverage. For example we buy travel insurance for 6 - 8 month stays out of the US each year, and the medical/medivac coverages are all we are really interested in. We carry coverages of $50,000 medical and $1,000,000 medivac (US) + the typical trip cancellation/delay/interruption coverages for ~$140/couple. Emergency medical coverage for sickness from COVID-19 is included, emergency medivac for COVID-19 sickness depends on the level of care where we are... Heck even Medicare provides emergency medical coverage outside the US, but it is secondary coverage and that can be a huge out of pocket expense! I don’t know if Medicare will step in to cover costs for major medical, etc. We’ve had friends visiting us have medical emergencies (while traveling) and with one insurance provider it was an excellent experience.
Last edited by crmoores; 11/03/2020 10:24 AM.
"Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life — and travel — leaves marks on you.” -Anthony Bourdain
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Re: Covid Travelers insurance for BVI
[Re: crmoores]
#238865
11/03/2020 10:30 AM
11/03/2020 10:30 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,601 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Traveler
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Posts: 83,601
Central Florida!
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crmoores--Standard Medicare provides NO coverage outside the US, according to the agent I am talking to. And the printed Medicare brochure says the same thing. Medicare SUPPLEMENT policies like I am considering provide coverage outside the country. And medical evac for Covid is a whole different situation than a regular medical evac situation, because of the nature of the illness. If your coverage SPECIFICALLY includes medical evac for Covid, that is great. I would make sure you get it in WRITING..
Carol Hill
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Re: Covid Travelers insurance for BVI
[Re: tpcook]
#238866
11/03/2020 10:50 AM
11/03/2020 10:50 AM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,460 Finger Lake Region
crmoores
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,460
Finger Lake Region
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Carol I understand what you are saying about Medicare covering medical emergencies outside the US, it is not clear at all - thanks for stressing that. Because we spend so much time outside the US I’ve talked to reps several times (out of curiosity because of the lack of documentation) and am told each time, verbally, that we are covered (for medical emergencies) where we travel by our Advantage plan. I don’t know if that plan type is the difference or not? Perhaps someone can respond to that. But if it does indeed cover you for medical emergencies (non-COVID-19), it is secondary coverage and the limit of coverage is unclear. So I am just sharing what I have been told, and it’s clear that I do not rely on it since we buy third-party trip insurance...
Regarding coverage SPECIFICALLY FOR sickness from COVID-19, if you read my earlier reply you can see I stress the need to have that in writing. Normally pandemics are NOT covered emergencies. So if COVID-19 coverage is included you will see a specific section devoted to coverage from COVID-19 sickness. These coverages are in effect from the day you start the policy so if you are infected prior to the trip start date you are covered...
"Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life — and travel — leaves marks on you.” -Anthony Bourdain
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Re: Covid Travelers insurance for BVI
[Re: crmoores]
#238870
11/03/2020 11:30 AM
11/03/2020 11:30 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,601 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,601
Central Florida!
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crmoores--I understood you to be talking about standard Medicare without anything else, which is why I questioned it. Many people have JUST Medicare and nothing else. There is a huge difference between Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare supplement plans. However, the difference is not clear enough to me for me to explain it to someone else! Speaking JUST to the question of coverage outside the US and NOT Covid in particular, the supplement I am going to get, it states in WRITING that I am covered outside the US. I am curious as to why you cannot get that coverage confirmed in WRITING to you in your circumstance, but I assume you are fine. My agent told me ORALLY that my Medicare Supplement plan would cover Covid evacuation. I have not signed the paperwork yet, and I have not had that confirmed in writing yet.
Carol Hill
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Re: Covid Travelers insurance for BVI
[Re: tpcook]
#238872
11/03/2020 11:43 AM
11/03/2020 11:43 AM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,460 Finger Lake Region
crmoores
Traveler
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Traveler
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Posts: 1,460
Finger Lake Region
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Yes the relatively newer Advantage plans are worth a look if you still have the original or traditional plan that requires a supplemental plan, no added costs that I am aware of but it’s been a couple years since I compared the two (showing my age!) I did choose one provider (Aetna) over the other 4 options based on the coverages/copays and prescription costs. I just have not looked into the actual coverage Medicare provides outside the US and territories but I do need to! I’m sure I am just not up to speed on that..Lazy, procrastinator, these fit! Medical and medivac Coverage outsid the US for COVID-19 from Medicare sounds great! I will update myself so I can speak from a more informed perspective on that!
Thanks for the feedback Carol!
Last edited by crmoores; 11/03/2020 11:52 AM.
"Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life — and travel — leaves marks on you.” -Anthony Bourdain
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Re: Covid Travelers insurance for BVI
[Re: Carol_Hill]
#238876
11/03/2020 11:58 AM
11/03/2020 11:58 AM
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Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,189
MIDiver
Traveler
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Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,189
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Re: Covid Travelers insurance for BVI
[Re: tpcook]
#238978
11/05/2020 09:15 AM
11/05/2020 09:15 AM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,460 Finger Lake Region
crmoores
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,460
Finger Lake Region
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And to be thorough in the “medivac” discussion, medical “evacuation” simply means IF you are seriously ill or injured, AND the insurer’s medical team, along with the local doctor determines that the local medical facilities are unable to provide adequate care, the insurer will pay to transport you to the nearest appropriate medical facility (that they identify). Not to your home or local hospital.
Medical “repatriation” is, per our insurer’s description: “If you are seriously ill or injured AND under the care of a local doctor and unable to continue Your Trip, medical repatriation takes place once Our medical team determines that You are medically stable to return home via commercial transportation carrier, such as a scheduled passenger airline.” So if diagnosed with COVID-19 repatriation would not take place via a commercial flight until no longer considered a risk to others...
Other policies are probably worded similarly, I see that Medjet has isolation pods in aircraft for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. Hiwever, for international destinations Medjet will not transport you to your home hospital until you are deemed clear...
"Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life — and travel — leaves marks on you.” -Anthony Bourdain
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Re: Covid Travelers insurance for BVI
[Re: crmoores]
#238980
11/05/2020 09:40 AM
11/05/2020 09:40 AM
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,359 Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
JasonHelmbrecht
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Posts: 3,359
Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
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Hiwever, for international destinations Medjet will not transport you to your home hospital until you are deemed clear... The way I read the COVID-19 Alert from MedJets is they will still transport to your home hospital as normal if you are traveling from 48 Contiguous United States, Canada, Caribbean, Costa Rica, or Mexico. Other international locations do not include home hospital transfers.
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Re: Covid Travelers insurance for BVI
[Re: crmoores]
#238983
11/05/2020 09:56 AM
11/05/2020 09:56 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,601 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Central Florida!
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crmoores--If you are ill enough with Covid to require medical evac, the chances that you would NOT be evacuated to the US is pretty small, as there are very few hospitals in the Caribbean, if any, that most insurers would consider a 'medically appropriate' hospital for Covid.
Carol Hill
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Re: Covid Travelers insurance for BVI
[Re: FrenchLaundry]
#238984
11/05/2020 09:57 AM
11/05/2020 09:57 AM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,460 Finger Lake Region
crmoores
Traveler
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Traveler
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Posts: 1,460
Finger Lake Region
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The GEOS service that I shared is now $199.95 per year per person. This insurance brings you within 99 miles of your home OR your choosing. This would allow us to have the person flown to MAYO Rochester.
GEOS will provide medical evacuation and repatriation to a hospital nearest your home or hospital of your choosing that is capable of providing the treatment you require, as determined both by the physicians providing your current treatment and by GEOS. Medical evacuation and repatriation will take place in a medically equipped and staffed aircraft, ambulance, or other mode of transportation. The amount covered is specified in the scale of benefits as detailed in the Benefits Sections "A" through "D" below. I saw the aircraft with isolation pods that Medjet offers but they will not repatriate you from an international location if you are diagnosed with COVID-19. And I have not read the Geos policy, does that also have these international restrictions? And how about local medical and government restrictions on release for repatriation for someone with COVID-19? And that of the receiving medical facility and government? Not being critical and don’t mean to drag this topic out here, just want to understand the options available from folks who can share the details. I know I need to read the policy and I will, but thanks for any clarity you can add on these questions...
Last edited by crmoores; 11/05/2020 09:59 AM.
"Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life — and travel — leaves marks on you.” -Anthony Bourdain
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Re: Covid Travelers insurance for BVI
[Re: Carol_Hill]
#238987
11/05/2020 10:05 AM
11/05/2020 10:05 AM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,460 Finger Lake Region
crmoores
Traveler
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Traveler
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Posts: 1,460
Finger Lake Region
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crmoores--If you are ill enough with Covid to require medical evac, the chances that you would NOT be evacuated to the US is pretty small, as there are very few hospitals in the Caribbean, if any, that most insurers would consider a 'medically appropriate' hospital for Covid. Carol, I’m sure you are right in this case/forum. In my case with travel insurance, we are in an area with excellent medical care so we would not be evacuated and that is different than on an island with limited care, for sure... I do find the discussion on alternate evac/repatriation options interesting though...
"Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life — and travel — leaves marks on you.” -Anthony Bourdain
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Re: Covid Travelers insurance for BVI
[Re: crmoores]
#238989
11/05/2020 10:33 AM
11/05/2020 10:33 AM
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,359 Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
JasonHelmbrecht
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Posts: 3,359
Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
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The GEOS service that I shared is now $199.95 per year per person. This insurance brings you within 99 miles of your home OR your choosing. This would allow us to have the person flown to MAYO Rochester.
GEOS will provide medical evacuation and repatriation to a hospital nearest your home or hospital of your choosing that is capable of providing the treatment you require, as determined both by the physicians providing your current treatment and by GEOS. Medical evacuation and repatriation will take place in a medically equipped and staffed aircraft, ambulance, or other mode of transportation. The amount covered is specified in the scale of benefits as detailed in the Benefits Sections "A" through "D" below. I saw the aircraft with isolation pods that Medjet offers but they will not repatriate you from an international location if you are diagnosed with COVID-19. And I have not read the Geos policy, does that also have these international restrictions? And how about local medical and government restrictions on release for repatriation for someone with COVID-19? And that of the receiving medical facility and government? Not being critical and don’t mean to drag this topic out here, just want to understand the options available from folks who can share the details. I know I need to read the policy and I will, but thanks for any clarity you can add on these questions... "We have been able to source a suitable amount of aircraft with isolation pods, and crews with proper training, and can now provide our members with hospital-to-hospital medical transport at the level of service they have come to expect" "The receiving hospital selected by the hospitalized Medjet Member must agree to accept the patient." These are quotes from the MedJets website. To me this means they will repatriate members. They do specifically call out that international locations outside 48 Contiguous United States, Canada, Caribbean, Costa Rica, or Mexico are NOT covered. Am I missing something that excludes the BVI? If so, I need to consider changing carriers.
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Re: Covid Travelers insurance for BVI
[Re: tpcook]
#238992
11/05/2020 11:08 AM
11/05/2020 11:08 AM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,460 Finger Lake Region
crmoores
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,460
Finger Lake Region
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I did miss the included areas, thanks for pointing that out!
I don’t see the terms “evacuation” and “repatriation” used in the description, but it sounds like this coverage includes medical evac as long as the hospital/gov’t you are at and the receiving hospital/gov’t have no restrictions preventing the transfer...Is that what you get out of this?
"Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life — and travel — leaves marks on you.” -Anthony Bourdain
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Re: Covid Travelers insurance for BVI
[Re: crmoores]
#238995
11/05/2020 11:58 AM
11/05/2020 11:58 AM
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,359 Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
JasonHelmbrecht
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,359
Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
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I did miss the included areas, thanks for pointing that out!
I don’t see the terms “evacuation” and “repatriation” used in the description, but it sounds like this coverage includes medical evac as long as the hospital/gov’t you are at and the receiving hospital/gov’t have no restrictions preventing the transfer...Is that what you get out of this?
Yep. Sounds like it to me. Pretty sure the BVI would be happy to send any hospitalized COVID patient out of the country.
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Re: Covid Travelers insurance for BVI
[Re: GeorgeC1]
#238996
11/05/2020 11:59 AM
11/05/2020 11:59 AM
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,359 Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
JasonHelmbrecht
Traveler
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Traveler
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Posts: 3,359
Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
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I will point out again that I don’t believe any insurance company is going to fly you home or to another location because of a positive Covid test. There is simply no way with the costs involved it can be done at any reasonable rate. I am reasonably certain it would need to be a life threatening medical event. The vast majority of covid cases would not qualify. In addition if you are in a high risk covid category it’s probably not smart to travel. MedJet's qualification appears to be hospitalized COVID patient.
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Re: Covid Travelers insurance for BVI
[Re: tpcook]
#238999
11/05/2020 12:23 PM
11/05/2020 12:23 PM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,460 Finger Lake Region
crmoores
Traveler
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Traveler
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Posts: 1,460
Finger Lake Region
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Yes not just a positive test...
"Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life — and travel — leaves marks on you.” -Anthony Bourdain
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Re: Covid Travelers insurance for BVI
[Re: tpcook]
#239006
11/05/2020 01:52 PM
11/05/2020 01:52 PM
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 258 Reno, NV USA
CaptnAndy
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Traveler
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Posts: 258
Reno, NV USA
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Months ago, we purchased travel insurance through Travel Insured, and bought the "Cancel for any Reason" rider. Travel Insured said Covid would be a claimable event under the "travel interruption" provision of the policy.
I understand the discussion about evacuation in the case of Covid, but I'm wondering IF we even have a policy that would qualify to go to the BVIs, assuming we are willing to travel under that current protocols?
Whether we would, or not, is a totally separate matter, but I'm wondering if this travel policy would qualify under the current requirements? IF we would have to re-do our insurance, that would probably make the decision NOT to go pretty easy!
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