TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Travel insurance

Any recommendations on travel insurance for medical, I.e. evacuation?

Thanks

SkyMed can be found under the TTOL sponsors heading.

Thanks. That was the name I had heard before and was trying to remember.

We buy our insurance through International Medical Group (IMG). They have all types of programs and you can choose any amount of coverage and any premium price. We purchase the 65 and older coverage program. Their program is known as Patriot Medical Travel Insurance.

http://www.imglobal.com/en/index.aspx

We use Travelguard.

If you are looking JUST for medical evac, as JD said, check out SkyMed on the TTOL sponsors list. If you are looking for general trip insurance, including medical evac, check out Insure My Trip, on the sponsors list. Insure my Trip allows you to compare many different travel insurances side by side, and see which one best fits your needs. For both SkyMed and Insure My Trip, if you click on the link through the TTOL sponsors page, TTOL gets a (small) commission. The cost to YOU is the same as if you went directly to their webpage and booked.

Glad you just told me that carol. You guys work so hard I will go through the sponsor area!

I use the DAN insurance program. Has evac and medical. Very economical and world wide.

Thanks. Every little bit helps.

Don't I know it. Scuba, is the Dan insurance available on the insure my trip site?

DAN stands for Divers Alert Network. Its not just for divers. Covers med,evac and lost luggage and equipment.Google it.

We purchase Allianz insurance through the airline-cost $75 for 2 people covering our month on the island. Med-evac, medical on the island, trip interruption etc. Got stuck in Charlotte coming home in mid-February and they covered the cab-hotel meals and all. I filed the claim and we received $250.00 within 10 days. Coverage caps are incredible.

I'm thinking that was for frequent flyer tickets, as that price doesn't seem right, for purchased tickets, if you mean, all together, as opposed to for each person?

Carol,

When you purchase the Allianz insurance with your tickets, if I'm not mistaken, I believe they base it on the age of the purchasers and the cost of the airline tickets. So it's conceivable the prices could be that low if the purchasers are on the younger end of the scale. Years ago we used to pay in the $75.00 range but most recently it was $96.00 for both of us and our tickets were in the $1200.00 range including the up front seat costs. This coverage is NOT as good, IMO, as most of the coverages under the programs you offer, but it's a basic coverage assuming you're willing to self-insure the balance of any additional expenses. At least, that's how I perceived it to be...... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Most of the quotes I am getting are in the 80 range for the three of us

Suggest going online for "travel insurance"
There you can compare more than a few companies rates and what they offer
I have used Travel guard and Allianz
Of course you never know till you have a claim but do know people who had good results withnAllianz and it is the most reasonable and not to do with age
Please note that you cannot use MEDICARE nor most US health insurances outside US. Be sure to check your own private insurance
Sometimes the airline or travel company will give a special rate

You might also check http://squaremouth.com. It compares a lot of travel insurances.

Again, there are lots of groups and organizations that offer insurance. I agree, it would be a very good idea to check out both Insure My Trip and Sky Med on the sponsors page right here on TTOL. Can't hurt. Might help. Definitely worth a look. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

I did and am done. Just an FYI, in my digging I found most insurance is secondary so they won't pay until you have a denial from your primary insurance. I chose the policy at makes them the primary so I can submit the claim if needed and be paid. Guess my insurance license and continuing Ed does actually come in usefully after all!

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" />

Close friends went to Israel 2 years ago with a group. They bought Allianz, their first time to buy trip insurance. The third day they were there Hal had a bicycle accident and broke his foot in several places. The next day they put him on a return flight to Virginia, paid for him and a special nurse in first class, and for his wife in coach (but they paid to upgrade her to first class of course - she said "every time he got a pain pill, I got a Bloody Mary"), and then surgery and subsequent care until he was well. As of two weeks ago, they had paid nothing.

We have also used Allianz through AA - thankfully have never had to use it. Our cost in January and later this year for SXM, and for Puerto Rico in May, has been $52 per trip - the same as Hal paid two years ago.
Also noticed in January there is an Allianz office in Marigot.

We used InsureAssist through Insure My Trip during our last visit in Dec/Jan. I got sick 5 days into our 2-week trip (yeah, it sucked) and had to visit both the ER and the doctor's office, as well as had prescriptions filled for meds. I filed the claim when I got back home and had a check for the full amount of care and meds within 2 weeks. I won't travel without it now. If you go onto the 'Insure My Trip' site, you can compare policies and choose which works best for you.

One clarifying point here - With all of the medevac progams that I'm aware of, you're not buying insurance. You're joining a club which provides medevac services. As we age, and as those services become more important, it's necessary to know exactly what you're buying, what services it covers, what it doesn't cover, and how to most effectively use it if needed.

That is not true with the travel insurance policies that cover med evac, trip cancellation, health insurance, etc., in one premium. It is an insurance policy, for the specific term of your trip. The actual coverage is different, in terms of how much it will pay for each specific item, and that's why something like Insure my Trip is so valuable, being able to compare those specific coverages side by side.

I agree, it is insurance, not a club. Please make sure you read the policy before you buy the policy, there are big differences, I.e. primary vs. secondary. That is huge! If it is secondary it could take up to a year to get the claim paid while they make you try all other coverage possibilities before they. Pay

That is a good point to explore. I know that Alliance for example is secondary.

I have had to use my Travelguard for trip cancellation, but never medical care. It has worked well. Since we added the evacuation, in large figures, to get to our home or hospital, it is a lot more than $52!!! Does your include this? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" />

Carol, just got our confirmation from Allianz - an addendum at the bottom of the policy says that it's primary, not secondary! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

Well, it must have changed then, as when I had the occasion to use it in 2011, it was secondary...

Hey lurker, we do get the evac, it is age weighted so we get it for 137 for three of us as long as it is primary. I could get secondary for about 82 but not worth it when you consider the hassles.

Our total premium for 2 people was $75. We are not frequent flyers and we have paid the same $75 the last 3 years. Allianz emails you the full policy and I really like the coverage for med-evac up to $75,000 and if necessary they will send a nurse and doctor to get you home. Also, they have never asked our ages-only how long you are away from home and the cost of your airfare. Our friends at the condo in Maho came down with the flu-they went to Dr DeKeith behind the pharmacy and the office visit was $60 each and drugs were $30 each at the pharmacy. They contacted Allianz and were told it was covered and submit the receipts when they returned to the US.

Here are some questions to ask when shopping for medical evacuation coverage within a comprehensive trip insurance policy: 1) Does the policy cover pre-existing medical conditions, 2) Does the coverage get you home, not just to the nearest facility that is certified for treatment of your condition, 3) Is there a possibility that your illness/injury may require the use of a private air ambulance. Minimal evacuation coverage limits may get you home on a scheduled flight with a commercial airline but very possibly would not in an air ambulance with critical care capabilities.
I have used Squaremouth several times and like it a lot.