Health Insurance

[crhutch]

For my fellow American Pilgrims....When my wife and I walked the Camino in 2010 I purchased health insurance though Travel Guard. Never had to use it and was in Spain three months. What health insurance do you all recommend?

 

[LauraK]

I generally go to a website called Insuremytrip.com and do a comparison of plans. I have purchased Travel Guard and another plan (can't remember which one). Problem is that I also have never had to use the plan so it is hard to recommend one. If you read the positive reviews on the travel insurance sites you will see that most people haven't had to use their plans but rate them highly. I check the insurance company's rating score to make sure it is reputable. Travel Guard is reputable. Whatever plan I choose, I make sure it will get me (or my body) home since air ambulance can be unbelievably expensive. I focus on the health coverage and skip the lost baggage, cancellation and other benefits that drive up the cost. I generally spend about $120-$150 for a month long trip. Well worth the cost for peace of mind.

 

[peregrina2000]

There has been a number of threads on this topic over the years (in fact what I write below is largely copied from an earlier thread):

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/travel-insurance.22998/#post-176680
http://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/health-insurance-recommendations.12867/#post-101305
http://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/medical-insurance.7980/
http://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/health-insurance-recommendations.12867/
http://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/travel-insurance.5676/

Despite some bad recommendations, I have had Medex in the past (it's recommended by the University where I work), but never needed it, thankfully. I have seen some good reviews of it as well.

A friend of mine did some really careful comparison shopping and was shocked to find huge differences in the fine print. I told this story on an earlier thread, but I'll reprint it here because it's kind of shocking:

One provider lists among benefits: "arrange for medical evacuation to home country" and "arrange for repatriation of remains to home country."
My friend asked: Does "arrange for" mean "pay for" or does it mean "call around to find someone to do it and send the client the bill?" The response: for medical evacuation, it means the latter; for human remains, it means the former. So, they will pay for your body to be returned, but will only find someone to bring you home if you are alive. Of course, that's what a live person said on the phone, which is not going to do you any good if the small print on the policy says otherwise.

If you have decent medical insurance at home, you will likely be covered at least for emergencies abroad, so I have decided that the main thing I need insurance for is medical evacuation and repatriation of remains, but it's worth checking carefully. And I have also learned that my credit card provides some of this, so after a couple years purchasing travel medical insurance, I have stopped. Like Laura says, it's impossible to know if your policy is really any good without first hand reviews from people who actually needed help. And in these threads there are a few of those testimonials.

Buen camino, Laurie

 

[november_moon]

I use insuremytrip.com for travel insurance as well. Fortunately Ive never had to use it, but I always pick something from a highly rated company with the components that I want.

 

[scruffy1]

Shalom and Greetings from Jerusalem!
We have a chain of sporting goods stores in Israel, not sporting goods but a specialty chain of equipment for hikers, bikers, climbers, etc. Something like a North Face Chain only with many many different suppliers, not just the American icon. They also offer insurance. Somewhere someplace in Northern Virginia there must be such a shop, one which has seen insurance programs come and go, and based on the experience of others which can be trusted and which are less. I always prefer dealing wih people rather then an internet fill in the blank form, somebody to talk with should you really need them! Buen Camino

 

[HikingGeo]

I have used Squaremouth.com which I assume is very similar to insuremytrip.com. They, likewise, allow you to select the options you want included and then you can choose from highly rated companies.

 

[LauraK]

Thanks Laurie for the heads up on the "fine print". I will be more diligent in checking the definitions and wording!