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This covers me for any number of journeys during the year with the very important provision that no one journey is longer than a stated maximum period: here in the UK that tends to be around 31 days for cheaper policies. I do not know if the same practice is standard in US travel insurance though I think it is likely. As I am planning a longer walk for next year I will be paying rather more than usual for a policy which covers journeys up to 90 days at a time. Always check that an annual policy covers you for the full duration of any intended journey.
I did not know at the time anything about Allianz insurance, and still do not but I can tell you while walking the Camino I did see at least five Offices with the Allianz insurance sign over the door.
[HUMOR] Oh great! Another item to add to my collection of inappropriate business names. It can join Evergreen Meats, Hope Roofing, and the podiatrist Dr. Skidmore. These are all real businesses in my local area.Tinleg
We used to live not far away from Long Funeral Service.Oh great! Another item to add to my collection of inappropriate business names. It can join Evergreen Meats, Hope Roofing, and the podiatrist Dr. Skidmore. These are all real businesses in my local area.
Some information here:I did not know the VA ‘might’ cover me. I am 100% disabled so is possible.
[HUMOR] Oh great! Another item to add to my collection of inappropriate business names. It can join Evergreen Meats, Hope Roofing, and the podiatrist Dr. Skidmore. These are all real businesses in my local area.
In this jolting thread, https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...-of-the-importance-of-travel-insurance.51945/ @nidarosa brought home the importance of buying medical insurance while on the Camino.
I have been very negligent in this regard, having bought some coverage only from time to time, but I am now determined to sin no more. I am 67, on Medicare, and know that there could be unpleasant surprises in my future.
@grayland gave some good info on nidarosa's thread for US pilgrims. Things vary tremendously from country to country. Squaremouth.com is a program that gives lots of comparisons, but for me it was very hard to navigate. So, after contact with several people who travel a lot, and a few web searches, I thought I'd give a suggestion. Hopefully others will chime in with other recommendations.
United Healthcare has bought out Medex, which was a very highly regarded travel insurance co. They have a simple-to-navigate website and are very clear about their coverage. Two numbers are given -- amount you will be covered for medical expenses (ranging from $50,000 (maximum allowed if you are over 70) or you choose $100,000, $500,000 or $1,000,000) and $1,000,000 for medical evacuation or repatriation of remains.
Since I will be taking a number of international trips this year, I looked into the annual coverage options. For $240, I get $500,000 in medical expenses and $1 million coverage for repatriation-evacuation for a year.
This seems like a very good deal, and since United Healthcare is my Medicare Advantage insurance company anyway and I know they are a good company, it seems like the thing to do for me.
I guess everyone's situation is different, but I think US pilgrims might want to look at United Healthcare and their global health insurance.
Thanks to @nidarosa for giving me the incentive to get responsible about this! Buen camino, Laurie
When would this be an issue? Isn't Spain on socialized medicine. Two ears ago, we were in Italy and needed hospitalization. The service wasn't good, but the bill was $0.In this jolting thread, https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...-of-the-importance-of-travel-insurance.51945/ @nidarosa brought home the importance of buying medical insurance while on the Camino.
I have been very negligent in this regard, having bought some coverage only from time to time, but I am now determined to sin no more. I am 67, on Medicare, and know that there could be unpleasant surprises in my future.
@grayland gave some good info on nidarosa's thread for US pilgrims. Things vary tremendously from country to country. Squaremouth.com is a program that gives lots of comparisons, but for me it was very hard to navigate. So, after contact with several people who travel a lot, and a few web searches, I thought I'd give a suggestion. Hopefully others will chime in with other recommendations.
United Healthcare has bought out Medex, which was a very highly regarded travel insurance co. They have a simple-to-navigate website and are very clear about their coverage. Two numbers are given -- amount you will be covered for medical expenses (ranging from $50,000 (maximum allowed if you are over 70) or you choose $100,000, $500,000 or $1,000,000) and $1,000,000 for medical evacuation or repatriation of remains.
Since I will be taking a number of international trips this year, I looked into the annual coverage options. For $240, I get $500,000 in medical expenses and $1 million coverage for repatriation-evacuation for a year.
This seems like a very good deal, and since United Healthcare is my Medicare Advantage insurance company anyway and I know they are a good company, it seems like the thing to do for me.
I guess everyone's situation is different, but I think US pilgrims might want to look at United Healthcare and their global health insurance.
Thanks to @nidarosa for giving me the incentive to get responsible about this! Buen camino, Laurie
Hi, Walking Lover,When would this be an issue? Isn't Spain on socialized medicine. Two ears ago, we were in Italy and needed hospitalization. The service wasn't good, but the bill was $0.
You were very, very, very lucky.When would this be an issue? Isn't Spain on socialized medicine. Two ears ago, we were in Italy and needed hospitalization. The service wasn't good, but the bill was $0.
We have a "Crooks Brothers Auto Sales" where I live...seriously![HUMOR] Oh great! Another item to add to my collection of inappropriate business names. It can join Evergreen Meats, Hope Roofing, and the podiatrist Dr. Skidmore. These are all real businesses in my local area.
When would this be an issue? Isn't Spain on socialized medicine. Two ears ago, we were in Italy and needed hospitalization. The service wasn't good, but the bill was $0.
To my (European) ears, "socialised healthcare" sounds like a politically loaded expression but that may not be the case for other ears. Universal healthcare (which means the same thing I guess) does not mean that a country provides "free" healthcare to everyone in the universe but only to their residents who are properly and legally enrolled in the national system and to temporary visitors if they have a similar legal status. How doctors and hospitals get paid and reimbursed for their expenses, is different from country to country.
As already explained, some countries are not yet as well organised as others for the purpose of issuing bills and claiming their money back from people who need urgent care and are not members of their national health care insurance system or have equivalent status as visitors. But increasingly, they are getting their act together. So the fact that you weren't billed for hospitalisation in Italy two years ago does not guarantee that you will not get billed next year in Spain should you require medical care.
People who can afford long-distance flights can probably afford to pay for ambulant medical care or even minor hospitalisation. Where it gets really expensive is medical repatriation flights. I certainly make sure these days that I have additional insurance to be covered for this. And I'm not even from the US.
When one is shopping for insurance, it's important to attend to the distinction between "we will reimburse you some months after the fact" and "we will provide English-language assistance in country at the time of incident to help you sort through the thicket of administrivia, answer questions, help identify resources, etc." These are not the same! Do not buy one expecting to get the other. Read the fine print closely and ask lots of questions.
On a related vein, I take Allianz insurance through my air carrier when I buy the air ticket.
Every policy is different. You must read the fine print.Does the insurance provide ...
Thank you for always thinking about others.
AAA also offers travel insurance. On next camino I will shop around.
Buen camino.
After my 2nd camino during the summer of 2016 I had a bike accident in Germany that required an emergency room visit. Fortunately all I needed were seven stitches and the requisite shots, and wound treatment. Two months later the bill arrived in the mail, 115 euros. Stateside that bill would have easily been 20x more. Depending on your needs, the price of medical care in some European countries is remarkably reasonable, if you happen to be un/underinsured.
All European countries have a form of universal healthcare, often free at the point of use - for their own citizens and citizens of other European Union countries. However, if I travel outside of the UK - this only covers immediate medical treatment and not, as others have pointed out, medical evacuation home, which can be hugely expensive. So, my wife and I have travel insurance to cover us both for treatment and medevac.When would this be an issue? Isn't Spain on socialized medicine. Two ears ago, we were in Italy and needed hospitalization. The service wasn't good, but the bill was $0.
Thanks Grayland for a valuable post. The only comment I have is that when I attended the emergency department at Burgos hospital, they not only insisted on copying my passport, they insisted on a copy of my travel insurance before they would agree to offer me treatment. I always carry it in my backpack, ready if needed.Keep in mind that the "current" procedure for most of the hospitals (and many of the small local clinics) is to copy your passport and then you will get a bill long after returning home. They do not have a local system of billing for foreigners and those outside of the European healthcare network.
The billing will be either very low or extremely high....it seems to be done in an office far away from the location where the care was provided.
We have had both extremes.
The point is that you should immediately contact your insurer and start a claim. Ask for a billing at time of care...but very unlikely that you will get one. If you do..it may just be a partial one and another may arrive after you return home. Be sure you keep the claim open.
This has pretty much been the policy for about the last 5 years. Prior to that it was unusual for foreigners to even be billed as there was no system set up to do it. It was hit and miss.
This led to the "myth" that pilgrims receive free medical care on the camino.
There are still many who experienced the fortunate earlier system and continue to post the erroneous information. Some fall through the cracks today and escape billing....but don't count on it.
The erroneous posts and "myths" can present a very false picture to new folks that the travel medical insurance is not needed.
In this jolting thread, https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...-of-the-importance-of-travel-insurance.51945/ @nidarosa brought home the importance of buying medical insurance while on the Camino.
I have been very negligent in this regard, having bought some coverage only from time to time, but I am now determined to sin no more. I am 67, on Medicare, and know that there could be unpleasant surprises in my future.
@grayland gave some good info on nidarosa's thread for US pilgrims. Things vary tremendously from country to country. Squaremouth.com is a program that gives lots of comparisons, but for me it was very hard to navigate. So, after contact with several people who travel a lot, and a few web searches, I thought I'd give a suggestion. Hopefully others will chime in with other recommendations.
United Healthcare has bought out Medex, which was a very highly regarded travel insurance co. They have a simple-to-navigate website and are very clear about their coverage. Two numbers are given -- amount you will be covered for medical expenses (ranging from $50,000 (maximum allowed if you are over 70) or you choose $100,000, $500,000 or $1,000,000) and $1,000,000 for medical evacuation or repatriation of remains.
Since I will be taking a number of international trips this year, I looked into the annual coverage options. For $240, I get $500,000 in medical expenses and $1 million coverage for repatriation-evacuation for a year.
This seems like a very good deal, and since United Healthcare is my Medicare Advantage insurance company anyway and I know they are a good company, it seems like the thing to do for me.
I guess everyone's situation is different, but I think US pilgrims might want to look at United Healthcare and their global health insurance.
Thanks to @nidarosa for giving me the incentive to get responsible about this! Buen camino, Laurie
I usually buy the Allianz insurance too when buying flights but am I mistaken in believing they only will reimburse you for your flight costs if you make a claim? Does the insurance provide full medical & evac & repatriation for such a lowly sum?
great to know from someone who used it.
I also got Allianz insurance through AAA for a very reasonable price - something like $54 for 4 months, and that was upgraded coverage (I’m 67). I used a Spanish hospital for a leg injury and received a bill for €288 about 2 months later. I returned to the AAA agent who sold me the policy, and she processed the claim and got Allianz to pay the hospital in Pamplona directly. The bill had no easy method of payment (i.e. credit card), so this was a big help. So far, I’m pleased with the coverage and the service, and I would use Allianz / AAA again.
I was a somewhat older pilgrim at age 82. I collapsed near Zubri at the paseo Roland on Sept 2, 2017 and was taken to the hospital in Pamplona, evaluated, and released. I was told by the doctor there was no charge. Later, at home, I received a bill for about 350 Euros and paid it. I was insured by Blue Cross/Blue Shield for out of US travel. It was a struggle but eventually I was reimbursed by the insurance company. I believe pilgrims should have travel health insurance, as a matter of respect for our host country, Spain.I walked the Camino Frances Sept-Nov 2017 and thank God I did not have to use the insurance, but I got my travel insurance through AAA. The insurance plan I got through AAA was with Allianz insurance. It was a 50k medical and 1 million medical travel,etc. It cost me $41.00. I did not know at the time anything about Allianz insurance, and still do not but I can tell you while walking the Camino I did see at least five Offices with the Allianz insurance sign over the door. This lets me know that at least in Spain it is a recognized company and since AAA offers it I assume they will pay off if needed.
Bob, it seems that you already know this but I want to point this out to other Americans; neither Medicare nor the VA, except for very rare exceptions, will pay for foreign medical treatment. If you decide to use your Medicare benefits to enroll in a private plan that provider may cover your foreign treatment costs. Each plan is different but if you are covered I think it is likely it will be for reimbursement once back in the States.Both of us turn age 65 next year, so we'll enroll in Medicare. We are using a consultant to guide us which supplemental plan to consider. One of the open issues is medical travel insurance.
My husband is a VA retiree. We have selected a health care plan that covers treatments abroad. If your problem is not an emergency you can look for a facility on their website. If you use one they will take care of the paperwork and bills. If you use a facility outside of the list you can request help, but will be reimbursed. Federal employees and retirees should check their health care plan.Bob, it seems that you already know this but I want to point this out to other Americans; neither Medicare nor the VA, except for very rare exceptions, will pay for foreign medical treatment. If you decide to use your Medicare benefits to enroll in a private plan that provider may cover your foreign treatment costs. Each plan is different but if you are covered I think it is likely it will be for reimbursement once back in the States.
Hi Bob,Both of us turn age 65 next year, so we'll enroll in Medicare. We are using a consultant to guide us which supplemental plan to consider.
... neither Medicare nor the VA, except for very rare exceptions, will pay for foreign medical treatment. If you decide to use your Medicare benefits to enroll in a private plan that provider may cover your foreign treatment costs. ...
My husband is a VA retiree. We have selected a health care plan that covers treatments abroad.
To clarify my post, I was not talking about government supplied health insurance that is available to retirees of military or civil service.My (former) employer, the State of Illinois, provides my Medicare advantage plan, unless I want to pay for my own.
Bah! It makes me angry that insurers take advantage of us because of age. I may not be quick but I am in better shape than 80% of adults in the US....Just checked out the Sqaremouth site. Three months in Spain with medical only (no trip cancellation coverage), including med evac, from the 4th lowest cost to the 20th lowest cost:
Age 53 $200-$500
Age 73 $500-$1,000
I didn’t use Squaremouth but in September 2021 I bought an annual policy for me (71) and my husband from GeoBlue (of Blue Cross Blue Shield). Good coverage for one year, trips of no more than 70 days, good evacuation coverage. No trip cancellation, but it was under $500 for the two of us.Just checked out the Sqaremouth site. Three months in Spain with medical only (no trip cancellation coverage), including med evac, from the 4th lowest cost to the 20th lowest cost:
Age 53 $200-$500
Age 73 $500-$1,000
Did you go directly through BC/BS? Squaremouth prices a policy like that $727 for one person.I didn’t use Squaremouth but in September 2021 I bought an annual policy for me (71) and my husband from GeoBlue (of Blue Cross Blue Shield). Good coverage for one year, trips of no more than 70 days, good evacuation coverage. No trip cancellation, but it was under $500 for the two of us.
Other suggestions for those of us in the post-70 demographic on this thread. .
The quote on the other thread at post 42 shows that it was from the Geoblue websiteDid you go directly through BC/BS? Squaremouth prices a policy like that $727 for one person.
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