A must-have item when you travel: Medical insurance

This summer, do you have holiday plans to travel out of B.C.?

Whether you are travelling to Alberta, Oregon, South America or Thailand, out of province/country medical insurance is a must. Here are some examples. Surfing ended with a serious fracture Ricardo was visiting his cousins in a small town in Costa Rica. One day, he went surfing and slipped on the board. He struck the surf board with his face, causing a wide-open facial wound and fractured nose.

The small town didn’t have a medical treatment facility, so he was air lifted by ambulance to a nearby city. Ricardo underwent facial surgery and further treatment, then discharged. His provincial health care paid $916. The total insurance claim was $166,303. Air ambulance cost $142,351. Hospital and doctors’ fees came to almost $25,000. Respiratory distress While on business in Texas, Martin felt exhausted. Suffering from muscle pain and acute chest discomfort, he sought medical treatment and testing. He was diagnosed with a resistant infection and was medically paralyzed. His condition got worse and he passed away. Provincial health care paid $10,497. Total claim to the insurance company was $302,465. Of this, hospital and doctors’ fees were $307,806.

When you travel within Canada, are you arranging for travel medical insurance? These next two people did and were very grateful.

Ruptured disk when embarking from a flight

Marie reached overhead to get her luggage from the overhead bin and felt a sharp pain in her back. Airport staff helped her disembark and arranged for an ambulance.

Doctors diagnosed her with a ruptured disk, requiring back surgery. After 10 days in hospital, she was discharged with medication and a back brace. Claim to insurance company was $1,578. Marie’s provincial health care paid $0. Animal encounter in the Yukon Wally was on a fishing expedition. He went for an evening stroll around the lodge where he unexpectedly startled a moose and her calf. Wally backed away slowly but was knocked to the ground by the moose. His colleagues found him, called for an air ambulance and he was treated in Whitehorse. Wally’s travel insurance covered the entire cost of the air ambulance of $48,000 and his prescriptions of $39.

Are you saying to yourself – I have travel medical insurance through my credit card. While most cards come with some sort of travel coverage, it is definitely worth asking questions to verify that you do have the right coverage for your vacation.

What is the credit card’s maximum amount of travel insurance coverage?

Do you have to pay for your trip in full with your credit card in order to benefit from its coverage?

Will you be covered if you participate in sports and activities?

What is the maximum number of days for any one trip?

If you are travelling with family members, do they receive the same insurance amounts and coverage as you? What is the process for making a claim? What does the pre-existing condition clause say? Are you fully covered?

Read the details and ask questions to verify what it means to have coverage through your credit card.

Insurance companies offer additional coverage for adventure and extreme sports such as downhill longboarding, mountaineering, paragliding, ultimate fighting, mixed martial arts and running with the bulls. Verify that you are covered while on your adventures!

There are two types of plans: single trip and annual multi trip. A single trip plan is for a specific period with start and end dates. A multi trip plan is an annual plan that allows you to make as many trips as you want up to a certain number of days.

Plans vary between 4 days and 30 days, depending on the carrier. Choose a plan that suits you and your travels the best.

In regards to travel medical insurance, do your homework to verify you have a policy that fits you.

Lisa Jaffary is a life insurance agent and financial adviser with Points West Insurance Services in Kelowna. Reach her at lisa@pointswest.ca.