Summary
Medical tourism insurance is specialized coverage for travelers under 75 years of age undergoing an approved elective medical or dental procedure outside their home country. It may cover eligible diagnosed complications from the approved procedure, along with emergency medical transportation and travel-related accident and illness benefits.
What Is Medical Tourism Insurance?
Medical tourism insurance is designed specifically for international travelers planning an elective medical or dental procedure outside their home country. Those age 75 or younger are eligible for coverage.
It fills an important gap between traditional travel insurance and the risks associated with traveling specifically for medical care.
Depending on the coverage selected, medical tourism insurance can provide protection for eligible complications and other medical and travel-related expenses.
This is not a major medical policy.
Eligible claim expenses are submitted for approval and reimbursement according to the terms of the policy.
Why Doesn’t Regular Travel Insurance Cover Medical Tourism?
Traditional travel insurance and medical tourism insurance serve different purposes.
Regular travel insurance may protect you if you unexpectedly become sick or injured while traveling.
International medical travel creates a different set of risks because you are intentionally undergoing a medical or dental procedure outside your home country.
Medical tourism insurance is specifically designed to address that gap, including eligible complications associated with an approved elective procedure or treatment.
Medical Tourism Insurance vs. Regular Travel Insurance
The main difference is the reason for the trip. Traditional travel insurance is generally designed for unexpected events that happen while you’re traveling. Medical tourism insurance is specifically designed for people intentionally traveling abroad for approved medical or dental care.
| Coverage Question | Medical Tourism Insurance | Regular Travel Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Unexpected accident or illness while traveling | May be covered under separate travel accident and illness benefits. | May be covered, depending on the policy. |
| Traveling specifically for medical treatment | Designed for international medical travelers undergoing approved procedures. | Standard travel insurance policies usually exclude coverage associated with international medical travel. |
| Complication from an approved elective procedure | May be covered, subject to the policy. | Generally not the purpose of standard travel coverage. |
| Complication diagnosed after returning home | May be covered if the applicable post-procedure complication benefit was selected and policy requirements are met. | Depends on the individual policy and exclusions. |
| Emergency medical transportation | Included among the listed benefits, up to the applicable limit. | May be available, depending on the policy. |
Because travel insurance policies vary, never assume a standard travel policy covers complications resulting from a planned procedure abroad.
Review the policy wording before traveling for medical care.
What Types of Procedures Can Medical Tourism Insurance Cover?
Coverage is designed for approved elective medical or dental procedures and treatments performed outside your country of residence or citizenship.
Examples for this type of medical tourism insurance include, but are not limited to:
- Knee and hip procedures
- Major dental work
- Cosmetic procedures
- Fertility treatments
- Weight-loss procedures
These examples should not be interpreted as automatic approval or guaranteed coverage.
The specific procedure must meet the requirements of the policy and be approved for coverage.
What Counts as a Medical Complication?
Under the program information, a complication is a bodily injury determined by a separate medical diagnosis that occurred as a result of an approved procedure or treatment performed outside the insured person’s country of residence or citizenship.
For example, suppose you travel for knee surgery and later develop a diagnosed problem related to that procedure that requires additional medical or surgical treatment.
That may qualify as a covered complication, subject to the policy.
Simply being unhappy with the outcome does not automatically qualify.
An unfavorable or unsuccessful outcome, particularly an aesthetic result or failure to correct the original diagnosis, does not by itself meet the program’s definition of a complication.
A complication also cannot result from failure to follow required pre- and post-procedure medical instructions.
Does Medical Tourism Insurance Cover Complications After You Return Home?
Yes, medical tourism insurance may provide complication coverage after you return to your home country when the applicable post-procedure coverage is selected and the complication meets the policy requirements.
Under the current program information, the complication must occur and be diagnosed within 180 days of the originally approved medical or dental procedure, or within the period stated on the insured person’s schedule of benefits, whichever is less.
If additional medical or surgical treatment is required for a covered complication, that treatment must occur within 270 days of the originally approved procedure or treatment.
The 180-day post-procedure benefit can be declined when applying. If declined, complication coverage applies only while the insured person is traveling outside their home country.
Always check your individual schedule of benefits to determine the coverage period that applies to you.
What Other Benefits Can Medical Tourism Insurance Include?
Depending on the coverage selected and policy terms, benefits can include:
- Additional medical or surgical treatment for a covered complication
- Additional expenses for eligible travel, meals, and accommodations
- Travel companion coordination
- Emergency medical transportation
- Repatriation of mortal remains
- Accidental death and dismemberment coverage
- 24-hour emergency medical assistance
The program can also provide separate emergency medical coverage for travel-related accidents and illnesses.
The benefits summary lists this coverage at $1 million in excess of $250.
Benefit limits apply, so review the policy and individual schedule of benefits for exact coverage.
Can I Buy Medical Tourism Insurance After I’ve Already Left Home?
Yes, medical tourism insurance may be available after departure, subject to eligibility and the policy requirements.
That can be particularly useful when a procedure wasn’t part of your original travel plans.
For example, you might be spending several months in Mexico and decide to have a knee replacement or major dental procedure while you’re there.
Depending on eligibility, you may still be able to apply for coverage for the planned procedure.
However, purchasing after departure is different from buying coverage before you travel.
Coverage and available benefits will depend on the circumstances, eligibility requirements, and policy terms.
Does Medical Tourism Insurance Include Emergency Medical Transportation?
Yes. Emergency medical transportation is included among the listed benefits – with coverage of up to $50,000.
The program provides access to a 24/7/365 medical emergency assistance service that can help direct an insured person to an appropriate medical facility and arrange medical evacuation when necessary.
How Much Does Medical Tourism Insurance Cost?
There isn’t one standard price, and a personalized quote is required to determine the actual premium.
Quotes are individualized based on factors such as your age, the location and type of procedure, and the coverage selected.
Someone traveling for major dental work may receive a different quote from someone undergoing a face lift.
Who Should Consider Medical Tourism Insurance?
This coverage is designed for international travelers under age 75 planning approved elective medical or dental procedures outside their home country.
Depending on eligibility, it may also be an option for someone who is already abroad and later decides to undergo an approved procedure before returning home.
The important distinction is intent…
Medical tourism insurance is designed around international medical travel and the unique risks associated with undergoing an approved procedure away from home.
