But the wound infection that occurred during her treatment makes her now wish that she had arranged for a speedy evacuation to a better hospital. After deciding what you need, examine different polices and read the fine print. Also insist on a plan that helps arrange your care and provides direct and immediate payment to the medical provider. Foreign doctors and hospitals won't bill your insurance and most facilities require cash up front if these arrangements aren't made. With reimbursement insurance, it can take months to get your money back, often only after the time-consuming trouble of obtaining medical documents and having them translated.
Different plans offer a wide variety of policy maximums and deductibles.
If you travel two or more times a year, consider an annual policy. An extensive listing of over 50 medical evacuation and travel insurance companies can be found at the U.S. State Department web site. Calif. She specializes in clinical tropical medicine and travelers' health. All rights reserved. Before you submit a question, please keep in mind that our experts receive hu ndreds of queries every day, so yours may not be answered directly.