Travel to the USA without health insurance - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Ace · 11-01-2011, 03:31 PM

I've always had travel medical insurance, however one of my family members is having a hard time getting insurance because of a pre-existing condition. Medically travel has been cleared with no concerns.

I'm trying to figure out how much alberta health care really covers when traveling. So far the vague definition is up to the maximum that we would pay for such services. In a worst case scenario how much could an albertian be out of pocket traveling with just alberta health care?

Anyone with experiance here?

Boblobla · 11-01-2011, 03:41 PM

I had a co-worker break an ankle pretty bad in the US on a business trip, so they had insurance but I believe the bill was north of $30k.

return to the red · 11-01-2011, 03:41 PM

do they not have a health plan through work? I know my health plan covers out of country medical expenses. Also what about a trip booked through visa? I know Visa offers some medical coverage no?

CaptainCrunch · 11-01-2011, 03:47 PM

Wouldn't that be equivalent to having sex in Haiti without a condom?

macker · 11-01-2011, 03:48 PM

http://www.travelinsurancequotes.ca/

There is some info on pre-existing conditions on this site. If you don't have coverage with work you can get coverage for a minimal amount of money if you consider the cost if you travel without it and run into problems. If you have a pre-existing condition though this could be difficult to arrange in many cases.

photon · 11-01-2011, 03:51 PM

I think I remember hearing that Alberta Heath Care will provide like $120 a day or something like that.. basically it amounts to nothing compared to the cost of the heath care in the US. I wouldn't travel without it.

SeeBass · 11-01-2011, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macker

http://www.travelinsurancequotes.ca/

There is some info on pre-existing conditions on this site. If you don't have coverage with work you can get coverage for a minimal amount of money if you consider the cost if you travel without it and run into problems. If you have a pre-existing condition though this could be difficult to arrange in many cases.

I use the same guys too. Never had to send in a claim but the rates are great.

GoinAllTheWay · 11-01-2011, 03:59 PM

I would contact a broker whom has acces to Travel Underwriters. They are very fair. No one is likely to cover a pre-existing condition though.

valo403 · 11-01-2011, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by photon

I think I remember hearing that Alberta Heath Care will provide like $120 a day or something like that.. basically it amounts to nothing compared to the cost of the heath care in the US. I wouldn't travel without it.

I lived in the US for 4 years without it, my 'insurance' coverage was the 1 hour drive to the border. Perhaps not the most responsible plan.

freedogger · 11-01-2011, 04:08 PM

A friend's hubby had to stay in hospital in San Diego for a week durring their wedding. Travel insurance denied due to a pre-existing condition. They are still paying the bill 9 years later. So good for you for inquiring.

burn_this_city · 11-01-2011, 04:15 PM

Holy, sounds like I've been rolling the dice more than I should have. I should check to see if my employer covers this, which I don't think they do.

Dentoman · 11-01-2011, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ace

I've always had travel medical insurance, however one of my family members is having a hard time getting insurance because of a pre-existing condition. Medically travel has been cleared with no concerns.

I'm trying to figure out how much alberta health care really covers when traveling. So far the vague definition is up to the maximum that we would pay for such services. In a worst case scenario how much could an albertian be out of pocket traveling with just alberta health care?

Anyone with experiance here?

Not worth the risk .... as a person from out of country, without some sort of private insurance to show the hospital, good luck even getting seen. Even with a travel insurance plan, they will verify everything with your insurance company before doing much of anything.
You could be out of pocket thousands of dollars at a minimum.

evman150 · 11-01-2011, 04:18 PM

I am in perfect health, but I would not step foot in the US without insurance.

Financial ruin or bankruptcy or whatever is just not even close to worth it.

Hemi-Cuda · 11-01-2011, 04:19 PM

i'm glad the last few places i've worked has provided travel insurance. never put much thought into it before but seeing some of the stories posted here is quite sobering. just reinforces how completely crazy the Americans are to be so deadset against universal healthcare

Dentoman · 11-01-2011, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freedogger

A friend's hubby had to stay in hospital in San Diego for a week durring their wedding. Travel insurance denied due to a pre-existing condition. They are still paying the bill 9 years later. So good for you for inquiring.

This happened to an employee's uncle. He travelled with health insurance to California, had a heart attack. His insurance company here authorized treatment until the company contacted his family MD here and saw that he had had a specialist referral for a totally unrelated issue and revoked his coverage for a pre-existing condition. He was out the door of that hospital in a flash. He couldn't fly so some family members had to go down and drive him back.
Now, he sued his insurance carrier when he got home and was reimbursed because a consult with a urologist shouldn't be considered a pre-existing heart condition, so even with insurance, there can be issues.
His two day stay .... $20 grand.
If you find a company that will insure your family member, make sure you get all the worst case scenario info.

Ace · 11-01-2011, 04:38 PM

^This is the exact scenario, my family member has travel insurance through a group plan, but the group plan is indicating they will not cover the pre-existing condition.

You can't take for granted that just because you have insurance at work you will be covered...

Anyone have a recomendation for insurance that covers pre-existing conditions?

Slava · 11-01-2011, 06:46 PM

You can (in some cases) do a medical for the coverage ahead of time and have it put in place that way. I have a client with a fairly severe pre-existing issue and this was effective in that case. I'm not saying it would work for anyone, but there is a possibility.

Robotic · 11-01-2011, 07:12 PM

I work in the international health insurance business, and we can offer coverage for mostly expatriates but do short term as well. I'm pretty sure we can cover pre-existing, but you'll obviously be hit pretty hard in premiums. PM me if you want details, and I can give you some info.

MoneyGuy · 11-01-2011, 07:13 PM

This is not my client but an advisor colleague was telling me that his client had a son who was traveling, got drunk and had an accident, with no insurance. The parents had to raise money on their mortgage to have the son treated, yet he later died. Terrible horror story. I would never set foot outside of the country without insurance. It'd be crazy nuts. Someone who balks at the insurance can't afford to travel.

Slava · 11-01-2011, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robotic

I work in the international health insurance business, and we can offer coverage for mostly expatriates but do short term as well. I'm pretty sure we can cover pre-existing, but you'll obviously be hit pretty hard in premiums. PM me if you want details, and I can give you some info.

Just curious who you work for and what you do? Feel free to PM if you prefer.