In Reply to: Travel insurance, what covered? not? USA posted by ruthrat on Wednesday, 19. October 2005 at 18:58 Bali Time:
First, check your personal policy to see if you are covered outside of the US and for what. Many HMO's do cover overseas medical expenses, but their coverage varies very widely. Some policies, however, do not cover overseas, so check your own carefully.
One thing not usually included is medical evacuation, which is something you would surely want in Bali...evacuation to Singapore or Australia is most common for serious injuries or illnesses. The cost of med evac is upwards of $10,000 US, so having coverage for this is vital.
There are many plans that you can choose from, and varying what is included and the decuctable adjust the premiums. Pre-existing conditions are not generally included, nor is anything related to said condition...like if you are being treated for high blood presssure, you won't be covered for anything related...like stroke or heart attack, for example. Some of the better policies offer a waiver for pre-existing conditions, which is worthwhile for some to consider.
Terrorism...some policies cover, some don't.
You can get straight medical, or combine it with trip insurance as well, covering cancellation, lost baggage, etc. Before getting lost baggage and valuable cover, check your homeowners' policy - you might be covered there.
There are lots of companies out there offering travel insurance. Do your homework, read the fine print, and make an educated choice. Start out with a google search on TRAVEL INSURANCE, and devote a good couple of days to sort out the results and compare.