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EmailCountry Specific Information - Medical Insurance
The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and if it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation. If necessary, Americans should consider secondary medical coverage for the trip.
The Social Security Medicare Program does not provide coverage for hospital or medical costs outside the United States of America.
- Why should I be concerned about medical coverage abroad?
- What questions should I ask my health insurance company?
- Can the U.S. government assist me if I become disabled overseas?
- Where do I find a list of physicians abroad?
- What's the difference between Travel Insurance and Travel Medical Insurance?
- What insurance information should I carry with me abroad?
- Where do I find a list of U.S.-based Air Ambulance/Med-Evac companies?
Foreign-based Air Ambulance/Med-Evac companies? U.S. Based Travel Insurance Companies?
Foreign based Travel Insurance companies? Personalized Medical Services? Medical Escorts?
Why should I be concerned about medical coverage abroad?
- The Social Security Medicare Program does not provide coverage for hospital or medical costs outside the United States of America.
- Many health insurance plans do not provide coverage overseas. Those that provide "customary and reasonable" hospital costs abroad may not pay for your medical evacuation back to the United States which can easily cost $10,000.00 and up depending on your location and medical condition.
- Many foreign doctors and hospitals require payment in cash prior to providing service.
- Uninsured patients may be refused service.
- Countries with socialized medicine may not provide full services to non-residents.
- Payment of hospital and other expenses abroad is the responsibility of the traveler.
- Some countries require tourists to carry accident or travel insurance. For detailed information on country specific information, please visit Country Information Sheet.
What questions should I ask my health insurance company?
- Does this insurance policy cover emergency expenses abroad such as returning me to the United States for treatment if I am seriously ill?
- Does this insurance cover high-risk activities such as parasailing, mountain climbing, scuba diving and off-roading?
- Does this policy cover pre-existing conditions?
- Does the insurance company require pre-authorizations or second opinions before emergency treatment can begin?
- Does the insurance company guarantee medical payments abroad?
- Will the insurance company pay foreign hospitals and foreign doctors directly?
- Does the insurance company have a 24-hour physician-backed support center?
- Senior citizens may wish to contact the American Association of Retired Persons for information about foreign medical care coverage with Medicare supplement plans.
Can the U.S. government assist me if I become disabled overseas?
- If an American becomes ill or is seriously injured abroad, a U.S. consular officer can assist in locating appropriate medical services and informing family or friends.
- If necessary a consular officer can also assist in the transfer of funds from the United States.
- Payment of hospital and other expenses is the responsibility of the traveler.
Where do I find a list of physicians in the country I plan to visit?
- For detailed information on physicians abroad, the authoritative reference is The Official ABMS Directory of Board Certified Medical Specialists, published for the American Board of Medical Specialists and its certifying member boards.
- U.S. embassies and consulates abroad maintain lists of hospitals and physicians, many of which are posted on the embassy or consulate web site.
What's the difference between Travel Insurance and Travel Medical Insurance?
- Travel Insurance insures your financial investment up to the amount of your policy limits.
- Travel Medical Insurance insures you should you become ill and need medical attention while living or traveling abroad.
What insurance information should I carry with me abroad?
- Carry both your insurance policy identity card as proof of your insurance and a claim form.
Where do I find a list of U.S.-based Air Ambulance/Med-Evac companies? Foreign-based Air Ambulance/Med-Evac companies? U.S. Based Travel Insurance Companies? Foreign based Travel Insurance companies? Personalized Medical Services? Medical Escorts?
Several private organizations will provide medical information and insurance for overseas travelers. Most charge a fee for this service. The following is provided FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY and in no way constitutes an endorsement, expressed or implied, by the Department of State.
| U.S. Based Companies | |
| ABLE JET Fort Pierce, FL 800-225-3538 |
ACADIAN AMBULANCE & AIR MED SERVICE, INC. Lafayette, LA 800-259-3333 |
| ADVANCED AIR AMBULANCE Miami, FL 800-633-3590 / 305-232-7700 |
AAA - AIR AMBULANCE AMERICA Austin, TX 800-222-3564 / 512-479-8000 |
| AIGAssist American International Group, Inc. Houston, Texas 800-626-2427; 01-713-267-2525 |
AIR AMBULANCE NETWORK Tarpon Springs, FL 800-327-1966 |
| AIRMD AIR AMBULANCE SERVICES Clearwater, FL 800-282-6878 / 1-727-530-7972 |
AirEvac Phoenix, AZ 800-421-6111 |
| AIR AMBULANCE PROFESSIONALS Fort Lauderdale, FL 800-752-4195 / 954-491-0555 |
AIRescue INTERNATIONAL Van Nuys, CA 800-922-4911 / 818-994-0911 |
| AIR MEDIC - AIR AMBULANCE OF AMERICA Washington, PA 800-245-9987 |
AIR STAR INTERNATIONAL Thermal, CA 877-570-0911 / 800-991-2869 e-mail: AirStar1@aol.com |
| AIR RESPONSE Orlando, FL 800-631-6565 / 303-858-9967 |
AMERICAN JET AIR MEDICAL Houston, TX 888-I-FLY-AJI / 713-641-9700 |
| AMERICAN CARE, INC. San Diego, CA 800-941-2582 / 619-486-8844 |
AXA ASSISTANCE 122 S. Michigan Ave Suite 1100 Chicago, IL 606031 (800) 874-4372 http://www.axa-assistance-usa.com |
| CRITICAL AIR MEDICINE San Diego, CA 800-247-8326 / 619-571-0482 |
CRITICAL CARE MEDFLIGHT Lawrenceville, GA 800-426-6557 |
| GLOBAL CARE / MEDPASS Alpharetta, GA 800-860-1111 |
INFLIGHT MEDICAL SERVICES INTERNATIONAL INC. Naples, FL 800-432-4177 / 941-594-0800 |
| INTERNATIONAL SOS ASSISTANCE Philadelphia, PA 800-523-8930 / 215-244-1500 Also provides travel insurance services. |
LifeFlight New Orleans New Orleans, LA 800-942-0455 / 504-243-9800 e-mail: Info@NewOrleansJets.com |
| LIFE GUARD INTERNATIONAL, INC. Las Vegas, NV 1-888-FLY'N-ICU (1-888-359-6428) e-mail: lgii@flyingicu.com |
MedAire Tempe, AZ 480-333-3700 e-mail: info@medaire.com |
| MED ESCORT INTERNATIONAL INC. Allentown, PA 800-255-7182 / 610-791-3111 |
MEDEX ASSISTANCE CORPORATION Baltimore, MD 888-MEDEX-00 / 800-537-2029 Also provides travel insurance services. |
| MEDJET ASSISTANCE Birmingham, AL 1-800-963-3538 |
MEDJET INTERNATIONAL, INC. Birmingham, AL 800-356-2161 / 205-592-4460 |
| MEDWAY AIR AMBULANCE Lawrenceville, GA 800-233-0655 |
MERCY MEDICAL AIRLIFT Manassas, VA 800-296-1217 (Service area: Caribbean and part of Canada only. If necessary, will meet commercial incoming patients at JFK, Miami and other airports.) |
| NATIONAL AIR AMBULANCE Ft. Lauderdale, FL 800-327-3710 / 305-525-5538 |
SMARTRAVEL Alexandria, VA 800-730-3170 / 703-379-8645 Provides a range of travel medicine services |
| TRAVEL CARE INTERNATIONAL, INC. Eagle River, WI 800-524-7633 / 715-479-8881 |
TRAVELERS EMERGENCY NETWORK Tierra Verde, FL 800-ASK-4-TEN e-mail: ten@intrex.net |
| TRAVEL ASSIST NETWORK CORPORATION South Bend, IN 866-500-0333/+1 574-272-5400 email: info@travelassistnetwork.com |
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Foreign Based Companies
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| AEA INTERNATIONAL Singapore U.S. Phone: 800-468-5232 Service worldwide, also provides travel insurance services |
AUSTRIAN AIR AMBULANCE Vienna, Austria 43-1-40-144 |
| EURO-FLITE LTD. Helsinki International Airport Vantaa, Finland 358-9-870-2544 |
EUROPASSISTANCE Johannesburg, South Africa 27-11-315-3999 |
| GERMAN AIR RESCUE (DRF) Filderstadt, Germany 49-0711-7007-0 e-mail: alarmzentrale@drf.de |
LUXEMBOURG AIR RESCUE Luxembourg 352-420-440-1 e-mail: office@air-rescue.lu |
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MEDIC'AIR |
TYROL AIR AMBULANCE |
TRAVEL INSURANCE COMPANIES
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U.S. Based Companies
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| ACCESS AMERICA, INC. Richmond, VA 866-807-3982 |
ASA, INC. International Health Insurance Phoenix, AZ 888-ASA-8288 |
| CLEMENTS INTERNATIONAL Washington, DC 800-872-0067 / 202-872-0060 http://www.clements.com e-mail: info@clements.com |
CSA TRAVEL PROTECTION San Diego, CA 888-873-5484 http://www.csatravelprotection.com |
| GATEWAY INTERNATIONAL INSURANCE PLANSMarsh Consumer Washington, DC 202-367-5097 / 800-282-4495 email: gateway@marshpm.com |
HEALTH CARE GLOBAL (also known as MEDHELP or WALLACH & COMPANY or HEALTHCARE ABROAD) Middleburg, VA 800-237-6615 / 540-687-3166 |
| HIGHWAY TO HEALTH Fairfax, VA 703-322-1515 (Also provides destination-based travel health information for cities worldwide.) |
INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL GROUP (IMG) Indianapolis, IN 800-628-4664 / 317-655-4500 |
| MultiNational Underwriters, Inc. Indianapolis, IN 800-605-2282 e-mail: insurance@mnui.com |
M. H. Ross Travel Insurance Services Northridge, CA 800-423-3632 |
| PETERSEN INTERNATIONAL UNDERWRITERS, INC. Valencia, CA 800-345-8816 e-mail: piu@piu.org |
QuoteWright.com America's Travel Insurance Store East Hartford, CT.800-821-4940 http://www.quotewright.com e-mail: service@quotewright.com |
| Seven Corners, Inc. Carmel, IN 800-335-0611/317-575-2652 |
Travel Insured International, Inc E. Hartford, CT 800-243-3174 |
| TRAVEL INSURANCE SERVICES InterMedical Division Walnut Creek, CA 800-937-1387/925-932-1387 |
TRAVEL GUARD Stevens Point, WI 800-826-1300/715-345-0505 |
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TRAVELEX |
TRAVEL ASSIST NETWORK CORPORATION South Bend, IN 866-500-0333/+1 574-272-5400 email: info@travelassistnetwork.com |
| USA ASSIST Los Angeles, CA 805-499-0363 |
UNIVERSAL SERVICE AND ASSISTANCE Alexandria, VA 800-770-9111 / 703-370-7800 |
| WORLDWIDE ASSISTANCE Washington, DC 800-777-8710 ext. 417 |
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Foreign Based Companies
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| INTEGRA GLOBAL Hallein , Austria 43-6245-71303 e-mail: info@integraglobal.com |
EXECUTIVE MEDICAL SERVICES
| AMERICAN MEDICAL CENTERS Moscow, Russia Offices in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kyiv, Prague, Warsaw, Istanbul (7-095) 933-77-00 (Moscow) |
HEALTH QUEST TRAVEL INC. Wexford, PA 888-899-3633 e-mail: HQT@HealthQuestTravel.com |
| WORLD CLINIC Burlington, MA 800-636-9186 |
MEDICAL ESCORT
| AIR MEDICAL ESCORT SERVICES 1135 Kildare Farm Road Suite 200 Cary, North Carolina 27511 1-877-400-0463 / 919-342-4598 |
