If you've ever visited Mexico -- there's a good chance you've been on a mad dash to a toilet while praying that your sphincter muscles hold out. But beyond that common nightmare, have any of you ever experienced a serious medical issue while travelling outside your country? While in Vegas last year, I developed some insane abdominal pain. Like the kind that made it nearly impossible to stand up. I was there on a business trip, and our staff all went to see Cher that night. I remember clutching the arms of my chair the whole concert, buckets of sweat pouring off my forehead. I eventually got driven to a hospital where they gave me two CT scans, some pain-killers, and a diagnosis of "Lower Intestinal Infection". 4 hours later, with $17 of anti-biotics, I was sent packing. The bills started arriving about two weeks after I returned to Canada. In the end, I had to pay nearly $12,000 for my troubles...and it only would have cost me about $25 for travel insurance. Lesson learned.:icon_frown:
Depending on what CC you use to pay for your trip, you may have coverage. I have an Aeroplan AMEX card that has all kinds of features. You already pay for your coverage via the annual fees on the card. Probably a good idea to take a copy of your cards travel insurance features with you just in case... and any phone numbers to call as well. Other than that, prevention is probably your best defence : Home | DUKORAL
My husband crashed and burned in Cabo a couple of yrs ago. Spent 2 nights in the hospital - $18,000 up front and then 6 months of fighting with our insurance company to get reimbursed. Still don't do travel ins. Have a friend who's mother spent a month in San Jaun in the hospital then was then airlifted home and the travel insurance paid for it all. She had a complicated medical history.
Travel lnsurance is always a good idea, in the UK they wont fly you out unless you have it. I dont know why so many Americans / Canadians travel without it, especially since in the US health insurance is a part of daily life rather than in the UK and Canada where healthcare is free. Fortunately, hospital care is much cheaper here than Kim&Keith's experience in Vegas: I had a CT scan here and the costs was $400, antibiotics are about the same price as you paid in Vegas. A specialist consultation in any field will cost about 500 pesos ($45). A hotel doctor will be more expensive and be a generalist rather than specialist, so anything more than a cut or sprain then I'd recommend going to the hospital and seeing a specialist. The hospital in Cancun I recommend is Galenia.
Its good to remember that travel insurance doesn't cover for certain activities such as wind surfing, pre-existing medical conditions, nor do they cover for an accident that occurred through misuse of alcohol! They will do anything not to pay out.
Pete: heat stroke the day we left Cabo complete with hallucinations, shakes and talking gibberish. Powered through it though since we had a flight to catch. Total cost: about $50 for lots of water and a new t-shirt since I sweat through the first one. Tip: skip daytime sex in hot tub in 100 degree temps. Kati: adopted a rescue dog in Puerto Peñasco. Brought it home and picked up a rare GI big from it that put her in the hospital for a week. Kidneys shut down then had a bad reaction to the meds. We no longer have the Mexican Mystery Mutt. Total out-of-pocket cost for us: $100 dog adoption fee + about $4,000 co-pay but we met our deductible. Tip: Don't adopt dogs playing host to campylobacter jejuni. Not our group but people in neighboring house in Peñasco: toddler fell off bunk bed, landed on head on tile floor. Couldn't wake kid up. Ambulance to the border where a helicopter from Phoenix Children's was waiting at the Border Patrol crossing. Don't know what happened after that but can only imagine what that all cost...but worth it if it's a kid. Tip: Toddlers don't belong on bunk beds and LifeFlight choppers won't come south of the border. Been to Mexico probably 40-45 other times with no other incidents though.
Travelguard is one we use when going to Mexico. We don't get trip cancellation coverage with it, just med and emergency evac. Usually runs about 25-30 usd a piece. Fortunataly, we haven't had to make a claim yet..............
After reading this thread, we just purchased Medical Insurance for our May 4-11 trip. Here are the specifics: Medical Coverage Information Product: Patriot Travel Medical Insurance® Product Type: Travel Medical Application Type: 0711W Maximum Limit: $50,000.00 USD Deductible: 0.00 USD Length of Coverage: 0 Month(s) 8 Day(s) The total premium for both Doug and Kristin is $19.00 ($9.50 each). Definitely well worth it for a $50,000 medical policy. Here is the website we used to buy it: https://purchase.imglobal.com/quote/patriot?IMGAC=55856&show=PATAI,PATII,PATPI,PATPA
We always buy medical insurance $25pp. Through our credit union under written here in Canada by TIC. Worth its weight in GOLD! A few years ago we were at Riu Caribe. Hubby got VIOLENTLY ill. Never seen anything like it. HAd to get the Doc in which told him to go to the hospitien. 8 hours later and me having a total panic attack about going to a hospital in a 3rd world country everything went very well. He received great care, just like home, $800 later we had to pay upfront but everything was covered no question with receipts after we got home.
I always travel with insurance ... and in some ways i'm covered by three different plans .. my CC, my Medical Coverage through work, and the package that i buy with the trip. Its a small price to pay for peace of mind
