Travel Insurance Links

When you consider that a hospital stay in the U.S. could run up to $10,000 a day, you wonder why anyone would knowingly travel there without appropriate insurance coverage! Apparently, many do.

According to industry statistics, Canadian travel insurance companies paid out more that $600 million in claims in 2011, which goes to prove accidents happen, travelers do get ill while on vacation.

My sister had a bike accident while on vacation in Arizona recently, which resulted in a rather speedy return to her home in Calgary for emergency surgery. Her travel insurance company was a big help in this emergency. It's highly recommended the travel insurance company you choose has a 1-800 assistance number. Her's did.

A recent travel article in the Toronto Star pointed to the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association. We're told it pays to be informed, this is a place to start.

The key to having coverage, after you purchased your travel insurance is proper disclosure of health information when you buy. If you're confused about how this works, read the Toronto Star article mentioned earlier. It spells out the important bit about pre-existing conditions, and when you're considered stable.

If you do have trouble with your claims, and you need an ombudsmen service, here's where you find them: OmbudService for Life and Health Insurance.

Here's another article from Manulife Financial, which may interest you: Tips For Travel Health Emergencies.

Innovative Traveller

This image came in my email this morning, and because it has to do with 5th Wheels, trailers and travel I'm posting. That is a Mountie standing at the side of the trailer.

Click on the photo for a larger view, just in case you wonder how this is all hooked together.

Snowbirds may get more time in the U.S.

Since I regularly forget just how many days you can legally stay in the U.S. in any one year, I'm reprinting this short item from today's Toronto Star.

For now, you legally stay for 182 days annually. I'm told every time you cross the border (even if it's just to go shopping), you have used one of your days. So, it's important to keep track.

There is still the issue for Ontario residents of provincial health insurance - OHIP. You may be temporarily outside of Canada for a total of 212 days in any 12 month period and still maintain your OHIP coverage as long as your primary place of residence is still in Ontario.

Jim Byers, Travel Editor Toronto Star has more on this here.

Hospital Charges That Add Up Quickly

If you spend enough time in Arizona, sooner or later you or your traveling partner will need medical attention for something. Especially as you get older.

Our travel medical coverage requires we contact them before seeking treatment. Here's why - "Medicare released data for charges and payments for the 100 most common inpatient procedures in 2011, revealing a dramatic variance among hospitals in metro Phoenix and across Arizona." You can read more about it here.

Consider this: For the most common procedure in Arizona hospitals, joint or lower-limb replacement, the average charge was $108,200 at Payson Regional Medical Center compared with $30,259 at Tucson Medical Center or $15,527 at Tuba City Regional Health Care. Follow the link above for more details.

Western Arizona Regional Medical Center in Bullhead City was the most expensive place for digestive disorders with an average bill of $48,374, more than 10 times the average bill of $4,586 at Fort Defiance Indian Hospital. 

Little wonder travel insurance companies want input. When my sister broke her wrist in Mesa after falling from her bike, her travel insurance company recommended she catch the next flight home to Calgary. She did, and her wrist was successfully repaired at home saving thousands of dollars. If the travel insurance companies were not diligent in this regard, none of us could afford the premiums.