Thursday 18 January 2018

What do I need to keep in mind in case of hospitalization during my travel abroad?

Overseas medical travel insurance covers hospitalization expenses.  When you are admitted to a hospital during your stay in abroad, you should inform the insurance company immediately. The doctor associated with the insurance company will discuss your medical condition with the doctor who is offering the treatment. The travel insurance company should get confirmation that the hospitalization is not related to the pre-existing condition or the conditions that are present in the exclusion list. The insurance will settle the payment with the hospital directly. 

Features of travel health insurance 

The travel health insurance is different from other kinds of insurance plans. The plan focuses on emergency medical procedure or hospitalization. It will cover the evacuation as well. 
If you met with an accident or become sick in abroad, the medical costs will be borne by the insurance company. 
The medical insurance will cover the ambulance charges and airlifting charges as well. 
In most of the cases, the emergency dental treatment will be included in the health insurance. 
If you are located in a remote area, emergency evacuation will be done. You will be transported to an area where you can get medical treatment. 
If you die on your trip, the mortal remains will be sent to your country. 
Some travel health plans cover Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) benefits and they will be paid regardless of the coverage you have in your home country. The coverage will add additional benefit to your family. 

Locating healthcare providers 

If you are very sick or met with an accident, you should consult the Indian embassy immediately. The official at the embassy will help you in finding the medical service centers. 
The hotline provided by the insurance company should be contacted by which you will be connected to an assistance center. 
You can also go through the ‘yellow pages’ of the local telephone book to get information about the list of doctors and hospitals. 
The initial treatment will be offered by the hotel or resort doctors. You can also collect information about doctors from the recommendations of locals. 

Documentation 

To expedite the Travel Health Insurance claim, necessary documents should be sent to the insurance company by email or fax. 

Filled-in claim form signed by the doctor and the policyholder 
Name, address and contact details of the local doctor in India 
A signed copy of Release of Medical Information Form (ROMIF) – The form will authorize the treating doctor and the local (family) doctor in India to share your medical information with the Insurance Medical Assistance Department.
The medical report prepared by the treating doctor 
Estimation of medical expenses
Date of travel from India
Domestic health insurance policy details (if any) 
Copy of passport with exit stamp from India and entry into the foreign country 

By submitting the above-mentioned documents to the insurance company will help the medical assessment department to assess the claim. The company will confirm the claim process if the requirements are fulfilled by the policyholder as per the agreement. 

Medical coverage 

If you are covered by a Travel Health Insurance plan, your hospitalization expenses will be covered by the insurance company. You will be able to manage the emergency medical treatment very easily with the assistance provided by the insurance company. 

It is very much desirable to have an exclusive travel insurance plan so that all your medical expenses are covered properly. The emergency medical coverage and medical evacuation will be done by the company. Most of the medical insurance plans cover accidental death, permanent total disablement, dental treatment, personal accident, and medical expenses including repatriation. 

Precautions before leaving abroad 

You should take certain precautions before leaving abroad so that you can manage the medical emergency very easily. The healthcare contact information should be collected from the insurance company. 

If you are not familiar with the country of visit, you should collect information online. You should go through the authentic medical and health insurance information so that you can implement the best course of action during an emergency. 

Some countries warrant vaccination before leaving India. Hence, you should figure out the requirement of vaccination. 

If you are suffering from pre-existing diseases, you should carry a letter from your doctor. The letter should describe your medical condition and medications prescribed to safeguard your health. The generic names of those drugs should be mentioned in the health certificate. 

Conclusion 

As soon as you are admitted to a hospital due to sickness or accident, you should inform the insurance company. The insurance company will provide assistance as per the terms and conditions provided in the Medical Travel Insurance plan. The insurance company will process your claim and you can manage a relaxed trip. You will get access to a local person who knows the local language and further assistance and guidance will be provided by the local person. Thus, you will be able to deal the situation very easily while traveling abroad.

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