Health insurance for Americans

[kingwoodie]

I've read the info on health insurance for Canadians but what about Americans? Getting ready to circumnavigate for the second time in Oct/Nov 2013 time frame. On our first trip we spent about 400.00 in emergency care with our insurance company paying 80%. Sent them the bill which they never paid and gave no info on why. I just turned 70 and I think this time I need to investigate some sort of health insurance policy.
Does anyone know of a health insurance company that provides health insurance to travelers?
thanks
Kingwoodie
sv "The Lady Margaret Ann"
Home port Houston

[Teknav]

Check with AARP, and Blue Cross & Blue Shield. Let's know what did you find. Good luck!

Mauritz

[EddieS]

Also Look at DAN (Divers Alert Network) they have travel insurance that had medical I think.
Thanks
Ed

[lorenzo b]

We cruise mostly the "third world" and don't bother with health insurance. The health care outside the USA is just as good at 1/3 the cost if not free. Our experiences were in Malaysia, Indonesia, Bolivia, Panama, and Honduras and every time we were amazed at the quality of the care and the cost. Any USA based policy will be a total rip off.

[model 10]

We use IMG

[boatman61]

Caribbean... sliced open the arch of my right foot in St Barts... went to the hospital.. 15 stitches, bandages, meds and anti-septic's..
53 euro

Portugal.. broke 3 ribs and fractured two others... 2 hospitals
3 x-rays and meds... 37 euros

USA... W Palm Beach.... crew lost a cap on their tooth... $1200
Moral... if you plan on cruising in the USA... take out insurance...

[Dulcesuenos]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Caribbean... sliced open the arch of my right foot in St Barts... went to the hospital.. 15 stitches, bandages, meds and anti-septic's..
53 euro

Portugal.. broke 3 ribs and fractured two others... 2 hospitals
3 x-rays and meds... 37 euros

USA... W Palm Beach.... crew lost a cap on their tooth... $1200
Moral... if you plan on cruising in the USA... take out insurance...

Heck the crown on the tooth might have still cost 800 even w insurance. Healthcare in the us is a joke thanks to attys and insurance and well the big O

[Cheechako]

The third world is pretty cheap. Not sure if any of the Medicare supplementals cover out of the country or not. Mine is exceedingly good for in country though. Better than any insurance I could buy prior to age 65.

[kingwoodie]

Thanks for all the input. The third world countries no problem but this time around we will spend most of our time in the EU countries and the Med and I'm not sure about the costs there.
Thanks

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Moral... if you plan on cruising in the USA... take out insurance...

It's because in the USA health insurance is sold according to weight.......

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by kingwoodie

Thanks for all the input. The third world countries no problem but this time around we will spend most of our time in the EU countries and the Med and I'm not sure about the costs there.
Thanks

Might not be entirely relevant - but I read recently that some Hospitals in Spain were getting bum slapped by the EU for not treating EU Citizens (as they are meant to, even if only for limited cover / treatment) but instead insisting on insurance. or cash up front.......not sure if that included emergency stuff like broken legs or the more involved........I guess what I am saying is perhaps prudent for folks not to think that at least they will get immediate healthcare and can sort out the paperwork / money later.....even if it was like that before.

No doubt the austerity measures have something to do with that..........but I guess the good news is that for Americans will kinda feel like being back at home.

[model 10]

Originally Posted by David_Old_Jersey

It's because in the USA health insurance is sold according to weight.......

Only if it were! I am getting no deal for not being overweight.

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by Guy

Only if it were! I am getting no deal for not being overweight.

A slim trim 500lbs or as they call it in the States - Anorexic

[Saltyhog]

Originally Posted by David_Old_Jersey

A slim trim 500lbs or as they call it in the States - Anorexic

Ok, we get it. You despise the USA and most of her citizens. You think we're all a bunch of stoopit maurens with bad manners and bad hairstyles. Any thread that even mentions the the US, you've got a pithy response at the ready. Did someone from the United States piss on your crumpets? Jeesh, give a rest. If you don't have anything "real" to add, go have a (warm) beer and cheer up!

To the OP, I've used DAN in the past and it's an excellent insurance for what it is.

[Tim R.]

Originally Posted by kingwoodie

Thanks for all the input. The third world countries no problem but this time around we will spend most of our time in the EU countries and the Med and I'm not sure about the costs there.
Thanks

I would also like to see some info on that.

I have thought about getting a catastrophic policy with a high deductible and then use DAN to get back to the states in the case of an emergency(assuming we could travel).