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HEALTH |
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Mulling Over Medical Insurance |
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by Jennifer BaljkoTrip preparations are exciting—you plan where to go, what to do and what to bring thinking about all the great experiences you’ll have. However, as we recently witnessed in Southeast Asia, accidents may occur while traveling and there is unfortunately no way to plan for such tragic events. Although it was on a much lesser scale, Donna Davidovitz found that out for herself about two years ago. As she waded into the surf off one of the Thai islands, something brushed her left leg. She thought it was seaweed. When Davidovitz, a Bay Area psychologist, looked again, she had bone-deep gash from her knee to her ankle. She had been snagged by a rusty, six-inch fishing hook. . |
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Her husband and another visitor loaded Davidovitz into a truck, wrapped her leg in towels and rushed her to the hospital, which just happened to be known for its sex-change operations, she recalled. She was given anesthesia, underwent surgery, stayed in the hospital for 12 days and was forced to upgrade her return airplane ticket to first-class in order to elevate her leg. It’s a situation no one wants to encounter, but the reality is that bad things happen on the road, and sometimes they land you in the hospital.
The question then arises: Do you forego buying primary or supplemental medical insurance, hope nothing happens while you’re wandering, and if it does, plan to just eat the expenses? Or, do you slap down the money before you head out and purchase the peace of mind that comes with knowing you won’t find yourself in dire financial straits if you step in harm’s way? It’s a tough call, especially for budget travelers who are globe-trotting for several months at a time. While ultimately you must do what feels most comfortable to you, there are few things to consider before you strap on your pack, according to Edward Hasbrouck, author of “The Practical Nomad” and travel guru at AirTreks.com. “Hasbrouck recommends weighing the costs of the insurance policy against what the possible costs of medical care would be abroad.” |
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