The vacation time we’ve all been waiting for is almost here; spring break in Alaska means many students and parents will be taking time away from school and work.
Many Anchorage families plan trips around this time of year, some even traveling abroad.
As experienced Anchorage personal injury attorneys, we get many questions from clients and friends who come to us asking about a frightful circumstance, one that is more common than you might think: what happens if you are injured in a foreign country?
A personal injury in Alaska is scary enough, but combine that pain and uncertainty with an uncommon emergency healthcare system and maybe even a foreign language, and you’re sure to become overwhelmed. Knowing what to do ahead of time can save lots of stress should you become injured on your trip.
According to an article from InsureMe, some health insurance policies provide some overseas coverage, but the terms and conditions may be unexpected and confusing. For example, if you are injured and require emergency evacuation back to Alaska for treatment, you may not be covered—costing you $10,000 out of pocket. In some countries, you are required to pay hospital bills before returning to the U.S. Some countries have free universal healthcare, but if you’re not a citizen, you may wind up with an enormous bill.
Some countries mandate that tourists carry travel insurance and/or accident insurance.
Before traveling to a different country, ask your health insurance company if your policy:
- Applies outside of the U.S.
- Covers emergencies (like a trip to a foreign hospital for an injury)
- Covers emergency returns to the U.S.
- Covers you for high-risk activities (like off-road driving and bungee jumping)
- Requires the insurer to pay foreign hospitals and doctors directly
If you have questions about personal injuries abroad, contact an experienced personal injury attorney today.
The Anchorage personal injury attorneys at Kelley & Canterbury LLC wish you a safe and injury-free spring break trip!
Leave a Reply