International medical insurance for long term

[Windwardblonde]

Hi all, we are moving onto our boat and going to travel into international waters longer than 3 months. I am also under 65 and will need international medical insurance. What does everyone do for longer term international insurance? I have found several companies but the longest I have found says trip maximum is for only 180 days, even though it is a 12 month policy. Do you have to fly back to the states for a couple of days to start a new trip? What does everyone do?

[leecea]

I haven't used these but their webpage looks promising:

https://www.aetna.com/individuals-fa...insurance.html

[Marathon1150]

If you are a citizen of the US or Canada (your profile does not provide a home base) look into DAN Boater. They provide evacuation insurance for citizens of those countries and also provide medical insurance for citizens of a number of US states.

We regularly subscribe to their evacuation insurance (we are Canadian and do not qualify for their medical coverage). We needed to use the evac insurance about 5 years ago when the first mate fell on the dock and broke her knee cap in Mexico. Medical care in Mexico was very good but her physician in Canada suggested returning home for the required surgery because she would not be able to get on/off the boat for several months. DAN was exceptionally responsive and helpful arranging and paying for the evacuation back to our home base.

For medical coverage outside of Canada we use a company called Johnson-MEDOC. It is likely unique to Canada and reasonably priced for this kind of insurance.

Since you are under 65 you could also try World Nomads. Based in Australia they will cover most people travelling internationally up until age 65. We used them up to the age 65 cutoff and found their rates and responsiveness very good.

[JPA Cate]

We traveled for years with no health insurance at all, with the intention of paying for whatever we needed if we needed something. We were surprised to learn that often emergency care had very low fees, once one was out of the US. The first expensive place for medical care we came was Australia, where our visa requires us to carry health cover.

If it is a concern for you (below age 65, living a cruising lifestyle, it is unlikely to have something serious go wrong), I'm pretty sure you can buy term medical/health coverage wherever you stop long enough. [I'm basing this on being able to purchase liability coverage short term in New Caledonia, when, with guests aboard, a cyclone came; we needed that to go into the marina. Different kind of insurance, but similar principle.]

The DAN insurance, mentioned above, has always sounded very good to me because it will get you back to your home country (where you speak the language best and know the ropes).

If you are from the US, as am I, you probably grew up mind washed to carry insurance for everything. Other places are different, and they have safety nets. Some US companies will allow you to pay for their coverage, annually, but then you HAVE to be able to get back to the States. In the worst cases, you might have to book two flights, one for the one with the problem, and the other for a RN accompanying them. The DAN insurance would cover the flight for the one with the problem, in that case. The thing is, below the age of 65, such events ARE RARE. Cruising's very healthy, swimming almost every day, or walking, and eating well--you can't carry that much junk food on most boats.

Ann

[psk125]

Gowrie Group had an international plan that looked very reasonable. Medical care outside the U.S. is generally much less expensive because most countries have nationalized medical setups, so the insurance to access it is less expensive too.

[Windwardblonde]

Thank you for the information!

[Windwardblonde]

Thank you for the information! Sadly I feel like I’m very good at packing junk food no matter where I am.

[JPA Cate]

Well, honestly, we do carry beer, and wine, so our boat is not at all junk food free.

I could wish I didn't store it on my body!

Ann

[Windwardblonde]

It’s just our bodies trying to hold on to the fun stuff!

[sv Stella Maris]

We have used Cigna Global over the years for our family. We are relatively young and in good health, but a family of 10 none the less. Major medical policy was about $550/month, limited time allowed in the USA.

My agent has been great over the years. Never any sales pressure and easy to cancel when complete with the sabbatical.

Email: neil.thomson@cigna.com
Direct Phone Number: +44 1475 753 890
UK: +44 141 626 1373
Toll free from US: 877 539 6295

Good luck,

Derek, SV Stella Maris
CatamaranConsultant.com

[captmikem]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

We traveled for years with no health insurance at all, with the intention of paying for whatever we needed if we needed something. We were surprised to learn that often emergency care had very low fees, once one was out of the US. The first expensive place for medical care we came was Australia, where our visa requires us to carry health cover.


Ann

I agree, Ann is giving good advice here. The few times I have needed medical attention it was either not available (I caught Dengue fever in Tonga), or it was inexpensive. (I had a CAT scan in NZ, the cost was around $100 USD. Had a few bones set in England and Bermuda at low cost, and a few other repairs in other countries but nothing that cost anything like the USA.

Medical drugs are not expensive in other countries as well. Good wine on the other hand is Terribly expensive in Tahiti.

M

[Nickodemus]

DAN Boater insurance will only take you to the NEAREST facility that will provide the medical coverage you require in an EMERGENCY situation. It clearly states in their policy that this means that they are not required to take you back to your home country in an emergency situation. We utilized DAN in the Bahamas and they sent my husband to Nassau - which had fantastic facilities, BTW. We maintain our regular health insurance from the US (BCBS) when we travel because we are covered for emergency situations anywhere in the world. Otherwise we utilize local clinics or fly home for scheduled appointments.

[argonauta1]

During our circumnav we went with DAN and otherwise used local med facilities as necessary. Fortunately not too necessary! Interestingly we encountered many cruisers especially American who self insured Medical as well as Yacht Hull insurance.

In reviewing the $ numbers after the fact, I often wonder why we did not do the same

[SV Coronado]

We use GeoBlue Expat Crew, and it has been great. You must be outside the US for more than three months out of the year to qualify. It's not cheap, but it's good. Cigna Global is comparable.

GeoBlue Expat Crew Medical Coverage