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Home » Travel Health & Insurance

Medical and Travel Insurance Update

Modified: Aug 25, 2020 · Published: Nov 24, 2007 by Dave Lee |

IMG denied my application for their Global Medical Insurance plan because of my recent knee condition and treatment.

I have a much better understanding of why so many people are frustrated and uninsured in America as a result.

It seems unfair that insurers will deny coverage for people who are (or were recently) sick or injured - in short, the people who need the coverage the most - because they might have to pay $$$ after any pre-existing condition clauses expire (IMG Global Gold is 24 months - not that I'd still be with them that long). 

As a result, tens of millions of Americans are without health insurance coverage.

I've had employees who had to choose whether to take their children to the doctor, or themselves, yet I didn't really get the rub until now.

The underwriter said I could reapply in 6 months if the knee problem doesn't persist, nor do I seek treatment for it.

Of course, there's no guarantee they'll cover me then either!

So on to Plan B, paying COBRA premiums month-to-month to maintain my employer-based plan.

It's 3-4 times as expensive as the IMG policy, however, it also covers a lot more, and I have the added security of knowing if my knee problem recurs, and self-treatment doesn't help, I don't have to assume the whole cost of further treatment myself.

I still intend to reapply for an IMG policy after 6 months.

Luckily, I obtained all the necessary medical records myself rather than having them sent to the company.

I can scan them all, e-mail them to myself, and have them readily available to forward next May. Just don't tell IMG - I'm still mad at them.

While I have access to the BlueCard Worldwide network outside of the United States, it's geared more toward trying to ensure I'm using an "in-network" provider or facility, versus emergency evacuation support.

For that reason, I just paid for 6 months worth of travel insurance through World Nomads at a cost of $238.

It still surprises me how many people seem to rely on travel insurance alone.

I was recently reminded by a wise man that if I ended up in a worst-case scenario (such as a cancer diagnosis) without medical insurance, it's not just me that'd be financially impacted, it'd be my parents as well.

Despite the unforeseen (and souring) cost of insurance for this trip, I'm so close to leaving it's hard to be upset.

I quickly passed the anger phase and moved on to acceptance.

There are still a few ways I can make up for it along the way:

  • Dares! - I know readers are hard at work coming up with weird and embarrassing things for me to do, such as pick my nose in front of the Sky Tower in Auckland.
  • Couchsurf - I'm batting 0 for 8 in Tahiti and Auckland, however, I know there's a couch out there with my name on it!
  • Advertising - I constantly run a full inventory of 10 Text Link Ads, so contact me directly if you'd like to advertise on this popular PR 4 travel blog.
  • Donations - While Dares are interactive, I'm fully prepared for a no-strings donation or two! :)

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About Dave Lee

Dave is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Go Backpacking and Feastio. He's been to 68 countries and lived in Colombia and Peru. Read the full story of how he became a travel blogger.

Comments

  1. Aaron says

    December 24, 2009 at 3:04 pm

    Did you end up paying COBRA rates for insurance back home the whole time you were away? I pay out of pocket for my insurance as I freelance. I picked up a World Nomads policy for my time away and would love to be able to can my current health insurance as it's prohibitively expensive, but still worry about that 1% chance I might need it. Did you find another affordable option for coverage back home, just in case of emergency?

  2. Dave says

    December 24, 2009 at 7:07 pm

    Hey Aaron, I actually was able to get coverage under IMG after waiting the 6 months and re-applying (my knees pain was no longer an issue and I was halfway around the world by then). The COBRA was a temporary measure, and it pained me to pay $450 per month for something I didn't need. But that's what insurance is for, so you gotta suck it up.

    While I have yet to claim anything or need to access my coverage through International Medical Group, I felt they were the right solution for me. I continue to renew my coverage quarterly while looking for a full time job back in the States.

  3. Aaron says

    December 24, 2009 at 7:24 pm

    What plan did you get from IMG? It seems like the only one that provides coverage in the U.S. as well as abroad is the Global Medical Insurance which is only available for a year, of which you're supposed to be abroad for at least half of.

    While this seems like a great option for a trip around the world, I only need 2 months worth strictly to cover that 1% chance I might need to return home. Much like you, I can't justify $315 a month for something I don't need.

  4. Aaron says

    December 24, 2009 at 7:50 pm

    Dave,

    Yeah, I'm know I'm getting health insurance when I return from my labor union (only 6 months worth....wheee!) and will have the freelance work I usually do (which, of course, doesn't include insurance). I already got a policy from World Nomads, I just worry because they don't cover you once you get back to the U.S, there's always that 0.00000001% chance that something unexpected could mean I'd need to return to home from care.

  5. Dave says

    December 24, 2009 at 7:38 pm

    I bought the IMG Global Gold plan (they offer 3 levels of coverage per
    plan). While they expect you to be abroad 6 months of the year, when it
    came time for me to renew, and I couldn't be sure if I'd spend 6 months
    abroad in 2009 as well, the response I got back was that it really only
    matters during the first year, and that they don't have any real way to
    verify your whereabouts.

    But if you're only going to be gone for 2 months, that is different. Will
    you have a job to come back to....or will you be looking for a new one?

    You can always buy emergency coverage through a company like World Nomads for less. It's a very popular option, but it won't help you if you get
    diagnosed with cancer! Again, a 0.000001% chance of that happening, but
    that was what was on my mind (and that of my Dad's) when I was deciding on
    coverage after quitting my job.

  6. James says

    January 21, 2010 at 10:32 pm

    Hi there, this is James from worldnomads.com here. Thanks for the mention. Thought to drop you a line to say that we are here if you have any questions about your policy benefits. Simply send us an email at [email protected]

  7. Aaron says

    January 21, 2010 at 10:36 pm

    Thanks James, I appreciate the offer for help but I think I understand the policy quite clearly...coverage ends when I'm within 100 miles of my home.

  8. James says

    January 22, 2010 at 4:32 am

    Hi there, this is James from worldnomads.com here. Thanks for the mention. Thought to drop you a line to say that we are here if you have any questions about your policy benefits. Simply send us an email at [email protected]

  9. Aaron says

    January 22, 2010 at 4:36 am

    Thanks James, I appreciate the offer for help but I think I understand the policy quite clearly...coverage ends when I'm within 100 miles of my home.

Dave at Ahu Ko Te Riku on Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Chile.

Hi, I'm Dave

Editor in Chief

I've been writing about adventure travel on Go Backpacking since 2007. I've visited 68 countries.

Read more about Dave.

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