Are you heading soon to Mexico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic or Florida? In these sunny destinations, a hospital visit can be extremely expensive. Did you know that medical care for travelers varies significantly from one country to another?
That’s why a complete travel health insurance, like the one offered by Tour+Med, is essential. Especially for Canadian snowbirds and retirees on extended trips.
Medical care abroad: why should you be well-informed before you leave?
Each country has its own healthcare system, rules, costs and specific medical realities when it comes to treating international travelers. It is, therefore, important to fully understand the medical risks when traveling, especially for long-term stays.
The real costs of healthcare in sunny destinations
A study published in the international medical tourism platform Bookimed, released in 2023, reveals that some private hospitals in Mexico or the Dominican Republic charge fees equal to or even higher than those of American institutions for foreign tourists. Feel free to consult this link for more details : https://shorturl.at/SFpcS
Here are some examples of medical care and their approximate costs in certain tourist regions:
- Emergency surgery in Cancún : around $27,000
- Consultation in Punta Cana with imaging : around $800
- Private hospital stay in Mexico City per day : around $3,600
- Air ambulance transport from Mexico to Canada : up to $45,000
These figures demonstrate a clear trend: private hospital care for tourists can be very pricey.
Medical expenses abroad: what your public insurance plan doesn’t cover
While traveling, many healthcare costs remain your responsibility if you don’t have international travel insurance. This includes, among others, emergency care, hospital stays, and prescribed medications. A medical evacuation or repatriation, for example, can be entirely at your own expense without adequate travel insurance.
Why choose the right travel health insurance
It’s well known that some credit cards offer basic travel insurance. However, this coverage is often restricted and may not apply under certain health conditions, stability periods, etc. It also includes many exclusions, a limited duration and often insufficient reimbursement limits. It is, therefore, crucial to check carefully the details before you leave.
International travel insurance designed for long stays
For people traveling for several weeks, health travel insurance specific to the length of stay, health status and destination is essential. For instance, the protections needed for a short stay in Florida are not the same as those required for a month in Mexico or three weeks in Spain.
Moreover, depending on your health condition and its stability, the medical coverage required during your trip will differ.
Tour+Med: a coverage that truly protects
We offer coverage designed to meet the needs of Canadian travelers:
- Travel health insurance tailored to each destination
- Fast and reliable service, even in case of emergency
- 24/7 assistance to support you in case of a medical emergency anywhere in the world
- Recognized expertise in sunny destinations
Discover now our simple, effective and tailored protections for your trips to Florida, Mexico and beyond: https://tourmed.ca/en/travel-insurance/plans-and-protections/
In the event of any discrepancy between the information shared in this article and the purchased insurance policy, the latter prevails.