• 18
  Aug
  2009

• Sea Travel Insurance

  
  Filed Under: Blogging
  Author: Blog Contributor

Getting sick at sea is pretty common and if you are on a cruise holiday that’s what you would be hoping against. Other than general sea-sickness, the most publicized at-sea ailment is norovirus, a stomach flu that can spread quickly. To avoid that, cruise lines have instituted comprehensive cleaning policies. While ship doctors can treat minor illnesses such as seasickness, colds, norovirus and broken bones, they cannot handle serious illnesses such as heart attacks and strokes.

Evacuations may take place at the next port of call, or in life-or-death cases, the afflicted person may be taken off the ship by helicopter. Medical evacuation is expensive and is not covered by ordinary health insurance. From a cruise ship in the Caribbean to a city in the United States, the cost may run $10,000-$15,000 or more. From remote locales or in particularly complicated cases, the cost can exceed $100,000. That’s why travel insurance that offers evacuation coverage is a good idea.

Passengers should choose their travel insurance carefully. Make sure payment limits are sufficient to satisfy possible costs. Know that Medicare and some other health plans do not cover medical treatment out of the country. Be sure your policy covers problems incurred ashore as well as on board.

So the next time you plan a vacation on the cruise and plan to take your family for scuba diving you might want to read the terms of your family’s insurance coverage to ensure all goes well.

Post a comment