Pushing the Boundaries: Health Insurance Considerations in the New World of Work-From-Anywhere

RISING HEALTHCARE CONCERNS FOR TRAVELERS

The pandemic has heightened concerns about health when traveling internationally
64% agree

Percentage of travelers who agree that health concerns factor into their decision when choosing international travel destinations

59% agree

Percentage of travelers who agree that they’re concerned about getting sick while traveling abroad; this increases to 65% for parents and Gen Z

48% - 0verall / 58% - Millennials / 55% - Parents

Percentage of people who think there is a possibility they’d need to use international travel medical insurance

Source: International Travel Medical Insurance: Awareness, Usage and Perceptions, Harris Poll & GeoBlue, December 2022.

This has caused more consumers to think about their medical coverage while traveling abroad.
donut chart breakdown of concern likelihood

Percentage of consumers likely to ensure they have medical coverage while traveling internationally

77%

Percentage of travelers who agree that they’re concerned about getting sick while traveling abroad; this increases to 65% for parents and Gen Z

There has been a shift in those who have checked their coverage before traveling abroad; most of that increase (15%) was from consumers who planned to use their existing health plan.

Source: International Travel Medical Insurance: Awareness, Usage and Perceptions, Harris Poll & GeoBlue, December 2022.
Yet still too many consumers are putting themselves and their employers at risk when traveling abroad.
4 in 10 people

Nearly 1 in 4 Americans have had medical issues while traveling abroad

1 in 4 people

Percentage of those who have had medical issues while traveling abroad that required care

13% required care

For those Americans who have traveled internationally over the last 5 years, 4 in 10 have had medical issues

Source: International Travel Medical Insurance: Awareness, Usage and Perceptions, Harris Poll & GeoBlue, December 2022.


76% of consumers either don't know how they would pay for medical treatment abroad or likely won't have adequate coverage

Donut chart breakdown of consumers
Source: International Travel Medical Insurance: Awareness, Usage and Perceptions, Harris Poll & GeoBlue, December 2022.
Download the Infographic for information on health insurance needs while traveling abroad

 

If you need a passport, you need an international medical plan.

With nearly half of consumers planning to rely on their domestic health plan while traveling abroad, it’s clear most people aren’t aware of the coverage gaps that could result in emotional and financial distress when using a domestic plan abroad.

 Domestic globe icon

Some domestic employer-sponsored health plans offer no coverage abroad.

 International globe icon

Most ACA plans don’t provide international medical coverage.

 checklist

Even the best Medicare supplement plans have limited international benefits.

 

Most employer-sponsored and ACA plans aren’t designed to be used abroad. With 190+ countries in the world, all with different healthcare systems and infrastructure, U.S.-style health plans often don’t work abroad.

The Impact of Relying on Domestic Health Plans Abroad
Care and Service Outside the U.S. Consumer/Traveler Impact
  • International providers (hospitals, doctors, etc.) expect payment in full at the time of service
  • International claims are often considered out-of-network on a U.S. style plan and thus reimbursed at a lower rate, if at all
  • Traveler pays for services upfront
  • Undue financial and mental burden
  • Provider could deny care and/or confiscate the traveler’s passport until payment is received
  • Overall negative experience for the traveler
  • 24/7/365 service from domestic health insurer, needed to accommodate time zones outside the U.S., to verify benefits often not available
  • Delay in receiving care and/or obtaining verification of benefits and coverage
  • Important services like telemedicine on domestic health plans are U.S. only
  • Fewer options to treat mild, non-urgent medical situations
  • Burden of having to access local care in a foreign country when a virtual visit with a local doctor could have been ideal
  • Medically necessary medical evacuation and repatriation typically not covered on a domestic health plan
  • Considerable financial burden to pay for a medical evacuation
  • Stress of having to coordinate a medical evacuation without expert help and resources

 

Resources

For more information on the need for health insurance while traveling abroad, see the following resources: