June 1, 2020
Due to travel restrictions, plans are only available with travel dates on or after
Due to travel restrictions, plans are only available with effective start dates on or after
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Travelers often think that travel insurance is for major medical crises: dramatic helicopter evacuations from a mountaintop, or midnight ambulance runs to the emergency room. Insurance can cover emergency medical care—but it also does a lot more.
Many Allianz Travel Insurance plans include Global Doctor Visits for urgent medical care while traveling. You can use the Allyz® app to find pre-screened, English-speaking healthcare providers near you and schedule an appointment, whether in-office or virtual.
We’ll explain how to access medical care overseas, whether you’re dealing with a life-threatening emergency or a minor medical issue.
Searching for the best emergency medical travel insurance plans for American travelers? Allianz Partners has your back. With worldwide assistance, easy online claims, and plans for every budget, Allianz is trusted by nearly 59 million American travelers each year. Get a quote.
You’ve just checked into your hotel room after arriving in Shanghai. Something’s wrong with your right eye—you’re seeing strange flashes of light and floaters. Maybe you’re just tired from jet lag... or maybe it’s something serious, like a detached retina. What should you do?
If you’re not sure whether your situation qualifies as a medical emergency, play it safe. Call the emergency number in the country where you are located right away. Remember, 911 doesn’t work everywhere—use the Allyz® app to find the right number. Once emergency services are on the way, contact 24-Hour Assistance. We want to know about a potential emergency as soon as possible, so we can advance payment (when appropriate) and ensure you’re receiving high-quality care.
Does travel insurance cover emergency medical care? Yes, Allianz Travel Insurance can reimburse the eligible costs of medical care for a covered medical emergency while traveling. Make sure you get a policy that includes emergency medical/dental benefits, and be sure to keep all medical records and bills so you can submit them when filing a claim.
What if you don’t have travel insurance? You can still use the Allyz® app to contact local emergency services and/or find a pre-screened, high-quality medical provider nearby. However, you’ll have to pay out of pocket for any care you receive, because U.S. health insurance is not usually accepted overseas.
As part of a cultural tourism initiative, you’re visiting an isolated village high in the Peruvian Andes that’s populated by the Q’ero—the last descendants of the Inca. In the middle of the night, you feel a stabbing pain in your abdomen. The pain is so bad you can barely move, but the nearest hospital, in Cuzco, is a 6-hour drive over rough roads. There are no local emergency services to call. What should you do?
Contact 24-Hour Assistance. Our medical team will review your case right away and determine how best to get you to the nearest appropriate medical facility.
Travel insurance with emergency medical transportation benefits can arrange and pay for your evacuation, if we determine that the local medical facilities are unable to provide appropriate treatment for your covered illness or injury. Once your condition is stabilized, insurance can also arrange and pay for a medical repatriation to your primary residence, a location of your choice in the United States, or a medical facility near your primary residence or U.S. city of your choice.
What if you don’t have travel insurance? You’ll have to depend on local emergency services to transport you. Or, you can arrange and pay for a medical evacuation through a private company, which can cost tens of thousands of dollars or even $100,000+, depending on your location and your medical condition.
You and your sister are enjoying some tapas during your Mediterranean cruise when your sister says she feels sick and needs to sit down. You notice that she’s slurring her words and one side of her face is drooping. Could this be a stroke? What should you do?
First, get her to the on-board infirmary right away. Cruise ships typically have a highly trained medical team that’s able to diagnose patients, administer medication, and stabilize anyone who is seriously ill. Contact 24-Hour Assistance as soon as you can. We may be able to arrange for prepayment of covered medical expenses, so your sister can avoid paying out of pocket and waiting for reimbursement.
If your sister needs to get to a hospital quickly, the ship may make an unplanned stop at the nearest port—or, a medical evacuation by helicopter may be required. If that’s the case, contact 24-Hour Assistance ASAP.
Fortunately, travel insurance with emergency medical/dental benefits and emergency transportation benefits can reimburse you for losses due to covered medical and dental emergencies that occur during your cruise.
Learn more: Medical Emergency on a Cruise Ship: What Should You Do?
What if you don’t have travel insurance? Cruise ship medical centers do not accept U.S. health insurance. Typically, you’ll receive a bill for the full cost of any services and/or medication you receive.
While snorkeling in the British Virgin Islands, you swim right into a smack of sea wasp jellyfish. You emerge from the water covered in painful welts. Your snorkeling guide determines that you’re not having an allergic reaction, so you’re not in any danger. But the stings really hurt! What should you do?
Need urgent care while traveling? Use the Allyz® app to schedule a Global Doctor Visit. (Available with plans that include emergency medical benefits. Not available in all countries; see a current list of destinations here.) You won’t have to pay consultation fees for your first three visits. Should you incur other costs outside of the consultation fees, such as for prescriptions, you can file a claim with Allianz for reimbursement.
Or, use the Hospital Finder in the app to locate the nearest pre-screened medical provider.
Learn more: Global Doctor Visits: Medical Care Where and When You Need It
What if you don’t have travel insurance? You can use the app to find recommended providers nearby, but you’ll be responsible for paying any costs.
While touring Japan, you misplace your thyroid medication. You bring the original prescription to the nearest pharmacy, but you learn that they can’t fulfill prescriptions from a U.S. doctor. You need to take this medication daily—what should you do?
In some countries, pharmacists can fill a U.S. prescription. In many other countries, however, you’ll need a local healthcare provider to write the prescription. Allianz Travel Insurance can help.
Schedule a Global Doctor Visit, in person or via telehealth, with the Allyz® app. You can also call 24-Hour Assistance if you need help finding the right specialist, or if you need an interpreter to help you communicate with a doctor or pharmacist.
One tip: Get a letter from your healthcare provider before you travel that explains the medications you take and why you need them. Also, be aware that some medications are restricted or prohibited in other countries. These may include narcotics, psychotropic medications, hormone medications, and stimulants.1
Read more: Help! I Forgot My Prescription Medication on Vacation
What if you don’t have travel insurance? You’ll have to navigate the process on your own and pay any healthcare providers’ fees. You can use the app to find trusted providers nearby.
View all of our travel insurance products
Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. Please see your plan for full details. Benefits/Coverage may vary by state, and sublimits may apply.
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