An $8,600 Cruise Medical Bill: Why I Recommend Travel Insurance

By Toby Hartman, MM Insurance Associates

A customer recently came home from a two and a half week European river cruise. When we talked about the trip, I expected to hear about the scenery, the food and the places they visited.

Instead, part of our conversation was about pneumonia.

The first 10 days had been wonderful. Then he got sick. This was an otherwise healthy, active person who was perfectly capable of enjoying a trip like this. Getting sick enough to need medical treatment was not part of the plan.

He ended up receiving care in the boat’s medical ward, including IVs and antibiotics. For several nights, he had to stay apart from the other passengers.

He told me the care was excellent. As an insurance guy, though, my next question was pretty predictable.

“What did they send you a bill for?”

The bill that arrived after he got home was $8,600.

Good medical care does not mean it is included

It is easy to assume that if a cruise ship has a doctor, getting sick onboard is something the cruise line takes care of as part of your fare.

Do not count on that. Medical treatment can be billed separately, and those charges can add up quickly.

My customer was over 65 and on Medicare. He also mentioned that the company operating the boat was based in Florida, even though the trip was in Europe.

That detail does not turn treatment overseas into treatment in the United States. Where you receive care and what your policy covers matter more than where the cruise company has its office.

Original Medicare generally does not cover medical care outside the United States, with limited exceptions. Some Medicare supplements and Medicare Advantage plans offer foreign emergency benefits. Private health insurance varies, too.

Before leaving, ask your insurer what it will cover overseas, what you may have to pay yourself and how you would submit a claim. Do not assume the card in your wallet works the same way everywhere.

Fortunately, he had bought Allianz travel insurance

My next question was, “Please tell me you bought travel insurance.”

He had.

His travel agent had helped him purchase a policy through Allianz Travel Insurance. He told me the premium was somewhere between $1,000 and $2,000.

After receiving the medical bill, he submitted his claim. According to him, Allianz paid the claim about two weeks later.

That is one customer’s experience, not a promise about every claim or how quickly it will be handled. But it is a real example of why I encourage people to consider this coverage before an international trip.

He could not get those missed vacation days back. Having insurance meant the medical bill did not have to become the lasting memory of his cruise.

Buy medical protection, not just cancellation coverage

When people hear “travel insurance,” they often think about canceling a trip or losing a suitcase.

Those things matter. So does getting sick thousands of miles from home.

Whether you buy through a travel agent, a cruise line or directly from an insurer, ask these questions:

• Does this plan cover emergency medical treatment during my trip, including onboard care?

• What is the medical coverage limit, and what would I pay myself?

• Is emergency medical transportation covered if I need a different hospital?

• How does the plan treat medical conditions I already have?

• Who do I call for help, and what records should I keep?

Buy early enough to review the options. Some protections for existing medical conditions depend on purchasing within a specified period after your first trip payment and meeting other requirements.

My advice before your next big trip

If you are planning a retirement trip, anniversary cruise or extended vacation abroad, I strongly recommend considering travel insurance that includes medical coverage. That conversation is especially important if you are on Medicare.

Being healthy is wonderful. It is not a guarantee that you will stay healthy throughout a trip. Neither is being an experienced traveler.

We do not sell travel insurance at MM. Our office recommends looking at Allianz Travel Insurance and Travel Guard. You can purchase directly through their websites. Compare the actual benefits, limits and exclusions, not just the premium.

Before your next trip, call or text MM Insurance Associates at (262) 754-4736. We can help you think through the questions to ask before you leave.

Common questions

Does Medicare cover medical care on a European river cruise?

Original Medicare generally does not. Its cruise ship coverage rules require, among other conditions, that the ship be in a U.S. port or within six hours of one. Check any separate supplemental or Medicare Advantage benefits.

Can I buy protection through the cruise line?

Many cruise lines offer travel protection. Review it carefully. Do not assume it includes the same medical benefits as another plan.

Does every travel insurance policy include medical coverage?

No. Confirm that your selected plan includes emergency medical benefits. Coverage depends on the policy’s terms, limits and exclusions.