A Case Study on the Importance of Travel Insurance

In June 2015, a traveler in Peru was biking in a remote region when a wrong turn on rough terrain resulted in serious injury.

The woman, in her mid-fifties, suffered several broken ribs, a broken arm and a collapsed lung. To make matters worse, local healthcare facilities in the region were not equipped to handle such severe injuries and the potentially long-term recovery that would follow.

MORE Features & Advice

Best and Worst Days to Fly for Thanksgiving Travel

State Department Launches Campaign Aimed at Older...

40 Ways to Combat Jet Lag

“Injuries sustained in remote areas can present significant challenges in terms of stabilization, treatment and evacuation, if necessary,” according to a spokesperson for Arch RoamRight, a travel insurance provider. “Local facilities are often not prepared for complex injuries or illnesses, making evacuation to more populous, well-served areas a pressing requirement."

In such situations, travelers can be left stranded far from home with limited transportation options and support, facing potentially exorbitant out of pocket expenses and the added stress of coordinating treatment and transportation.

Luckily, in this particular case, Arch RoamRight stepped in to ensure proper short-term care, stabilization and evacuation to the right facilities.

Arch RoamRight travel insurance plans protect leisure, business, student and group travelers on both domestic and international trips. The company offers travel insurance for emergency medical expenses incurred while traveling and also trip cancellation insurance for those times when unexpected events arise that prevent travel.

In the Peru incident, the woman’s condition was determined to be a covered injury requiring evacuation to a regional hospital with better treatment capabilities. Once she was stabilized and able to travel, she was transferred to her home hospital in the United States via air ambulance.

The total cost of the claim, including local stabilization, regional treatment and transport via air ambulance exceeded $100,000. But the woman paid just $495 – the cost of her policy with Arch RoamRight.

“Fortunately, most travelers will not experience such a situation. However, for the rare occurrence of a significant medical emergency while traveling, there’s coverage under travel insurance” said the Arch RoamRight spokesperson.

Even if you already have health insurance, it may not travel with you. Many medical insurance plans, such as Medicare and Medicaid, do not cover care received outside the United States. Travelers on such plans should always consider a travel insurance policy.

Being a prepared traveler means knowing what to do in an emergency. Those who use travel insurance from Arch RoamRight are given a number to call to get the help they need when such situations arise.