07/11/2026
Let’s talk about something that is not fun, flashy, or exciting, but absolutely matters when you travel internationally: travel protection.
This is a topic I generally talk about in my private travel group, but there have been several recent stories, including some close to home here in the Texas Panhandle, involving families dealing with major medical emergencies while traveling outside the United States. Some have had to turn to GoFundMe pages to help cover hospital bills, extended care, or the cost of getting a loved one back home. My heart goes out to those families, because no one plans a vacation expecting something like that to happen.😔
This is one of the reasons I talk about travel protection so often. Not because it's exciting, but because a medical emergency outside the country can become financially devastating very quickly. ➡️In some destinations, hospitals or medical providers may require payment at the time of service, or even before certain treatment is provided, and most people do not have thousands or tens of thousands of dollars easily accessible while they are out of the country.
I'm NOT a licensed insurance agent, so I cannot tell you exactly what coverage amount you need or what policy you should buy. As a travel advisor of 12 years who has seen how badly things can go without good coverage, I can encourage you to purchase travel protection and to look closely at what a policy actually does and does not cover.
For international trips, one of the things I personally pay attention to is whether a policy includes travel medical coverage, and whether that medical coverage is primary or secondary. Primary medical coverage can simplify the claims process because the insurance provider may be able to handle those payments directly, even providing advance payment to a hospital if needed. A secondary policy typically means you have to start with your regular health insurance first. That is a huge benefit when you are already dealing with doctors, hospitals, paperwork, language barriers, and stress.
Emergency medical evacuation is another piece you should understand. Some travel protection policies include evacuation coverage, and some people choose to add a separate medical transport membership, such as MedJet, depending on where they are going and their personal comfort level. These are not all the same thing, and they do not all work the same way.
The main point is this: do not assume your regular health insurance, Medicare, a credit card benefit, or “it will be fine” is enough when you leave the country. That is not a plan.
Before you travel internationally, take time to understand your options. Look at medical coverage, evacuation coverage, pre-existing condition rules, purchase deadlines, exclusions, and who you would call if something were to go wrong.
I have trusted travel protection provider partners listed on my website if you'd like to check them out. I'll list the link in the comments section. This isn't to sell you a policy, it's as a starting point for research and information.
You are also welcome to message me if you have questions about where to start. I cannot advise as an insurance agent, but I can point you to reputable travel protection providers and help you understand why this is an important part of trip planning.
