This problem is most likely related to Americans specifically. It has to do with the American system of health insurance - as in no national health system, get your own damn insurance from a money-sucking for-profit provider! (now I feel better)

Does anyone have any direct knowledge of this insurance?
http://www.internationalcitizens.com/

Most specifically, this plan (IC Platinum)?
http://www.internationalcitizens.com/ic_usa/

The problem I have as an American is obtaining affordable health insurance for long-duration (3 or more years) travel outside the United States.

For the most part, paying a U.S. health care provider doesn't help - at best, they'll cover 50% (co-pay) of medical expenses incurred outside the U.S., after the annual deductible. My annual premiums for such coverage (under CORBA rules) is over $3600. So I pay nearly $4000 per year (with deductible), just to have insurance, and then I pay 50% co-pay on top of that for any and all expense claims. After 18 months, CORBA coverage expires and I'm forced to obtain another medical plan at "individual plan" rates which is likely to be less coverage or higher annual premiums.

The only benefit of maintaining American medical insurance is if I am seriously hurt or sick and have to be evacuated back to the U.S. Then a hospital will accept me because I have health insurance to pay the bills (with a 20% co-pay on my part, which if I'm that sick or injured, is undoubtedly a few thousand dollars at the least). I'm not sure what would happen if I didn't have insurance - could I even find a hospital to accept me that I could be evacuated to. Anyone have experience here - having to be evacuated to the U.S. - no insurance other than travel (med-evac) insurance?

My RTW trip is being hijacked by health insurance.

So the above referenced plan provides me, an American, with a reasonable, affordable medical health insurance plan that covers me primarily outside the United States. Currently, the annual premium for my age is $2000, with a $1000 annual deductible. Then its an 80/20 co-pay for most claims. Additionally, it also includes coverage during "visits" back to the U.S.

The two major additional features of this plan are
1) it includes med-evac benefit at no additional cost
2) it provides the same 80/20 co-pay benefit for U.S. hospitalization.

For me, that's coverage for extended travel outside the U.S., which pays a predictable share of expenses (better than what I would get under most U.S. insurance plans) and additionally, should I be seriously injured/sick, I can be transported back to the U.S. and likely admitted to a hospital for treatment because I have an insurance plan that pays the bills.

Has anyone found similar coverage? Anyone have any suggestions, ideas, opinion?

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quastdog
Seattle, Washington USA
F650GSDakar

[This message has been edited by quastdog (edited 24 February 2006).]

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quastdog
Chiang Mai, Thailand