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03-09-2012, 10:47 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
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Medical Travel Insurance
http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/2012/trippedup/
will get you to the promo, and then the episode of Marketplace on travel insurance and how the insurance industry manages to deny claims.
It's a disturbing report for anybody over 60 who thinks they are covered when they travel. The medical forms are written by lawyers with the intent of denying claims. One elderly person ( that's me - over 60 ) found himself owing more than $300,000 for medical treatment because he incorrectly answered a question about a medical issue unrelated to the medical condition that he incurred.
After watching the show, I'm not leaving the country. You need a lawyer and you doctor present when you answer the questions on the form and you better hope your doctor gets it right. And, the travel agent selling you the insurance only knows they'll get a commission and that it's time for their coffee break. Don't count on them
Heard of Manulife? They sell a lot of this travel insurance, and they've dotted all the 'i's and all the 't's.
Have you taken medication for an intestinal problem in the past twelve months?
Ever taken a Tums?
baglo
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What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
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03-09-2012, 11:07 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
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Re: Medical Travel Insurance
Only the promo is up at this moment, but tomorrow, you should be able to watch the entire episode online.
baglo
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What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
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03-10-2012, 11:38 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: St. Thomas not BVI., Ontario
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Re: Medical Travel Insurance
Hi: gbaglo...Thanks for this link.
Ins. Co's. are liability insurers that don't want to take on any liability!!! If a Dr. can't understand the questions and requires a lawyer how are we to do it
The only way I have travel ins. is through work and its gone when I retire at 65. Guess we won't be storing our 5.0 under a palm tree in the sunny south any time soon.
BTW how's the winter weather in Vancouver? Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie
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Quote Bugs Bunny..."Don't take life too seriously, none of us get out of it ALIVE"!!!
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St.Thomas (Not the Virgin Islands) Ontario
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03-10-2012, 09:13 PM
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#4
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Abbotsford, British Columbia
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Posts: 74
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Re: Medical Travel Insurance
The program was well worth watching. What an eye opener. There must be some positive experiences out there for the over 60 crowd. The program unfortunately did not touch on that side of the issue at all.
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Don and Bea
2009 Honda Ridgeline
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03-10-2012, 09:32 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
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Re: Medical Travel Insurance
Insurance companies giving away free fridge magnets?
baglo
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
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03-10-2012, 09:48 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: St. Thomas not BVI., Ontario
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Re: Medical Travel Insurance
Quote:
Originally Posted by gbaglo
Insurance companies giving away free fridge magnets?
baglo
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Hi: gbaglo... You need something to hold the bills up with!!! Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie
__________________
Quote Bugs Bunny..."Don't take life too seriously, none of us get out of it ALIVE"!!!
'16 Ram Eco D. 4X4 Laramie Longhorn CC & '14 Escape 5.0TA
St.Thomas (Not the Virgin Islands) Ontario
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03-11-2012, 11:39 AM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: North Bay, Ontario
Trailer: sold it
Posts: 82
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Re: Medical Travel Insurance
Wow - scary stuff! We're buying coverage tomorrow - wish us luck.
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John - North Bay, Ontario
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03-11-2012, 02:57 PM
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#8
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 52
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Re: Medical Travel Insurance
It just occurred to me that it might be worth checking out travel insurance offered through CARP, the Canadian Association of Retired Persons. We have no direct experience with them, but it occurs to me that whoever is the underwriter there is maybe not so likely to regard the clients as prey, because doing so would surely bring down the wrath of CARP upon them.
Just a thought. . .
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Down from the door where it began.
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And I must follow . . .
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03-11-2012, 03:36 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Fraser Valley, British Columbia
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Re: Medical Travel Insurance
Another place to consider is BCAA; I usually get mine from them. This is the disclaimer for persons over 60 copied from their website:
Health Questionnaire – Applicable to persons 60 and over - If you qualify for the coverage selected but fail to answer truthfully and accurately any question asked in the Health Questionnaire or at the time of application, any claim will be subject to an extra deductible of $5,000 in addition to any other applicable deductible amount, and no future coverage will be provided under this Policy unless you pay the additional premium reflecting true and accurate answers to those questions
This sounds a bit fairer than what was reported by Marketplace; at least you wouldn't be hit for the full bill if you unknowingly answered a question wrong.
Barry
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2012 Escape "Classic" 5.0 SA / 2017 F150, 2.7 EcoBoost 4X4 Supercab
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03-11-2012, 10:56 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
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Re: Medical Travel Insurance
That disclaimer has a lot of potential for interpretation. How much is the "additional deductible"? At what point in your medical care do they determine the "appropriate cost of coverage"? That amount could be more than the cost of care.
I think when you fill in the form, you need to do it with great care, and maybe even run it past your doctor.
You might also ask which company provides the coverage for BCAA claims.
The disclaimer provides protection for BCAA, not so much... comfort for you.
I figured, I'm OK as long as I'm covered by my company's extended health, but I'm not so sure. It has an element of travel insurance, but I couldn't get a straight answer out of Human Resources when I asked if I should buy additional coverage.
Having just had an angioplasty and stent, being an ex-smoker, having had a bronchoscopy and heart stress test, CT scans and xrays, I don't have any plans to leave the country, but, if I do, I'm going to get the doctor to fill in the form.
baglo
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
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03-12-2012, 09:56 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
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Re: Medical Travel Insurance
I know with many diet and exercise programs, they almost always say to consult with your doctor before starting. While this seems like they do care about your health, what in fact it does is transfers any liability away from them to the doctor, and if you did not consult with the doctor it could then become your liability.
I have medical coverage through my Visa Travel Credit Card, but to be honest have not really checked it since I got it many years ago. I waive health insurance, and rental car insurance all the time. Should really check that closer to.
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“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
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03-12-2012, 10:10 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
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Re: Medical Travel Insurance
The bafflegab in the fine print for my Visa caused me to just shrug and pay for travel insurance. And, I probably paid for it by Visa.
baglo
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
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04-05-2012, 09:00 PM
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#13
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 71
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Re: Medical Travel Insurance
I will say that Travel Insurance has to be regulated by the Federal Government.
A company like Manulife that takes advantage of Canadians, Falls in to the grounds of fraudulent business, I am sure that soon a class action will result from this against Manulife.
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