If you are like me, you are starting to plan your travel for 2020. Vacations, work, destination weddings and graduations. If you are planning to travel outside the United States this year there are 3 things you need to know.

1. Business Travel

If you plan to have some leisure travel missed in with your business travel remember you will need coverage for both yourself and the family members traveling with you. Look for a policy that allows you to cancel due to a natural disaster, political unrest or other common reasons.

2. Medical Insurance

Typically, medical insurance stops at the border. Most people who purchase trip insurance fail to purchase travel medical insurance. If you are on original Medicare, that coverage stops at the border. If you have a Medicare Supplement Plan F, then there is some coverage outside the United States but there are deductibles, Co-insurance, and Lifetime Maximums. If you are traveling with your grandchildren, without their parents, consider travel insurance that includes emergency reunion coverage which allows for bedside visits from parents back home and return of the minor children in situations where the grandparent is unable to care for the grandchild due to illness or accident.

Emergency evacuation is another benefit that families should include in their travel policy in the event of critical injury or illness occurring.

Many Medicare Advantage policies cover worldwide emergency care. Ask your agent the details of your specific policy.

3. New Guidelines 

In 2020 Many countries will require Medical Travel insurance to enter the country. Thailand requires proof of Medical insurance for all traveler over 55 or seeking a retirement Visa. Japan will require medical travel insurance for all travelers during the 2020 Olympic s and likely beyond.

European Schegen Countries (all 26 of them) require Medical Travel insurance that covers a minimum of 30,000 Euros and emergency medical evacuation and repatriation in order to obtain a Schegen Visa.

The UK will now require that tourists pay for their own medical costs incurred. So medical travel insurance is highly recommended for travel.

It is also recommended that you have medical travel insurance for travel to Cuba.

Medical Travel insurance covers Emergency Evacuation, Lost luggage, Family Reunification etc. all for about $1.25 a day per person.

If you are going to spend thousands of dollars on a trip please protect your investment with a few dollars more.