Boomers Want To See The World, But What If They Get Sick Abroad?

Private Services–"There are now so many services online that it is easier to compare and contrast," says Susan Grant, director of consumer protection with the Consumer Federation of America, Washington.

In fact, a Web search of medical referral services while traveling produced 103,000 entries. And, the state department offers a list of a number of providers and links to the providers' Web sites. The list is available at Document Link. It includes air ambulance/med-evac, travel insurance companies that provide coverage abroad, executive medical services, and medical escort services.

"The most important thing is to read the fine print. It will help you understand exactly what is covered and what isn't covered and under what circumstances," says Grant. "Read the details very carefully before purchasing or relying on a service."

There may also be some coverage available if a boomer purchases a trip using a credit card, she adds.

If a boomer has a chronic medical condition, make sure that those services and medication are available and are available through existing insurance, Grant adds. If they are not available and optional coverage is needed, then it comes down to completing a thorough comparison, she explains.

And when a boomer needs to use his own medical insurance, then if possible, find out what kinds of authorizations are needed and in what time frame, Grant suggests. She said, for instance, that in her health plan, participating doctors would need to be used regionally. But, if she was in another country, and there was an emergency and there were no participating doctors available, then a non-participating doctor could be used, according to Grant.

An insurer could use a definition of emergency and if there is doubt, the insurer should be contacted before a trip, Grant adds.

If a travel agent is used, then a boomer can see if the agent offers assistance, she says. Sites like offer general information about health, insurance and emergencies.

A boomer can also consult his doctor or pharmacist, Grant notes.

There are also basic steps that a boomer can take to prevent being caught off guard if there is an illness, she says. They include checking the best temperature to store medicines and carrying medical and personal contact information. If there are problems with a health insurer, a boomer's state insurance regulator (see ) can always be contacted upon one's return home, she says.

John Flood, CEO with Flagship Global Health, New York, one of those private providers, describes what he believes is the value of having an advocate in your corner should illness strike on a trip.

Flood cites access to doctors, hospitals and medical evacuation services using regional teams of medical experts which know the best medical options in a particular geographic area. His service specializes in connecting members with medical help and does not provide insurance, he explains. He says that over 1,000 members with serious medical emergencies have already been helped by his company.

Part of that value, he continues, is having a virtual strongbox of medical and legal information such as a will and a health care proxy that can be accessed through a secure Flagship Website in the event of an emergency.

Boomers, in particular, can benefit from such a service, says Flood. The reason, he explains, is that if a boomer is part of the sandwich generation, a family membership can cover the boomer and spouse and children and even parents who are not at home. If a child is traveling in Europe, he says, the boomer has the peace of mind of knowing that there is a network of medical care available if an emergency arises.