Why is travel insurance recommended when there's reciprocal health care?
In Health care for Australians in New Zealand, it says
Because Australians temporarily visiting New Zealand are eligible for publicly funded health care on the same basis as New Zealand residents, user charges apply in most cases to visits to a General Practitioner, for GP referred laboratory and diagnostic tests, private specialists and prescription items. Private travel insurance may cover these extra charges and it is strongly recommended that all visitors to New Zealand take out comprehensive travel insurance (including health cover) before they arrive in the country.
In my case, I'm an Australian citizen visiting New Zealand, but this may be relevant to other people visiting a country with reciprocal health care agreements.
Best Answer
Reciprocal agreements will normally cover the actual medical care but there can be other expenses involved with getting sick/injured while abroad which won't be covered. Accomodation costs can be significant if the emergency delays your travel home. If you are hospitalised on a longer-term basis then the cost of transport home in the injured state can be very high (even a simple broken leg can result in having to pay for multiple seats).
Another consideration, not so relavent to the AU->NZ case but very relavent to say AU->UK is the travel itself. If you have a medical emergency while travelling then you could end up in a hospital at any layover location or even at any location along the flightpath.
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What is the difference between travel insurance and travel health insurance?
International health insurance is designed to provide a comprehensive level of health care to those relocating from their home country for a sustained period of time, whereas travel insurance provides cover for emergency treatment while you are in another country for a shorter space of time.What is a reciprocal in healthcare?
Reciprocal health care agreements can cover or subsidise some emergency medical costs. This is usually for urgent treatment that can't wait until you get home. Some agreements can cover other costs. This can include local medical transport, medication and specialist services.Is travel insurance necessary for Australia?
You are not required to have travel insurance to visit Australia, but it is strongly encouraged. Australia's government travel authority says, \u201cIf you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel.\u201d Medical care in Australia can be expensive for travelers and visitors.What are the benefits of travel insurance for international trip?
These insurance plans offer benefits like loss checked-in baggage loss or delay, loss of crucial documents like passports, personal accidents, unique facilities like personal liability and personal accident coverage, allowance in case of distress related to hijacking, coverage for financial emergency assistance.Travel Insurance Tips: 7 Things to Know Before You Buy
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Answer 2
In addition to unexpected expenses if you suffer an injury in the other country, you might have a health problem in your own country preventing you from travelling, and travel insurance will cover the cost of your jouney which you never had.
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