Watch Out: Skyrocketing Medical Costs Await When You Travel
Expensive Back Injury Treatment: ADAC Warns of Financial Risks and Potential Inefficiencies
Traveling can be a wonderful experience, but it can quickly turn sour if you or a fellow traveler falls ill and needs urgent medical attention. According to reports from ADAC, escalating costs of treating ailments abroad, particularly through hotel doctors and private clinics, have surged significantly in recent times, posing a substantial financial risk during emergencies.
Let's face it, without the right insurance, you end up paying extravagant medical bills directly at your travel destination and may even find it challenging to cope with these unexpected costs. ADAC shares some valuable insights to help you avoid hefty medical bills and ensures you are well-prepared before your journey.
Beware of Overpriced Bills
Studies by ADAC insurance reveal a remarkable increase in treatment costs, especially in popular tourist destinations: while out-of-pocket expenses for treatments in Germany have risen by an average of 3.9% within a year, they have shot up by 26.4% in Egypt, 11% in Turkey, and a staggering 23.1% in the United Arab Emirates. Sascha Petzold, board member for damages at ADAC Versicherung AG, warns that many bills are now inflated.
Consider these real-life scenarios faced by ADAC insured individuals: a man in the USA fainted briefly, fell, and needed immediate treatment for a laceration and extensive diagnostics, resulting in an invoice of over 13,700 euros. In the Egyptian holiday resort of Hurghada, a tourist was charged a whopping 3,850 euros for the treatment of gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining) with several infusions at a hotel clinic. In such instances, local doctors abuse the patient's vulnerability.
Simple Fractures Can Cost a Fortune
Cases like these are not uncommon, and things become even more pricey when patients require hospitalization: an ADAC insured individual suffered an elbow fracture in Egypt. Although the injury was relatively simple to treat, the patient was subjected to numerous unnecessary treatments, culminating in a bill of over 21,650 euros.
In the USA, 17,460 euros were due for the simple treatment of an arm fracture in a private clinic, and in Canada, a hand fracture cost 13,500 euros, all to be paid immediately after treatment. Many travelers unwittingly rely on the nearest doctor or recommendations from hotel staff, failing to realize that doctors may charge based on their discretion in countries without a fee schedule for doctors.
Out-of-pocket treatments in Germany typically cost around 200 euros. ADAC's compiled doctor's bills from abroad, however, show a significant difference: in Austria, the average cost is 500 euros, in Egypt - 800 euros, and in the USA - 500 euros.
When Diarrhea Becomes Ten Times More Expensive
Even a simple medical condition can put a severe strain on your vacation budget abroad. The comparison of costs for in-house diarrhea treatment with those at a hotel doctor in Egypt magnificently demonstrates this disparity.
A private patient in Germany pays between 30 to 60 euros for consultation, examination, and an infusion. For medication (Imodium and electrolytes), an additional 5 to 15 euros is added, making a total of 35 to 75 euros. The same treatment with the same medication at a hotel doctor in Egypt costs between 740 and 1,220 euros.
Shield Yourself from Exorbitant Bills
As ADAC indicates, you can potentially lose your entire vacation budget or even more if you require medical treatment abroad. In most countries, patients have to pay for doctor's visits, medication, or outpatient treatments on the spot, either in cash, with a credit card, or via instant transfer. "Having to pay such vast sums upfront for outpatient treatment can push many vacationers into financial difficulty," explains Petzold.
For their policyholders and all ADAC Premium members, the automobile club offers a special service through their travel health insurance: ADAC's Medical Information Service allows you to book one of more than 20,000 certified doctors in 75 countries if treatment becomes necessary during your trip. "The advantage is that the billing is handled directly between the doctor and the ADAC travel health insurance," Petzold further explains.
Protection against Financial Risk and Unreliable Providers
As such, travelers not only avoid the financial upfront payment but also the risk of encountering untrustworthy providers or inflated bills. "With the ADAC Medical Information Service, patients do not have to pay anything on the spot," concludes Petzold. The ADAC Medical Information Service can be reached at +49/89767677. Appointments with a doctor can usually be made at short notice and online. Home visits – for example, at a hotel, vacation rental, or campsite – are often possible.
Remember, it's better to be safe than sorry and take the necessary measures to protect yourself from unexpected medical bills while traveling. Happy and healthy travels!
- Traveling can pose a substantial financial risk, especially when urgent medical attention is needed abroad, as medical costs, particularly through hotel doctors and private clinics, have significantly increased in recent times, as indicated by ADAC.
- A man in the USA was charged over 13,700 euros for immediate treatment and extensive diagnostics following a brief faint and laceration, while a tourist in Egypt was billed 3,850 euros for gastritis treatment with several infusions at a hotel clinic - examples of inflated medical bills that many travelers may face.
- Taking the necessary precautions, such as obtaining travel health insurance with services like ADAC's Medical Information Service, can help travelers avoid financial difficulty and unreliable providers, as the service allows booking certified doctors in 75 countries, ensuring that the billing is handled directly between the doctor and the insurance.
