Compare the Market is encouraging anyone travelling overseas to lock in travel insurance as soon as possible before their trip amid a growing measles outbreak in the United States of America.
The calls come after the government’s Smartraveller website advised that increased cases of the highly contagious disease are also being reported across some of the world’s most popular travel destinations, including, but not limited to, India, the Philippines, Bali, Thailand, Vietnam and Africa. Cases are also being reported across Europe and the United Kingdom.
Without reciprocal health agreements with most international countries, Compare the Market’s Chris Ford said a hospital stay could cost tens of thousands of dollars if you become ill with measles overseas without travel insurance.
“Just 11 of the 190-plus countries globally have reciprocal healthcare agreements with Australia and the United States isn’t one of those countries. Those with travel insurance will generally not need to pay and claim back; the insurer will typically guarantee payment if you contract measles overseas and become ill with travel insurance,” Mr Ford said.
“The average general public hospital inpatient stay in the US is more than $22,000 Aussie dollars. Medicare or your usual health insurance can’t cover the bill if you fall ill and need treatment overseas, so it’s vital to lock in travel insurance with medical cover as soon as you book your trip.”
Is a measles vaccine mandatory?
While a measles vaccine is strongly encouraged for anyone travelling overseas, there isn’t a mandate as such.
“Unlike COVID-19, which saw many countries enforce vaccine mandates for travellers, there aren’t mandates around vaccines for measles for travellers,” Mr Ford said. “However, Smartraveller encourages anyone heading overseas to talk to their doctor about immunisation, as two doses of the MMR vaccine protects you and limits the risk of the virus entering Australia.”
Can I still claim on travel insurance if I’m unvaccinated against measles?
Around 90% of unvaccinated people become infected if they come into contact with the virus, according to Smartraveller.
“Being unvaccinated against the measles usually wouldn’t impact your ability to claim on your travel insurance, unless you were travelling against government advice,” Mr Ford said. “There isn’t currently a ‘do not travel’ warning for the US.
“Most comprehensive policies will provide cover for medical treatment up to a certain limit outlined in the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS). It’s also important to be honest about any pre-existing conditions when taking out a policy to ensure you’re adequately covered if you need to claim, as some insurers will exclude some conditions or require you to take out extra cover.”
Can I still travel to America amid the current measles outbreak?
There are currently no official government warnings advising against travel to the United States. However, there are more than 800 confirmed measles cases across 30 jurisdictions in America, and there are fears that the number is growing.
“Some of these locations include popular tourist hotspots like New York City, Hawaii, California and Florida – which is home to Disney World and Universal Studios,” Mr Ford said.
“If you’re experiencing a medical emergency overseas, present to a hospital immediately or call emergency services for help. Your travel insurer will usually have a 24-hour hotline if you have any questions or need assistance with paying for treatment.”
While some symptoms of measles are mild and include things like a cough, rash, fever and red eyes, severe cases can result in ear infections, brain inflammation, pneumonia and breathing difficulties.
Recent Compare the Market research found that measles was one of the top 10 most Googled diseases and illnesses globally.
For more information, please contact:
Phillip Portman | 0437 384 471 | [email protected]
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