Yacht Crew Insurance Overview
While technological advances in marine travel have improved the safety of crew members but marine healthcare continues to pose special challenges. Yacht crews spend extensive time in international territory with periodic stays in the home country. Discerning mariners protect themselves with good yacht crew insurance that travels with them worldwide.
Life at sea is a tough but usually rewarding. Just as other outdoor profession marine professionals have their own challenges with healthcare. The Marine Crew Health Insurance makes sure that subscribers have adequate medical protection even when they are miles away from the mainland.
Marine crew health insurance is available to citizens of all countries provided they are members of a crew. These policies offer extensive benefits, both in-patient and out-patient. Charges for hospital room & board, nursing, surgery are covered. Out-patient doctor office visits, prescription drugs are also covered.
Marine vessels and accompanying crew members can only be in domestic waters and territories for fraction of a year. In other words marine crew health insurance is an international insurance plan and as such requires the crew to travel and be away from home for a good portion of the year. Some marine health insurance plans mandate that the crew travel away from home-land for more than 6 months in a year.
In addition to in-patient and out-patient medical coverage these marine crew health insurance plans include benefits for medical evacuation and repatriation of remains. So, if an insured crew member has a sudden heart attack then a specially equipped airplane can transport the person to a hospital nearby. Also, if a marine crew member passes away then the plan can pay for the costs for returning the remains back home.
Some Marine Crew Health Insurance policies exclude coverage for pre-existing conditions. So it would be difficult to obtain coverage for chronic conditions or risky existing medical conditions. Coverage for such conditions may be permanently excluded or a 12 month wait required for benefits. The wait period for covering pre-existing conditions may vary based on the insurance company.
Yacht crew health insurance draws support from the underwriting services of large insurance companies. These international health insurance companies have years of experience in this segment and have reliable financial ratings. These yacht crew health insurance plans are backed with around the clock help line and global evacuation networks.
Dental and Vision coverage on Yacht Crew Health Insurance plans are usually optional. At additional price one can purchase these options. Routine care, filling and root canals are covered under the dental option. The vision option would include a periodic eye exam and contact lens/spectacles supply.
Ray Sondeo often writes about international health insurance.