Trip happens. You can’t predict the unexpected, but you can prepare for it.
Lawrence G., from St. Joseph, Missouri, and his daughter were glad they’d prepared for the worst when she found herself in a critical health emergency while traveling in Peru.
Be Prepared with Travel Insurance
No one likes to think about their travel plans going wrong, but it obviously can and does. That’s why you buy travel insurance — you purchase a plan upfront and prepare for the unexpected to make sure you’re protected if an unfortunate event takes place.
Hopefully, most people who buy travel insurance never have to use it. Your trip goes as planned and you return home safe and sound. But when it doesn’t work out that way, having that safety net can make an unforgettable difference.
What to Do in an Emergency in Peru
Lawrence got one of the worst phone calls you can receive as a parent. His daughter was in a bus accident in Peru and had suffered severe injuries. She was on a ventilator with one functioning lung and a severely broken arm.
Several local physicians recommended transportation to a nearby hospital for surgery, but another disagreed. This physician instead prescribed a return to the United States for specialty thoracic surgery.
As an overwhelmed parent, how do you make the next decisions? Which doctors do you listen to? If you choose to bring her back home, how do you arrange the evacuation? How do you pay for it? And what if everyone else — doctors, hospital billing offices, air ambulance companies — speaks a different language than you?
Travel Insurance for Peru
Because Lawrence’s daughter was covered by a travel medical policy from Seven Corners, the family was able to rely on Seven Corners Assist to help them make sense of the situation.
Upon hearing the doctor’s concerns about staying in Peru for treatment, Seven Corners Assist consulted with our medical advisor. He reviewed the case and recommended that she return to the U.S. immediately.
Seven Corners then made all the arrangements to bring Lawrence’s daughter home. Emergency medical evacuations and repatriations such as this often include help locating medical care, translations, medical escorts, and more in addition to coordinating transportation to the medical facility that can provide appropriate treatment.
If Lawrence had been left on his own to handle his daughter’s emergency return to the U.S., it might not have happened. That’s why travel assistance services like those provided by Seven Corners Assist are such an important part of travel insurance.
Seven Corners’ multilingual team members have specialized training and resources at their fingertips. They use these to quickly assess an emergency situation and work with the treating physician to provide the best solution for the traveler’s health and well-being.
We’re happy to report that Lawrence’s daughter received the surgery she needed in the U.S. and recovered well!
The Value of Travel Assistance Services
Our number one concern is taking care of the traveler and making sure they’re safe and healthy. Second, of course, is covering the cost of their care.
In Lawrence’s case, the evacuation cost to bring his daughter home was $76,000, a high price tag for the average traveler. Most people would not be prepared or able to make a payment this large, especially when the cost is so unexpected.
Fortunately, with their travel medical insurance coverage, they did not need to pay this high price out of pocket. The stress of the bill was removed, and everyone could focus on getting the traveler healthy again.
It’s also possible that without the assistance team’s intervention, the evacuation might not have occurred. Timing is critical — some health emergencies simply cannot wait — and resources can be difficult to coordinate.
All Seven Corners plans come with 24/7 emergency travel assistance services. After reading about all travel insurance and a dedicated team can do when a nightmare becomes reality, why would you travel without it?
Best Travel Insurance for When Trip Happens
Whether you’re planning a short trip within your own country or a longer one across the world, Seven Corners has the coverage that’s right for you and your travels. Find it quickly and easily using our interactive guide online or talk to one of our licensed sales agents today.
