GETTING THERE

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Since we'd like to use this column, as much as possible, to pass on our readers' "on-the-road" knowledge . . . we've decided to award a one-year MOTHER subscription — or an equivalent extension of an existing subscription — to each contributor whose travel tip and/or trip report appears here. Because our space is limited, such submissions should run about 300 words, and must include as many pertinent details (such as current costs in the area visited) as possible. [EDITOR'S NOTE: Write to Getting There, THE MOTHER EARTH NEWS®, P.O. Box 70, Hendersonville, North Carolina 28791.]

This time, though, we think the following information on travel insurance — sent to us by Greggory R. DeVore, M.D., of the Yale University School of Medicine — deserves a little extra room.

A $20,000 NIGHTMARE

"It's estimated that 30 million Americans will travel abroad for business or pleasure during the coming 12 months," Dr. DeVore writes. "Of these, 12,000 will probably die ... one million will suffer some illness or injury . . . and some will require emergency medical evacuation back to the United States. Without proper insurance, any such event can be a financial, as well as an emotional, disaster.

"I discovered this fact when my father had a massive heart attack while on an overseas 'dream vacation'. I immediately flew to his bedside, and — finding the only available hospital somewhat primitive and dirty (and my mother barely able to communicate in an unfamiliar language) — I decided to have him flown back to the States right away. However, because of bureaucratic red tape and outrageous prices (from $10,400 for a two-day flight on a propeller-driven air-ambulance to $72,000 for direct jet transport), it was 30 days before I was finally able to arrange — for $8,000 — his return home on a stretcher (minus cardiac monitoring or resuscitation equipment) by commercial airliner. The total for hotels, phone calls, transportation, hospital, and doctors: about $20,000!

"In order to help you avoid such a harrowing experience, I've compiled the following advice, which I feel is of utmost importance to anyone purchasing a travel insurance policy.

"You get only what you pay for, so beware of coverage that's too 'inexpensive'.

"Make sure your policy pays not only for transportation to the nearest medical facility abroad, but also to a hospital near your home, so you can return — with medical assistance — as soon as possible. (This will insure that you won't have to settle for medical care inferior to that available in the U.S. and will eliminate the possibility of having to look after a loved one, over an extended period of time, in another country while awaiting clearance of a flight on a commercial airliner.)