Not all truck drivers have the proper emergency medical coverage they need in case of accident or injury while they are away from home. While it may be widely known that your Canadian Provincial health plan covers only a fraction of the healthcare expenses incurred outside of Canada there is also limited coverage when traveling to other provinces.
You may think that this isn’t a big deal because you’re young and healthy, but what if you slip and fall or get involved in a wreck? These unpredictable incidents can leave you facing significant out-of-pocket expenses.
Did you know that in the United States there are reports of a broken leg costing between $2,500 for a simple treatment and $82,000 if the injury is more severe? Minor treatment for a heart attack (no surgery) has been reported anywhere between $6,000 and $92,000 depending on which state you are in.
A story from the CBC titled “Medical emergencies in U.S. can cost Canadians thousands” gives some stories of Canadians traveling to the U.S. without additional medical coverage. One man and his wife faced a $325,000 medical bill after a severe car accident sent him to hospital.
The point is, no matter how young or healthy you think you are the unpredictable can happen. Making sure you have emergency medical insurance can give you a simple, affordable way to protect against the cost of unexpected emergency medical expenses.
If you have group medical benefit with the company you are working for, it is likely that you do have emergency medical insurance that will cover you out of province and country. You may want to do some research to make sure what you are covered for and if you have enough coverage. Most insurance companies offer plans suitable for truckers and are fairly inexpensive, especially when compared to the potential medical bills you can face without it.
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