Job Discussion Forums

[debora]

I'm new to the TEFL world as I plan to take my course in Madrid next month. I was wondering what the average American traveling teacher uses for health insurance. I was thinking about travelers insurance for my first few months away in case I can't find work and decide to return to the states, but wanted to hear what the pros had to say. Thank you for your help!!!

debbie

[spiral78]

It depends on your destination. If you're going to teach illegally in Spain, for example, of course you won't have legal coverage thru the Spanish system. However, there are a lot of loopholes in most European systems. You will always be treated for emergency care (though who pays for that care ultimately could be in question).

You should read your travel insurance fine print to be sure that the company will come through even if you are injured on the job (if you're illegal!!).

If you are someplace like Poland, and have legal working papers, you should be able to get local insurance through your employer. Mexico, I don't know.......

What I think most people do is what you're doing. Take the travel insurance until you get settled somewhere, then tackle the issue when you have local contacts and some knowledge of what's available to you there.

[denise]

My TEFL course actually required that we carry travel insurance. I used that for the first month or so, and then got a policy through my school when I started teaching.

d

[British]

Ah "travel insurance"

You don't need it if you are in good health?. I got mine through my University.

[debora]

Thank you for all the replies!

I'm always reluctant to be without insurance because you never know what could happen, and it sounds like some sort of traveler's insurance is the best bet for starting out.

Besides... good health is relative... as it only takes a moment to switch from "healthy" to critical once you've been hit by a car.