U.S. Road Warriors Have Health Fears: Survey

NU Online News Service, Feb. 4, 1:59 p.m. EST?Americans taking off on a business trip or leaving on vacation have more fear of a health emergency than they do of getting robbed, an insurance company study has found.[@@]

More than 70 percent of Americans surveyed said their greatest concern when traveling is suffering a medical emergency (e.g., broken bones, heart attack, other sudden or serious injury or illness), according to a nationwide survey sponsored by the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies in Warren, N.J.

The survey of 1,585 people was conducted this month by Impulse Research of Los Angeles and found that the concern regarding a medical emergency (73.5 percent) was more than double the fear of being mugged (30.7 percent), three times the fear of being injured in a terrorist attack (23.4 percent), and 10 times the fear of being sexually assaulted (7.6 percent) or being abducted (7.2 percent). Thirteen percent of women are concerned about sexual assault.

More than half the respondents (55.3 percent) said they were most concerned about incurring a serious injury while traveling.

Nearly one-third (32.5 percent) are worried about serious illness, and 12.2 percent fear a heart attack or stroke. Nearly 13 percent have required hospitalization while traveling, and more than 15 percent of survey participants said they have had to cut a trip short for a medical reason.

Some 92.4 percent of those surveyed said that if they experienced a medical emergency while traveling overseas, they would want the option of transferring to a U.S. or other advanced medical facility.

The U.S. State Department's travel warning list is not checked by more than half of those surveyed while planning a trip. Only 31 percent of survey respondents said they check for travel warnings, while 18.5 percent are not aware of the State Department's list.

Ten percent of respondents said they have canceled trips due to a State Department warning.

Luis Granados, vice president, Chubb & Son, and worldwide Signature manager, Chubb Personal Insurance, said the research revealed that Americans are traveling more, especially to exotic locations, and are engaging in more adventurous activities.

"The survey found that while vacationing, 26 percent of people ski, almost 14 percent of people mountain climb, and nearly 20 percent participated in what they described as other ?potentially dangerous activities,'" said Mr. Granados.

Nearly 60 percent of people surveyed take medical precautions before traveling abroad, including vaccinations and packing antibiotics or other medications.

Chubb said that to meet this need for coverage it has developeda new policy designed to provide affluent leisure and business travelers with emergency medical transportation services and related services. The Signature Passport policy helps protect travelers anywhere in the world with no limitation on the number of trips that can be taken during the annual policy period.

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U.S. Road Warriors Have Health Fears: Survey

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