Accident Abroad: Ryan's Unconventional Take on Digital Nomad Health Coverage - Nomad Notes | EP 55

What's your biggest fear about getting sick or injured thousands of miles from home?

Imagine you're riding a scooter through the streets of Bali, when suddenly everything changes in an instant. For most Americans, the thought of needing medical care abroad is enough to keep them from ever buying that plane ticket. 

But what if those fears are holding you back from the life you're meant to live?

Ryan shares the honest truth about healthcare abroad, insurance options that actually work for nomads, and the simple preparations that give you peace of mind anywhere in the world.

You'll hear about Ryan's real experiences navigating foreign hospitals, getting prescriptions filled without speaking the language, and why the quality of care overseas might surprise you. 

He breaks down his own health coverage strategy using a health share plan that covers him globally, and reveals the biggest mistake Americans make with their insurance before leaving the country.

Whether you're worried about a chronic condition, wondering if you can afford international coverage, or just nervous about being far from your regular doctor, this conversation gives you the practical game plan you need. 

Listen and learn how to protect yourself and stay confident no matter where your digital nomad journey takes you.

Ryan proves that with the right preparation and mindset, medical concerns don't have to keep you from the adventure of a lifetime.

Grab Your FREE Guide - 7 Steps To Launch Your Digital Nomad Journey - https://www.thedigitalnomadcoach.com/

MORE FROM RYAN MELLON :

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DISCLAIMER:
Listening to stories of beachside zoom calls, mountainside work views, and island-hopping entrepreneurs may cause severe wanderlust and an irresistible urge to turn your laptop into a passport to freedom. Side effects include daydreaming about tropical co-working spaces, working with Ryan to learn how you can start working and traveling and buying a one-way ticket to Bali. Get ready to start living your dream life today!

Transcript

[00:00:00] Marvin Athey: Ryan, what happens if you're in an accident in a foreign country? how do you prepare for that?

[00:00:06] Ryan Mellon: I would say the biggest thing that you need to think about is having either no bad insurance or an insurance policy that covers you globally. Or Traveler's insurance. and then of course having cell phone service always so that you can call emergency services. It's also important before you go to a new country to do those Google searches and save in your [00:00:30] phone the emergency contact numbers for that country.

[00:00:33] Ryan Mellon: 'cause it's not 9 1 1. Once you leave the US it's something different. And often, like ambulance and fire and police are three different things. So knowing those numbers, having them pre-saved in your phone, and then, you know, having data to find the nearest hospital or whatever. Super important. and then travel insurance to help with any of the cost.

[00:00:57] Marvin Athey: You spent the, you know, six months in Bali this past [00:01:00] year. when you go to a destination, do you think it's important to know where the hospitals are, before you go? Or is it something that it's ever,in top of mind, 

[00:01:11] Ryan Mellon: So like when I'm riding my scooter around, I always like note. Like the hospitals and emergency places like in my head. but like as long as I always have my phone with me and I have data always, I can just type in hospital and hit go. So I don't, [00:01:30] I don't really think too much about it.

[00:01:32] Marvin Athey: When you're in Bali and you're traveling, do you avoid any kind of risky activity in terms of things that could cause danger? Is it something that, that you think about ever?

[00:01:43] Ryan Mellon: I'm riding a motorbike, which is by far a risky activity because, not because I'm incompetent on a bike, it's because of all the other foreigners who it's their first five minutes on a motorbike and they can [00:02:00] be rockets. So you have to be drive very defensively. You need to drive at reasonable like speeds, like, you know, I see all these.

[00:02:10] Ryan Mellon: People like, with bandages and torn up, you know, limbs and all, you know. Busted scooters everywhere. Just 'cause people go so fast, like slow down. Like there's too much traffic in Bali in these places anyhow. Like, you've got to got, you've got [00:02:30] to be careful, you know? but other than that, no. I mean, I've, I go scuba diving, I gone skydiving, like I've gone hand gliding off a cliff in Rio, like I do everything I wanna do.

[00:02:43] Ryan Mellon: And so far, so good.

[00:02:45] Marvin Athey: Yeah. 'cause I, I remember on an episode you mentioned you have really good health insurance, don't you?

[00:02:49] Ryan Mellon: I have a health share plan. It's called, Sedera. Okay. And so it covers me both in the US and [00:03:00] globally, but how it works is like I'm cash pay, so I need to be able to put like my medical bills, either pay it in cash or put it on a credit card, and then. I can, as long as it goes above my, like, basically deductible, but it's called something different 'cause it's technically non-insurance health share plan.

[00:03:22] Ryan Mellon: I'll get reimbursed for it. I just need to submit the medical bills and they can be anywhere in the world.

[00:03:27] Marvin Athey: this is an interesting topic 'cause I think insurance is [00:03:30] always really something that people are always trying to find the best kind.with a health share plan, does it cover you for like, chronic illness, cancer or just accidents and stuff like when you're, everything?

[00:03:43] Ryan Mellon: everything. Yeah. I think there are some exceptions. Like if you were to get HIV by like using needles to shoot heroin or something like that, like something illegal activity that. Got you messed up. But that's probably like [00:04:00] any insurance. they have some probably clauses like that, but like, it's, it's, it's comprehensive so it, it, it's meant to, to take over for everything in anything.

[00:04:12] Ryan Mellon: So accidents and just typical health stuff. My deductible is pretty high. It's at 5,000, so I cash pay for like. All of my, like just going to the dentist and my maintenance stuff, right. You know, annual checkups. if I get sick [00:04:30] and I just need to go to the doctor locally, you know, usually where I'm at, it's pretty inexpensive to get medical care.

[00:04:37] Ryan Mellon: So it's not a lot of money. But if, if it was something that was really bad that happened and it was very expensive, I would be capped at 5,000 out of pocket.

[00:04:49] Marvin Athey: Oh, that's amazing. And, when you're in, you know, 'cause people do get injured in Bali. I've, I've been there and we talked about the Bali. The Bali kiss is when you see people bandaged up. 'cause they've gotten a. Really bad [00:05:00] motorbike accident, usually due to their mistakes. But when you think about Bali and you think about healthcare, if something were to happen to you, do you think you'd want to be airlifted to Singapore or a different country?

[00:05:13] Marvin Athey: Like do you ever, is that something that you, you think about what, what's the better country with healthcare if something, really serious happened?

[00:05:21] Ryan Mellon: Yeah. So if it was like, like life threatening, yeah. I would prefer being in Singapore. Obviously they have like top healthcare on that side of the [00:05:30] world pretty much. and it's, it's a direct flight away. but I have gone to, I have been through the hospital system at, in Bali for like, just. You know, maintaining things or x-rays or, and I've found that the doctors all speak English there.

[00:05:49] Ryan Mellon: It's been proficient. It's been, it's a really good system. In Denpasar, there's they have an called an executive. Clinic at the Silom hospital, it's really great place [00:06:00] to go and they can get you everything you need if you're sick, Bali belly, whatever. And they'll even fill your prescriptions right there at the hospital.

[00:06:08] Ryan Mellon: I had a prescription that I have here at home that I need every day that is a controlled substance. and I ran out and I couldn't get it at any of the pharmacies in Bali. But I could get it if I went to the hospital. And what I did was before I left, I had my doctor write a letter saying [00:06:30] that I can be prescribed this.

[00:06:32] Ryan Mellon: I had my pill bottle as well. We even translated it to Indonesian too. And so then I just went in with this, saw the doctor, they wrote the prescription for what I needed, and they filled it right there at the hospital.

[00:06:46] Marvin Athey: This is all really good information. 'cause I know I've met other travelers who have, chronic conditions. there's a popular one that he travels with diabetes and so it just goes to show that. [00:07:00] You know, you can still experience this digital nomad life, and, and still feel safe. 'cause I think a lot of Americans, I dunno how you feel, Ryan.

[00:07:08] Marvin Athey: A lot of Americans feel, like there's a lot of danger when you leave and they, they can't get some of the same healthcare, as they can in America. how do you feel about that?

[00:07:18] Ryan Mellon: So I will say that it's super important if you have like traditional health insurance as an American, it does it 90 per 5% chance. It does not cover you as soon as you [00:07:30] leave the country. So you need to know that. But as far as like the quality of healthcare, I think that you can find a lot of. You know, there's some places you're not gonna want to go to the public hospitals at all, but there is always gonna be usually like a private clinic, where you're able, or a private hospital where you're able to, get into that has better care.

[00:07:56] Ryan Mellon: and I've never really. I've never been to a [00:08:00] place where I've needed care, and I'm like, oh, I can't believe. I'm like, you know, I was sketched out about where I was. That's never happened. So

[00:08:09] Marvin Athey: Gotcha.

[00:08:10] Ryan Mellon: I think it's more of a worry than, than it actually needs to be.

[00:08:14] Marvin Athey: Yeah, I, I, I share the same feelings I. I've been to, I've never had anything huge. I mean, I was in the hospital in, in, uh, Flores, but that was for COVID. But, for the most part, I, you know, people have gone to the hospital and, and they've been [00:08:30] fine, or they go to a, a different country and, and they're fine.

[00:08:35] Marvin Athey: Well, that wraps up today's episode of, uh, what Happens in Case of Emergency. thank you so much, Ryan.

[00:08:41] Ryan Mellon: All right. Awesome. Appreciate you.

[00:08:42] Marvin Athey: [00:09:00] [00:09:30]