It's Jakarta and your stomach feels like you left it in Hong Kong. You've taken what medication you brought with you on this trip, but now you are in serious trouble and the local physician says, "You've got to go into the hospital right now!" Question: "Will your health insurance cover this?"

THE QUANDARY
Your first thought is, "Can this possibly wait until I return to the United States or must I do something right now?" Many travelers put off a major visit to a doctor or a hospital until they return to the U. S. regardless of the quality of the health care where they are, simply because they trust U. S. health care over any other in the world. But if you need it, you need it, and maybe you need it right now!

The quandary comes when the problem cannot be put off. This problem could be a broken bone, an accident, a major illness, a communicable disease and any similar health problem that demands an immediate solution.

Your primary concern, and rightly so, is: "Can you receive competent and adequate health care right now, will it wait till you get home, and if it can't wait, can you immediately leave for the U. S. to have the problem taken care of in your home town?" This is a personal decision and can only be answered by you, your physician and the governing laws of the country you are in at the time. They have some weird communicable diseases in some countries and you may be denied reentry to the U. S. till you are cured.

Your second concern is: "How will I pay for the care I receive in the foreign country?"

GLOBAL INSURANCE
My insurance contacts tell me many U. S. policies will pay either nothing or only a pittance for foreign health care. Norm suggests two classes of policies for travelers: the one-time or short-term policy and the long-term policy. Before you do anything, please check with your current health care provider to determine if they offer similar plans. As always, check benefits against costs, and check out the insurer with your state insurance agency before spending any money.

Just about all these policies can be considered as major medical blanket policies where you have a deductible from $500 to $2000, then the policy pays 80% of the costs up to some figure (say $5000), then 100% of everything over that amount up to a maximum (usually between $100, 000 and $1,000,000).

SHORT TERM POLICIES
These policies cover you for either a one trip visit or any number of trips in one year. You may select whichever method you want with cost being the only qualifier. The policies cover standard items, but can have riders attached to cover you for such things as motorcycling, scuba diving, water skiing, mountain climbing or any of the other hazardous activities you feel like doing. Just be sure you get the rider before you leave the U. S.

Of course you are excluded for pre-existing conditions, suicide or attempted suicide, elective surgery, named non-approved services and prof essional or team participation in sports. (Of course you're going to be excluded from certain coverages, but then you know that!)

Most short term policies have a coverage minimum of 15 days with a maximum of 12 months and if you desire, they can cover you, your spouse and your children. Cost varies. The charges are based on how long you are going to be out of the U. S. and are calculated for monthly premiums. For example, a one month policy can range from around $100 for a $2,500 deductible policy with $100,000 limits to $250 for a comprehensive $250 deductible policy with $1,000,000 in benefits. Multiply this premium amount by the number of months you will be gone to find your total cost.

LONG TERM POLICIES
Many insurance companies offer a "Diplomat" plan for travelers who need coverage over the standard 12 months. These cover more, but cost more. If you think about it, your chances of needing health care triple if you are to be out of the country for three years as opposed to one, and skyrocket if you're just going for 15 days or so!

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
Again, don't do anything until you check out the provisions of your present health care provider. They may have a policy rider that's just what you need!