Need advice on Health Insurance and Motorcycles

[doverider]

Hi there! 
I'm new here and just starting to learn and get ready for the the biggest adventure of my life.  I've had a little travel experience, but always during "vacation" from some job.  Now that the economy has rendered my past life moot, I'm going to try things that have always intrigued me.  Of course, I have a bit of trepidation.  Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated.

I'll be starting sometime in 2010 and would like to go as far as my money will take me before I need to work again.  I figure I'll have about $5000.  I want to go everywhere and not sure where I want to start yet.  Decisions will depend alot on what I find out.

So here's my three big questions:

Health Insurance:
I've always had it, though rarely needed it.  I'm healthy as a horse.  My health insurance hear in the USA is about to go the way of the jobs - bye-bye!  Do I need insurance if I'm traveling round the world?  What are the costs?  Any recommendations?

Motorcycles: 
I love riding, and would be interested in picking up a bike for parts of the journey.  My questions run the gamut:
How do I get a bike when I'm overseas?  How much do they cost?  Do I need insurance?  What about gas?  Is it even worth it?

Money:
I've heard you need about $20-$30/day in Asia and about $60/day in Europe.  I need some broad general numbers for other things.  What's the per day average for travel in the US?  South America? Is that just a roof and food?  How much for travel (bus, train, etc.).  What about clothes and personal needs (soap, bandaids, shoes?).  How much for the initial outfit and flights? 

I really appreciate the help.
Carpe Diem!
Barbara

[Vhan]

Yea, Euro can be pricey, but Asia is pretty cheep. I'm getting World Nomads Insurance, check out the main page of the site for details  . And I'm not sure about the motorcycles. I know you can often rent them for a day, but actually buying one may be trickey. I read from someone that some countiries have laws aginst buying cars if you don't have citizenship. Not sure if the same stands for bikes.   

[doverider]

Thanks so much for the info!  I'll check it out! 

Carpe Diem!
Dove

[Greg]

Hi Dove,

Good questions!  Here is just my personal opinion.....

Insurance
I was doing lots of dangerous stuff like sea cliff climbing, etc on my trips so I grabbed a cheap safety-net health insurance policy through
Ehealthinsurance.com.  That way if I had a fall or big accident, I would be covered
once I got home and my travel insurance quit.  I think I'm paying like $60 a month for the insurance, which sucks, but I feel more comfortable
pushing my luck on trips.   So...its a personal decision that you have to make.

Like a lot of people. I usually use World Nomads for travel insurance...they rock hands down. Here's some info on travel insurance and
other alternatives to World Nomads:  http://www.startbackpacking.com/travel/travel-insurance/

Motorcycles
I hired a motorcycle in Thailand and road all over the north through the mountains, it was one of my best memories!  You can rent a scooter (which is the Asian "motorocycle") for about $5 a day or maybe less if you negotiate it for a long period...like 2 weeks.  They are also extremely cheap to buy there as well, just make sure you get paperwork for VAT so you can get taxes straightened out when you leave.  you can buy petrol in 2 litre bottles in convenient stores, fruit stands, and on the side of the road....it goes a long way!

Money
This is the toughest subject because there is no answer!  My $20 - $30 a day in Asia covered EVERYTHING...food, transportation, entertainment, scuba even, you name it.  Everyone travels differently, and the more practice you get the cheaper you can keep it it seems.

Cheers!

[doverider]

Hi Greg,
thanks for the info!   I was paying more than $60/mo. for the 'employee contribution' of my health insurance.   Now that I'm unemployed, I've been paying $475/mo.  THAT Sucks.....Loudly!!  Esurance sounds like a pretty reasonable deal , compartively!  I'll definitely get Nomads and look into the other options.

As for the Bikes, that's just what I wanted to know.  Can you explain what VAT is, or where I can find more info on the taxes, regs, etc.?

Thanks also for your input on costs.  As I check out CouchSurfing, Hostel, and other websites, I'm starting to see more info on local costs.  It still amazes me that costs can be so drastically different around the globe.  I've got alot of learning/experiencing to do... and not just about money!!

Thanks again, and Happy Trails!
Barbara 

[Greg]

$475?!  ouch!  Definitely go at least get some quotes from Ehealthinsurance....my deductible is high, like 5K so its just for broken necks and nasty emergencies, but I am paying around $60 a mo.  If you go get a quote, please use my link, I need the money more than the CEO. 
Ehealthinsurance.com

Probably differs by country, but if you buy something large in another country like a camera, IPOD, etc you can show your receipts as you exit
through emigration and be reimbursed for the Value Added Tax (the equivalent in the US would be sales tax).

Don't get overwhelmed with info and research, etc...everything falls into place once you get off the plane. 

[doverider]

Of course I'll use your links.  I really appreicate the support and encouragement.

Thanks a million!
Barbara. 

[Vhan]

So I want to get Eshurance Health + world nomads huh? (or at least that is what you have right greg?)

[Greg]

Yeah, I use both just because between the solo rock climbing and driving motorcycles, I figure my number going to come up on one of these trips.

Travel insurance is pretty cheap and covers you while gone, but if you break a leg or worse and have to come home, it shuts off and then you rely on your
health insurance.  I never go to the doctor, but seeing a loved one get smacked with a $120K hospital bill shocked me into getting a cheap "just in case" policy.

Ehealthinsurance gets you lots of quotes from different companies.
World Nomads is the most popular backpacking travel insurance
InsureMyTrip.com is an alternative to World Nomads that gets you quotes from lots of companies, I have used them once.