Archive for February, 2010
Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010
In 1996, the Health and Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was passed in the United States instituting a new standard of industry practices. For a US traveler, this can be of great importance especially after returning back to the US with an international policy.
With most international insurance plans, a certificate of credible coverage is issued when your policy terminates. If you will be transitioning to a US group insurance plan, your certificate of coverage will be reviewed and may reduce your waiting period for pre-existing conditions. If the plan is HIPAA complaint, your new domestic group insurance will apply this coverage toward waiting periods on pre-existing conditions. Non-HIPAA complaints may or may not be accepted by your new group insurance.
As the United States Department of Labor explains, HIPAA regulations state “that a preexisting condition exclusion can be imposed on a condition only if medical advice, diagnosis, care, or treatment was recommended or received during the 6 months prior to your enrollment date in the plan.” The maximum waiting period on a pre-existing condition plan that is HIPAA compliant is 12 months – or 18 months for a late enrollee.
If this is a concern, you may want to consider the Global Citizen plan- the only international insurance that is HIPAA compliant. You can purchase between 6 and 12 months of coverage, with the option to renew annually. Once you return to the US, you have the option to continue with your plan or switch to a domestic carrier – presenting your HIPAA compliant certificate of credible coverage. For further details on the Global Citizen plan, you can view our HIPAA compliant international health insurance here.
Tags: HIPAA Compliant insurance, HIPAA Compliant international, HIPAA Compliant international health insurance, HIPAA Insurance travel, HIPAA International insurance, HIPAA International insurance plan, HIPAA Travel plan
Posted in International Expatriate Health Insurance, International Health Insurance, International Travel Insurance | Comments Off
Friday, February 19th, 2010
An important question to ask before purchasing your international insurance plan is, “what is the procedure if I want to use my plan?” Whether you are looking for a travel or international health insurance, you’ll want to know how much you will pay out-of-pocket before the plan covers you and also how claims are paid. This will determine if you will pay the full service fee up front or whether you will just pay your out-of-pocket expenses.
Most international insurance plans do not have an international network outside the US. Depending on the plan, claims are generally paid 2 ways:
1. The insurance company will pay directly to the doctor or hospital
2. You will pay for the treatment and be reimbursed
Some insurance plans may not have an international network, but may still reach out to your doctor or hospital to pay directly. Some companies have an international network where you can find nearby hospitals or doctors that they have previously worked with and recommend. Other companies have a client relations phone number you can reach, and they will work with you to find a local provider.
This may not be as important for a doctor visit – but knowing how your plan works in case of something major, like hospitalization or a medical evacuation, can save you thousands of dollars (or its equivalent) up front.
We recommend that you call your customer service representative to find out the procedure for the policy you are interested in.
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off
Monday, February 8th, 2010
When traveling abroad, it is important to decide what type of insurance coverage will best suit your needs – a health or travel insurance policy? To help with your decision, here are some helpful tips to determine which option is best for you.
The first place to start is: how long do you need coverage? If you need coverage for less than one year, then a travel plan is your answer. Health insurance plans are generally annually renewable and can be purchased for a minimum of one year. With a travel plan, you can customize your period of coverage from a few days, up to one year. In many cases, the travel plan can also be renewed for an even longer period should you decide to stay.
If this doesn’t help narrow it down, you’ll also want to decide which countries you need to be covered in. Travel plans are designed to cover you outside your home country. Although some travel plans may include coverage in your home country – coverage is generally limited. On the other hand, if you are looking for a plan that will provide coverage back home, health insurance plans can be designed to cover you internationally including in your home country.
If you are still on the fence as to which category best suits you, one of the most important considerations is the benefits of the plans. Travel plans are generally guaranteed issued plan – which means you can purchase the plan with automatic coverage. In many cases, these plans exclude coverage for pre-existing conditions so that it will only cover you for new injuries or illnesses that occur during your period of coverage. In contrast, health insurance plans are generally underwritten. This means that you apply for standard coverage and the underwriters can modify or deny coverage based on your medical history.
Another difference with a health insurance policy is that coverage is renewable. This feature will allow you to continue the plan as long as you meet the eligibility requirements. If a chronic illness or injury occurs during the coverage period, you will be able to continue the policy and receive treatment. This is an important key since travel plans can only be renewed up until a specified number of years. Should you meet this limitation with a travel policy, you will have to purchase a new plan which may not cover your newly developed pre-existing condition.
If you’d like to discuss which of these plans are best suited for you, please contact our customer service representatives as they are experienced agents and can direct you to the most appropriate plan.
Tags: e, International Health Insurance, international health versus international travel insurance, International Travel Insurance, international travel or health insurance, travel versus health insurance
Posted in International Health Insurance, International Travel Insurance | Comments Off
Thursday, February 4th, 2010
With all the excitement of traveling abroad, one problem facing travelers is the inability to find a travel insurance plan that will cover pre-existing conditions.
What is a pre-existing condition?
A pre-existing condition is a medical condition occurring at the time or prior to the start of your policy. In other words, if you had asthma and purchased a travel plan – asthma would be considered a pre-existing condition. If you developed a new illness while under your travel plan, this would be considered a new illness and not a pre-existing condition.
Most short-term travel plans do not cover pre-existing conditions since they are guaranteed issued plans and this would be too high a risk to insure. But the question still remains, “what will I do if I need a travel plan that covers pre-existing conditions?”
This is where the plan benefit “acute onset of a pre-existing condition” comes in to fill the gap. While these policies may exclude coverage for pre-existing conditions, the insurance will provide limited coverage for an unexpected and sudden outbreak of a pre-existing condition that was otherwise stable.
To further explain, if your pre-existing condition requires regular treatment, this would not be covered under the acute onset of a pre-existing condition benefit. However, if without advanced warning there was a sudden emergency that required immediate hospitalization – this would be covered under the acute onset of a pre-existing benefit.
Although it is difficult to find a pre-existing condition travel plan, one helpful option with this benefit is the Atlas Travel Medical plan. While this plan does not cover pre-existing conditions, it does provide limited coverage for medical expenses and medical evacuation for an acute onset of a pre-existing condition.
Additionally, you can buy the coverage for the dates you need and can choose your deductible and maximum coverage. This plan meets most visa requirements and will allow coverage in multiple destinations outside your home country.
Tags: acute pre-existing condition coverage, international coverage pre-existing condition, pre-existing condition international coverage, pre-existing condition international insurance, Pre-existing condition travel insurance, pre-existing condition travel plan
Posted in International Travel Insurance | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010
Are you planning to travel to France? If so, your visa may require that you provide proof of insurance. If you plan to travel to France under a short-term tourist or business visa, the Schengen visa requires you to present a letter from your insurance company indicating that you have international travel insurance for France. Verification of insurance will be confirmed by your “certificate of coverage” – a letter verifying coverage and plan benefits.
As the French Consulate’s website states, insurance ID cards are insufficient and will not be accepted – you must have a letter from your insurance company.
What should this letter say? Officials are looking to see that your plan covers the following:
-Are you covered in Europe?
-Will your plan cover you for medical expenses and repatriation?
-Does your insurance cover you for your entire trip?
-Does your insurance plan meet the $40,000 USD minimum?
Authorities are looking to see that your international travel insurance for France is valid in Europe for medical emergencies, urgent care and repatriation expenses. Because of this new travel requirement, many international travel plans automatically generate a certificate of coverage accessible after purchasing your plan. These letters have been specifically designed to meet these insurance requirements.
Many individuals have found the Atlas Travel Insurance plan to be a helpful solution as it provides comprehensive international travel insurance for France. Not only this, but you will be able to download an automatically generated letter that will meet your French visa requirements.
For further information, please contact our certified agents!
Tags: france health insurance, france travel insurance, france trip insurance, french schengen visa insurance, international health insurance for france, international insurance france, international travel insurance for France, international trip insurance for france
Posted in International Travel Insurance | Comments Off
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