Archive for the ‘International Health Insurance’ Category
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
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
Tuesday, January 19th, 2010
Topping the list at number 1, Ecuador is an increasingly popular international retirement destination according to International Living. Ecuador’s unit of currency is the US dollar, which has a purchasing power parity of $.66 according to the United Nations. In other words, what would cost a dollar in the US would cost $.66 in Ecuador. That being said, it is no wonder why Ecuador would become the new retirement haven where individuals can live comfortably on their retirement investments and pensions.
As more individuals decide to relocate to Ecuador, it is important to understand your Ecuador expatriate health options. In 2008, Ecuador instituted universal health care to provide free services to its residence. Currently, the program provides free doctor visits, basic surgeries, and medication. These services, while available, have been overwhelmed by popular demand resulting in long lines and scaled-back services. Many facilities are currently underfunded and cannot provide services for more expensive medications and surgeries.
The Ministry of Public Health is the department overseeing the implementation of universal health care, which is said to provide coverage to approximately 30 percent of the population. One major problem underlining this statistic is the geography coupled with infrastructure. Before leaving to Ecuador, it is important to investigate nearby facilities especially if the location is remote. The more developed cities, such as Quito and Guayaquil, have hospitals with highly trained professionals and well-equipped facilities. In more remote locations, it is not uncommon to travel to larger cities for suitable treatment.
To give you an idea, there are 1.5 doctors per 1,000 people (compared to the United States with 5.5 doctors per 1,000 people) with 66% of the total population living in urban areas. As these numbers reflect, you will want to consider your location and how this may affect your access to health care. In urban areas, problems with accessibility are primarily centralized in the public sector – whereas wait time can be reduced and higher quality health care can be found in the private sector for an additional fee. In order to be prepared, you will want to make sure that your Ecuador expatriate health insurance covers you in private clinics and hospitals. This is key – especially if you do not want to be one of the many waiting for care.
According to the State Department, it is recommended that you have Ecuador medical insurance even for short trips. Whether you plan to retire in Ecuador or travel as a tourist, you will want to look into suitable Ecuador health insurance plans. While looking at different options, you will want a plan that will cover you for:
- Local transportation in case you need to be transported inside the country
- Emergency evacuation transporting you internationally
- Medical treatment at a private facility
These are important points to review, even if universal health care is available in Ecuador. When going abroad, you will want to evaluate your Ecuador expatriate health insurance options to ensure that you are fully covered for the expected- as well as the unexpected.
A popular option for those looking Ecuador health insurance is the Citizen Secure plan which will cover you for hospitalization, doctor visits, prescriptions, emergency medical evacuation, local ambulance, and repatriation. This expatriate plan will cover you internationally – including in Ecuador – and you can also have coverage back in your home country. When traveling abroad, the ability to make choices is important- especially when it comes to your health.
Tags: Ecuador Expatriate Health Insurance, Ecuador Health Insurance, Ecuador Health Plan, Ecuador Insurance plan, Ecuador medical insurance, Ecuador Travel Insurance, Ecuardo Health Options
Posted in International Health Insurance | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, January 13th, 2010
Costa Rica has become a popular international destination hosting both travelers and retirees. In fact, Costa Rica is listed as one of the top 10 popular international retirement destinations according to International Living. Whether it’s the country’s stability, friendly and welcoming Ticos (Spanish reference to Costa Rican locals), or breathtaking scenery, Costa Rica is a country unlike any other.
Before your arrival in Costa Rica, you will want to look into your expatriate health insurance options depending on your needs. A few considerations include:
- Does your current insurance plan cover you in Costa Rica?
- Will you be enrolling in the country’s insurance plan or in a private plan?
- If you’ll be enrolling in an international plan, does it include emergency medical evacuation and repatriation?
Costa Rica has its own social health care system called Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS), commonly referred to as the “Caja”. This universal health care system will cover Costa Rican citizens, permanent residents, and visitors for a small monthly fee based on a percentage of your income. If you opt for the “Caja”, then you’d be able to obtain treatment in designated public facilities in Costa Rica. Another options is the government-backed INS (Instituto de Seguro Nacional), which is a health insurance plan that will cover you if you stay within the network of private doctors and hospitals in Costa Rica.
With these local options, an important question to ask yourself is- do you want the flexibility to choose your doctor or hospital? Also, is it important to be able to elect treatment outside of Costa Rica? This is especially important as both the CCSS and INS provide coverage only in Costa Rica. While Costa Rica has one of the best health care systems in Latin America, it is important to look at the benefits of each option and decide on the type of coverage most suitable for you.
Other options have recently opened up to international travelers/retirees following the ratification of CAFTA- Central American Free Trade Agreement- also known as the Tratamiento Libre de Comercio (TLC) in Costa Rica. With the adoption of this agreement, Costa Rica opened its borders to foreign insurance companies – whereas before the options were limited only to CCSS or INS. This agreement allowed international insurance companies to provide coverage to travelers, permanent residence, and Costa Rican citizens.
When looking at the plethora of international health insurance options, you will want to make sure that your plan includes coverage for emergency medical evacuation and repatriation. This will provide you with the piece of mind that in case of an emergency, you can receive treatment in a facility equipped to handle your condition – even if this entails being transported to another country or if medically necessary, returning to your country of citizenship.
If you are looking for a Costa Rican expatriate health insurance, the Citizen Secure plan is a comprehensive annually renewable plan. This plan provides up to $5,000,000 worth of coverage and includes coverage for doctor office visits, prescription drugs, maternity, surgery, hospitalizations, diagnostic testing, lab work, emergency medical evacuation, repatriation, etc. This plan will cover you all over the world – including Costa Rica – and you can chose to include or exclude the US and Canada in coverage. Click here to view more information on this Costa Rica expatriate health insurance.
Tags: Costa Rica Expat Health Insurance, Costa Rica Expat Insurance, Costa Rica Expatriate Health Insurance, Costa Rica Insurance, Costa Rica International Insurance, Costa Rica Travel Health Insurance, Costa Rica Travel Insurance
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