Visitors Insurance

New immigrants to the US are usually not eligible to purchase domestic health insurance in the US. Each state in the US has different eligibility criteria for applicants. Some states require continuous residence for 2 years and some offer insurance immediately. If domestic insurance is not available you can purchase one of the several health insurance plans for new Immigrants to the US.

Your health is your most valuable resource, make sure it is protected. Health insurance protects you and your family by paying for healthcare costs. United States offers the most advanced treatments and medical facilities in the world. It is also extremely expensive. If you do not have health insurance you will have to pay for your treatments yourself. A single injury or sickness can wipe out your entire savings and push you deep into debt. Not paying your bills on time can ruin your credit history and jeopardize your job opportunities.

If you are planning on living in the US for a long period of time and will be travelling back and forth to your country of citizenship you may consider the Global health plans. They are designed for international travelers, teachers, missionaries and new immigrants. They are a comprehensive solution for people who need coverage around the world including their home country. These plans offer preventive care, coverage for pre existing conditions and maternity. Some benefits may have a waiting period. The plans can be renewed for the duration of your stay. Applicants must fill out a health questionnaire. Plans have guidelines and requirements that must be met before they are issued.

If you are looking for Short Term coverage and do not need coverage in your home country you can consider a Visitor medical Insurance plan. The Visitor Medical plans can cover doctor visits, prescriptions, hospital visits and surgery for sicknesses or injuries. The Visitor Medical Insurance plans do not cover pre existing conditions. Coverage can begin the next day and medical tests are not required.

The plan cost or premium will depend on:  Your age, maximum coverage requested, deductible, type of coverage/benefits. Select a plan with the benefits you need. Whether you choose a short term Travel Medical Insurance plan or a long term Global Health plan understand the plan coverage, benefits and exclusions. Discuss your requirements with our licensed professional agents to find a solution that works for you.

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If you are planning a trip abroad you must definitely purchase International Medical Insurance to cover you in case you fall sick or injure yourself abroad. Your health insurance from your home country will not cover you in foreign countries.

If you are travelling for a few days or months, you can consider Short Term Travel Medical Insurance Plans. They can cover you outside your home country.  The Travel Medical plans typically cover doctor visits, hospitalization and surgery. They do not offer cover for preventive care or maternity. Applying for the plans is simple and medical tests are not needed.

If you are planning to move to another and live there for extended periods of time the Long Term International Health Insurance plans or Global Plans may be more suitable. They can also cover you on your trips back to your home country.  These plans can cover preventive care and maternity along with other sicknesses and injuries.  Results of medical tests may be needed during the application process.
For a complete listing of Travel Medical Insurance plans visit the home of International Travel Insurance. Speak to our knowledgeable agents at 877 593 5403.

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A Preferred Provider Organization or a PPO is a group of doctors, hospitals and other medical facilities that provide health care at reduced rates to the insurer’s and plan administrator’s clients. Insurance companies sometimes require you to use only the members of the PPO network they are associated with. They can deny claims or require higher co payments if you visit a provider outside the network.

By using these networks that offer services at pre negotiated discounted rates, the insurance companies keep their costs low. This can also help insurers get more for their plan limits and stretch their coverage while keeping the out of pocket costs low. Using a network provider who is familiar with the billing procedure of the insurance company increases the chances of having the charges billed directly to the insurance company making it a cashless transaction for the insured.

When you are looking to purchase a visitor medical insurance plan you must first find out if the plan follows a PPO network. Look for service providers in your area who fall under the network. Find out the penalties for using providers outside the network. Become familiar with pre certification and pre notification procedures to avoid a reduction in benefits.

For more information regarding visitor medical insurance plans and the PPO networks for each call us at 877 593 5403 or visit us on the web at www.nriol.net

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Is it prudent to insure a husband and wife under the same visitor insurance plan? We are often confronted with this question when a family is seeking visitor insurance coverage. The answer is - usually yes if both the visitors are adults. Visitor insurance companies do not offer premium discounts for insuring the husband and wife on the same plan. The total cost of the plan is the sum of the premiums for each individual. The benefits are also designed for each person and it is not possible to exhaust one’s benefit limit and then tap into the benefits of the other person insured under the same plan. Likewise deductibles and co-insurance must aslo be met separately by each person insured on the plan.

Consider now the benefits of having individual plans one each for the husband and wife respecitvely. Individual policies for each visitor provides the flexibility in selecting plan maximums and deductibles based on the needs of each individual. There are not many plans offering coverage for 70 years and above so if the spouse is less than 70 then it would make sense to shop the wide array of plans for the spouse while considering the few available for the 70 plus. If the visitors have different itineraries or if you desire flexibility on the return date for one of the visitors then it is advantageous to purchase separate insurance for visitors. If both members are insured under the same plan then it is not possible to modify or cancel coverage for one of the insureds while retaining coverage for the other insured.

In some cases it may be a good idea to purchase visitor coverage together. If there are children below age 18 travelling with an adult, buying one plan to cover both of them can provide substantial cost savings. Some plans offer free coverage to children if an adult is on the same plan while some others offer discounted dependant rates for children.

Visit the visitor medical insurance and visitor health insurance pages to compare plan costs, benefits and exclusions.

There is encouraging news for visitors to the US looking for emergency coverage for a sudden flare up of a pre existing condition. Most insurance plans expressly exclude any coverage for medical expenses arising out of a pre existing condition. A newly enhanced Atlas America plan offers for insureds below age 70 up to $15,000 in coverage for medical expenses arising due to a sudden acute onset of a pre existing condition.

It is important to understand the common definition for a pre existing condition first. It can be explained as an ailment or condition that was present prior to the start of the plan. Typically, ailments that manifested (regardless of being treated or not treated) 24 months prior to the start of the plan are considered as pre-existing conditions and hence excluded from coverage.

The Atlas America plan offers coverage with a lower plan limit ($15,000) for a sudden and acute onset of a pre existing condition. The insured must seek medical attention for their condition within 24 hours of the first symptoms to be considered for coverage. The plan does not offer coverage for routine checkups or regular maintenance of their ailment. There must be an acute onset of an illness related to the pre existing condition to be considered for coverage. Benefits for covered sicknesses can include doctor visits, tests, surgery and prescriptions.

While most plans offer absolutely no coverage for pre-existing conditions, the Atlas America plan offers this limited but very valuable benefit. Review Atlas America Insurance plan on the page for visitor medical insurance plans or call 877 593 5403 for more details. You can also review a dedicated website for visitors insurance.

Remember to review the policy brochure for precise definitions, terms and conditions.

During the summer a lot of people visit the US from India. Summer is preferred over the harsh winters in the US. Children are off from school for their vacations and grandparents like to spend time with them. All these make it a very busy travel season. These are some tips to make your trip more enjoyable.

1. Keep your travel documents and passports safely. There are several stories circulating the internet about immigration officials tampering with passports. The story may or may not be true but it is a good idea to always keep an eye on your passport.
2. Bring your Indian driver’s license if you want to drive in the US. Many states in the US allow foreign nationals to drive if they hold a valid license written in English.
3. Bring your credit and debit cards. Cards bearing visa and master card logos can be used in ATMs and stores all over the US. Do not carry your Pin numbers along with your credit card.
4. Purchase health insurance for visitors before your trip. Make sure the insurance company has claims offices in the US for fast and easy processing of claims. Purchase renewable coverage if you do not know how long you will be staying in the US.

Have a safe and fun trip to the US!

We have a break in premiums for the Patriot America Insurance (designed for non US Citizens) and Patriot International (designed for US Citizens) plans. The reductions in premiums are being offered to attract summer travelers (braving the summer heat).

Competition has been intense this summer with many visitor insurance companies and plan administrators trying to grow their market share. While some plans have seen a reduction in premiums others have seen an increase in the degree of protection (without a hike in premiums).

These recent visitors insurance premium changes are a boon to those visiting USA as well as those traveling outside the US. Both plans have seen about a 10% reduction in premiums for most age brackets and policy limits.

I wish the rate cuts were uniform across all ages and policy limits. On close examination I learned that the reductions do not apply to the upper age brackets (60 years and above). Nevertheless, I think the changes will be appreciated by many.

Well, your insurance premium savings will be quickly undone when you fill up at gas pumps for driving around. At least, one can observe that the summer visitor health insurance rates have bucked the trend that most of are used to seeing.

Enjoy your travels and hosting your family this summer.

Visitor medical insurance plans provide healthcare benefits outside your home country. Experience clearly indicates that you must make sure you have adequate health insurance no matter where you travel. Health insurance protects you and your family by paying for healthcare costs.

Your health is your most important asset. The medical facilities and hospitals in the US are among the best in the world. They are also the most expensive. This coupled with the lack of socialized medical care means that you must be prepared to pay for your treatments out of your own pocket. This makes having Visitor Medical insurance all the more compelling.

The Visitor medical plans designed for travelers can cover expenses arising out of a sudden sickness or injury. These expenses can include doctor office visits, surgery, blood tests, X rays, prescriptions. Some plans also include medical evacuation. Visitor medical plans however, do not typically cover chronic illnesses and pre existing conditions.

Here are a few factors to consider while you are choosing a health insurance plan:

1. Type of Benefits: Not all plans provide benefits for maternity, preventive care (child immunization, regular health physicals etc.), and dental expenses. It is important for you to prioritize your desired benefits and features.

2. Duration of Coverage: If you are sure of your travel dates you may not require a plan that is renewable. On the other hand if you are unsure of your dates, it may be better if you purchase a plan that can be renewed beyond its initial term.

3. Affordability/Coverage Amount: The cost of your plan depends on the maximum coverage amount and deductible you select. Higher the plan limit, higher is the cost of the plan. Higher the deductible, lower is the cost of the plan. You must select the combination of coverage amount and deductible based on how much you want to spend on the Visitor medical Insurance.

4. Immigration Status: Make sure you select a health plans meant for visitors. Some plans are designed for international students on F1 visas and some for Exchange visitors on J1 visas. Visitors are not eligible for all plans.

Consulting a local health insurance agent for help with visitor insurance plans is a good idea. Not all insurance agents are familiar with plans that are designed for foreigners so please be diligent and learn about the agent’s abilities prior to making decisions.

For free consultation about visitor medical insurance call 877.593.5403 or visit the visitor health insurance website.