Buying Tips & Reviews...
Fact: International travel insurance plans tend to look alike . . . until you have a claim!
Here we highlight key plan features to help you identify the right choice for your own needs, situation, and budget - in about 5 minutes. For added peace-of-mind, all insurance choices are USA-Style.
Page Contents...
-- 1. Coverage Period
-- 2. Benefit Period
-- 3. Coverage for "Pre-Existing Conditions"
-- 4. Option of Home Country Medical Treatment
-- 5. Who Regulates Your Insurance Company?
-- 6. Lower Your Premium
1. Coverage Period
This is a seemingly obvious definition, but we start with this term as it is used in other definitions here.
If a medical condition is first diagnosed or treated during the "Coverage Period," then eligible insurance benefits will be paid (subject to policy limits).
2. Benefit Period (very important)
The "Benefit Period" is not the same as the "Coverage Period." The "Benefit Period" is the maximum period of time during which an insurance policy will pay benefits for a covered medical condition that was first diagnosed or treated during the "Coverage Period."
The "Benefit Period" may extend beyond the end of the "Coverage Period" (and often does). In many cases, a longer insurance Benefit Period is desirable.
A Review of Travel Health Insurance "Benefit Periods"
Most travel health insurance plans have a Benefit Period of "up to 6 months" or "180 days." This includes Liaison Majestic, Liaison International, and Atlas Series.
The Diplomat Plans have a Benefit Period of "52 weeks" (to our knowledge, the best in the travel health insurance industry). If a temporary travel insurance plan will be your only health coverage while abroad, then a longer Benefit Period may be a key feature to consider.
Note: There are many short-term health insurance plans sold today where the Benefit Period ends when the Coverage Period ends. (TravelGap Excursion is one example.) This is OK if you have full coverage upon return to your Home Country. Otherwise, if your plan has no extended Benefit Period, then the last few days or weeks of your coverage could prove to be of limited value.
3. Coverage for "Pre-Existing Conditions"
All private health insurance plans contain "exclusions," which are conditions, circumstances, or treatments which are expressly not covered. One common exclusion is for "pre-existing conditions.
The wording of the definition of "pre-existing condition" and coverage (if any) are important factors to consider in short-term international health insurance plans. For example, if you take medication for high blood pressure or cholesterol, then any condition related to the circulatory system (such as heart attack or stroke) would likely be considered a "pre-existing condition."
A Review of Coverage for "Pre-Existing Conditions"
Diplomat Plans - No coverage for "pre-existing" conditions. However, emergency medical evacuation (up to $300,000) is a separate benefit and is not subject to the "pre-existing" exclusion.
Liaison Majestic and Liaison International - For U.S. citizens traveling outside the USA/Canada, this plan will pay up to $20,000 for the sudden and unexpected reoccurrence of a "pre-existing condition," (up to $2500 for persons age 65 or over). Also, emergency medical evacuation (up to $300,000) is a separate benefit and (Liaison Majestic only) is not subject to the "pre-existing" medical exclusion.
*New for Liaison Majestic (only) - For U.S. citizens traveling outside the USA/Canada, "pre-existing conditions are covered to the policy limit, if you have a primary U.S. health insurance plan in force.
Atlas Series - If you are under age 70, you are covered for "an Acute Onset of a Pre-existing Condition," up to $15,000 Maximum for Eligible Medical Expenses and up to $25,000 for Emergency Medical Evacuation. Treatment must be sought within the first 24 hours of symptoms. Note: at this time, this is the only travel health insurance plan that provides limited "pre-existing" coverage for BOTH U.S. citizens traveling outside the USA/Canada and for visitors to the USA.
TravelGap Excursion - Coverage for "pre-existing conditions" is not excluded. However, you must have "primary insurance" in the USA during your travels abroad.
Note: The above exceptions for coverage of "pre-existing conditions" do not apply to known, scheduled or expected treatments, procedures, or medication. The summaries above are subject to change without notice. Verify all information in plan literature.
4. Do You Want The Option Of Home Country Medical Treatment?
On occasion, someone traveling abroad suffers an injury or illness, whereby they wish to return to their home country (including to the USA) for follow-up treatment and recuperation.
If you maintain domestic health coverage during your travel abroad, then this plan feature may not be of importance to you. However, if short-term international health insurance will be your only health insurance, then how a policy treats "Home Country Treatment" can be a very important consideration.
A Review of Travel Health Insurance Options for "Home Country Treatment"
Diplomat Plans - Included only with the Home Country add-on option (+10%), up to $5000 of follow-up treatment in your home country.
Liaison Majestic - This plan shall pay for Covered Expenses incurred in your Home Country up to $5,000 maximum, for conditions first diagnosed or treated while traveling outside of your Home Country. (This $5000 limit does not apply to Emergency Evacuation or Repatriation benefits.)
Atlas International - Contains no exclusion for travel for follow-up treatment. Therefore, follow-up treatment for a covered condition first diagnosed or treated outside of your Home Country, will continue to be covered for the remainder of the Benefit Period, anywhere you wish, including the USA. (Your insurance policy terminates upon return to the USA for treatment, but the Benefit Period doesn't.)
TravelGap Excursion - No follow-up Home Country treatment is covered. However, this plan requires that you have "primary" health insurance coverage in the USA in order to be eligible.
Note: "Home Country Treatment" is NOT the same as "Home Country Coverage," which is an optional or built-in benefit on many short-term international plans. "Home Country Coverage" provides limited medical coverage during one or more short-term trips back home.
In Summary:
* If you are traveling outside the USA and you will NOT have health coverage upon return to the USA, consider Atlas Travel Series.
* If you are traveling outside the USA and you will have health coverage upon return to the USA, consider TravelGap Excursion or Liaison Majestic.
5. Who Regulates Your International Travel Insurance Company? (very important)
In the USA, health insurance is primarily regulated by the individual states. We recommend that you seek out insurance from companies that are registered (either "admitted" or "approved") to legally conduct business in your home state (USA-Style).
Here is a brief look at two ways an insurance company might be registered to conduct business in your home state. (The exact terminology may differ from state to state.)
"Admitted" - The insurance company is fully regulated under your State's "life and health" insurance laws.
"Approved" - The insurance company operates under "surplus lines" insurance laws and is not fully regulated. However, if the State obtains credible evidence of unsatisfactory claims practices or unsatisfactory financial condition, then the State may revoke the "certificate of authority" under which the insurance company legally operates in that State. Such action could influence or encourage similar action in other U.S. States and even in other countries.
A Review of Travel Health Insurance Company Regulation
All travel insurance plans found here are backed by insurance companies which are either "admitted" (various US-based insurance companies) or "approved" in all states. (The insurance syndicate of Lloyds, operating as Lloyds of London, Certain Underwriters at Lloyds, etc., is "admitted" in KY and "approved" in all other states and DC.)
Diplomat Plans - insured by a fully regulated ("admitted") insurance company in most states.
Liaison Majestic - insured by a fully regulated ("admitted") insurance company in most states.
Liaison International - insured by a fully regulated ("admitted") insurance company in most states.
Atlas Series - insured by Lloyd's, London, "admitted" in KY & IL, "approved" in all other states.
TravelGap Excursion - insured by HM Life or UNICARE (varies by state). Insurer is fully regulated ("admitted") in states where available.
For all U.S. travelers, visitors, and international students, we only recommend international travel insurance backed by insurers who are registered, either "admitted" or "approved," in the USA.
6. Lower Your Premium By Electing A Higher Deductible
The "deductible" is the amount you pay in eligible expenses before your insurance begins to pay. Most plans offer a choice of deductibles, such as $250, $500, $1000, etc. Today, most plan deductibles are cumulative, i.e. one deductible per policy period (up to one year), rather than a separate deductible "per incident."
Here are 2 reasons why we normally recommend that you elect a higher deductible.
Reason #1. A higher deducible lowers your premium. For short-term plans, you save on average about 10% with the next higher deductible option.
Reason #2. In the event of a medical claim, insurance companies often request copies of prior medical records. This is to show that your claim is not the result of, nor related in any way to a "pre-existing" medical condition. In the event of a small claim, the need to provide prior medical records may not be worth your time and effort.
Remember that insurance is primarily for the big expenses, to keep you from going broke or possibly to save your life. We urge our missionary clients to consider saving money by electing the highest deductible with which you feel comfortable.
Your questions are invited.
Email: mail@travelhealthinsurance.pro,
or call 407-532-3383, or USA toll-free 1-888-227-9449
Travel Health & Medical Insurance for most International Travel Insurance Needs.