International Health Plans
Get Beyond the Spin and Choose the Policy You Need
By Carla Valentine
The main reason to buy an international health insurance policy is peace of mind. But sometimes you may have to buy insurance—for visa purposes or because your present company or HMO won’t cover you abroad. How do you can find the policy that offers you the right coverage to fit your budget and level of risk?
When I began my search in July 2002 for international health insurance for a 34-year-old single female I found that prices ranged from $274 for plans without U.S. coverage to $1,500 per year for comprehensive, worldwide plans.
The quote you receive will depend on your age, gender, health, length of stay, overall amount of coverage and deductible chosen, and whether you want "home country" coverage. To be eligible for most international health plans you must already be living outside the U.S. or plan to leave the U.S. within 30 days of your policy start date.
While the insurance company is checking you out, make sure you check who the underwriter of your policy is and if he or she has a good rating for payment of claims. Ratings are given by independent evaluators: A.M. Best or Standard & Poor’s.
Select Silver. In June 2002, Allnation of Deleware (www.allnation.com) introduced the Select Silver plan, with premiums that are about 25 percent less than its more comprehensive Classic Gold plan. The benefit limit for Select Silver is $1 million over your lifetime as opposed to $5 million under the Classic Gold plan. You pay a higher amount of co-insurance (the amount you pay after the deductible is met) as well. Neither plan offers repatriation of mortal remains in the case of your death. (For this coverage, ask about supplemental policies, such as Liaison Traveler from the Insurance Company of Pennsylvania, which offers 6-month and one-year "evac/repat" plans starting at $89.)
The cost of Select Silver is $1,116 for a woman age 35, with a $5,000 deductible ($948 for men) compared to $1,488 (and $1,260) under Classic Gold with a $4,000 deductible. Underwriter: The Barbados Mutual Life Assurance Society (rated "A" by A.M. Best).
International Citizens Series (www.mnui.com). Lloyd's of London (rated A- by A.M. Best) is the underwriter of a new series of plans offered by MultiNational Underwriters, Inc. of Indianapolis, Indiana. Called the International Citizen Series, it offers the Platinum plan with coverage in the U.S. and Canada and the Premier and Risk Share plans with worldwide coverage except for the U.S. and Canada.
Besides varying levels of coverage—from $250,000 under the Risk Share up to $5 million under the Platinum—the other areas of difference in the plans are for pre-existing conditions and extras such as air ambulance, emergency reunion, and repatriation of remains. The Risk Share plan is so called because insurers must pay 50 percent of the next $10,000 in medical expenses after the deductible is met. It also excludes all illnesses from coverage for the first three months.
The cost is $1,410 for Platinum for a woman age 35; $622 for Premier (both with a $2,500 deductible, the highest offered) or $274 for Risk Share (with a $5,000 deductible).
Comprehensive Coverage
Examples of established plans that offer more comprehensive coverage at about the same price:
IHI, International Health Insurance (www.ihi.dk). Based in Denmark, IHI has offered international medical insurance for more than 25 years. Unlike U.S.-based plans, IHI imposes no 6-month home country limit; you can receive treatment in the U.S. for as long as you like and even retain your policy once you return home.
Like other international policies, you must be living abroad or in the process of moving overseas and give a foreign residential address at the time of enrollment. But once enrolled you are guaranteed lifetime renewability, regardless of where you live. This is truly portable healthcare.
The company's Premier 1 Diamond plan, its most comprehensive, offers $1.5 million in coverage per year (note: not lifetime, as in other plans); its Premier 1 Gold plan provides $1 million in coverage per year.
Both plans offer free choice of doctors and hospitals worldwide and no need for precertification (except in the case of air ambulance and other benefits, such as rehabilitation and hospice care). Both policies are covered for air ambulance service, but only the Diamond plan offers repatriation of mortal remains. Also, co-insurance applies for coverage in the U.S. and Canada. Cost: $1,290, Diamond; $1,114 Gold for a person age 30-39 with a $5,000 deductible. (Both plans provide free health insurance for up to two children under age 10 and children born into the policy.)
Global Medical Insurance, offered by International Medical Group (IMG, www.imglobal.com) of Indianapolis, Indiana, offers $5 million in lifetime benefits. It also offers free coverage for the first two children age 14 days to 9 years if both parents are insured under the plan. Air ambulance (but no repatriation) is included. It is renewable annually. Cost: $1,135 for women, $670 for men, age 35-39, with a $5,000 deductible. Underwritten by Sirius International, rated A, "excellent" by A.M. Best.
Travel Policies with Medical Benefits
Less comprehensive but very economical, these travel/health policies offer medical benefits in the case of accident or sickness, air ambulance service, emergency reunion, and repatriation. However, home country coverage is limited and there is no coverage for pre-existing conditions. As such, they are considered "guaranteed issue" policies, open to anyone.
You can choose from a $500,000 or $1 million limit, with deductibles from $100 to $2,500. Besides the medical benefits, the plans include trip cancellation and lost luggage insurance and accidental death and dismemberment coverage.
Ex-Patriot Plus, offered by IMG, is available for a minimum of six months and renewable for up to two years. It offers "end-of-trip home country coverage," which allows you to buy one month of additional coverage upon your return home. Cost: $684 ($500,000 limit) or $756 ($1million limit) for a person age 30-39 with a $250 deductible. The cost decreases at higher deductibles. If you are traveling for six months or more you get a 10 percent discount. An alternative plan is available for those traveling 15 days to one year.
Atlas Extra, offered by Multinational Underwriters, provides up to 30 days of home-country coverage. Coverage is open to anyone traveling six months or more. For shorter terms, ask about the Atlas International plan. Cost: $504 ($500,000 limit) or $540 ($1 million limit) for a person age 30-39 with a $2,500 deductible.
It takes a lot of time and deciphering of fine print to compare health plans and get beyond the spin of marketing brochures. But by researching your options thoroughly, you can find the right plan for you.
For More Info
For more information on AllNation, International Citizen Series, IHI, or the Atlas Extra plans contact ASA, Inc. in Phoenix, Arizona at www.asaincor.com or 888-ASA-8288.
For more information on Global Medical Insurance (IMG), Ex-Patriot Plus, or Liaison Traveler plans contact Champion Insurance Advantage, Ltd., Bel Air, Maryland at www.championins.com or 800-643-4675.
Questions to Ask About Your International Health Plan
1. What is the deductible and how is it paid? What is the co-insurance or out-of-pocket expense limit?
2. What is the policy limit? Is it annual or lifetime?
3. Does the policy cover emergency evacuation (air ambulance) and/or repatriation of mortal remains?
4. Does it have home country coverage? Are there any restrictions on doctors and hospitals at home? Is co-insurance applied for care in the U.S. and Canada?
5. Are pre-existing conditions covered? What are the medical exemptions to the policy?
6. Is pre-certification necessary? What is the penalty for not pre-certifying?
7. Who is the underwriter of the policy? What is their rating?
CARLA VALENTINE is a Massachusetts native and former newspaper editor. She is currently living and teaching English in Venice, Italy.
Expatriate Health Insurance
BPB Associates offers their advice and brokerage services for medical and travel insurance.
Einternational Health is fine source for on-line information and purchase of affordable short to long term travel medical insurance for US and Non-US citizens traveling, studying or working worldwide.
Expatriate health insurance is for expats living anywhere in the world. Customized medical insurance plans and quotations available.
Expat Financial offers international health insurance and global life, travel and disability insurance to expatriates, their employers and local nationals around the world.
Global Travel Insurance provides every conceivable type of insurance covering your trip abroad.
Globalsurance is an independent International medical, health insurance and travel insurance advisor. We offer free advice and quotations to expatriates of any nationality worldwide.
Global Health Insurance provides short-term or long-term major medical coverage, accident coverage, life insurance, or coverage with a "sports" rider. Many domestic plans have limited overseas benefits. Free on-line quote and on-line application submission. or 888-315-3393 Group rates available.
Healthcare International is an English company that provides international health insurance and travel insurance for expats and world travellers.
Highway to Health provides list of doctors overseas, and other health tips for the traveler.
Insure and Travel creates custom cheap insurance policies for you.
International SOS is an international membership organization that provides short- and long-term travelers’ health insurance and country guides with specific health, vaccination and safety information; ISOS specializes in travel health services, medical assistance, hospital referrals and worldwide emergency assistance and evacuations for its corporate and individual members. U.S. Office: International SOS Assistance, Inc., 3600 Horizon Blvd., Ste. 300, Trevose, PA 19053; 215-942-8000 or 800-523-8930
Medibroker is a fully independent international medical, health and travel insurance broker offering a free quote service with advice, globally across the Internet. Service is available to people of any nationality, anywhere, living or working in another country not shown on their passports (expatriates). Healthcare insurance cover is offered for Europe, Rest of World or full worldwide including USA and Canada.
Travel Health 101 is a step-by-step guide to understanding travel health insurance plans.
Worldwide Insurance Solutions provides medical coverage that goes where you go. They offer a full portfolio of international medical insurance issued as either short or long term coverages to either individuals/families or groups. These are affordable, comprehensive worldwide policies.
