My husband and I had planned a two week vacation in France for the summer. As Indian citizens we needed to provide the French Consulate with proof of medical coverage before they issued us the Schenghen Visa. The medical insurance policy had to cover hospitalization and it had to have an evacuation and repatriation benefit attached. I realized all this at the very last moment. Our appointment with the French consulate was in 24 hours and I had no medical coverage.
Luckily for me I was able to find this website American Visitor Insurance , which provided me with a really easy to use search engine that helped me find three different policies that fit both my budget and the Schenghen visa requirements. The cost of the plan was dependent on the traveler’s age, the maximum coverage requested, the deductible selected and the type of coverage (Fixed versus Comprehensive). There were options with various maximum coverage limits for medical expenses ranging from $25,000 up to $1,000,000. For the Schenghen visa we had to buy a minimum of $50,000.

The site has a 24-hour customer care line so I was able to speak to someone after work. And because I made my purchase online I was able to receive all of the policy documents via email, including a visa letter that outlined all the policy details. I printed them all out and carried them with me to the consulate for my appointment the next day.

My parents who live in India are planning a trip to the US later this year. They are both in good health with no problems but I still want a medical policy that will cover them in case of an emergency or even if they have a cold or cough. Because they are older I am aware that a mild problem can become complicated if not treated immediately. I searched the internet and found this website: American visitor insuance
The website provided me with a really easy to use search engine that helped me find many different policies that fit both my requirements and my budget. Typically the plan cost (or premium) will depend on the traveler’s age, the maximum coverage requested, the deductible selected and the type of coverage (Fixed versus Comprehensive). There are many plans with various maximum coverage limits for medical expenses ranging from $25,000 to $1,000,000 and deductibles ranging from $0 to $2500. And the best part is you can buy these policies online with the help of a well qualified insurance agent. The agent was able to answer all the questions I had about co-insurance, deductibles, etc. I was very confused about what to buy because my parents arrive on the same date but leave separately. My mother intends to stay an additional month. The agent advised me to buy separate policies for my parents as it would be much simpler for me to track payments, claims, etc.

There are mainly two types of visitors insurance plans available for visitors traveling overseas for a short time. The two types are (a) Fixed benefits or scheduled benefits plan and (b) Comprehensive plans. These plans are offered by reputed insurers, and quite often a single insurer will offer both types of plans, thus giving the customer a wider choice of plans. The main differences between the two types of insurance are

(a) Price
The fixed benefits plans are significantly cheaper than the comprehensive plans. The price difference will depend on the age of the travelers. While the difference in price will be less for younger travelers, the price variation is significant for older travelers. After the age of 50, the fixed benefits plans are usually about half the price of comprehensive plans.

(b) Coverage
The fixed benefits plans have very clearly defined coverages for different ailments. Irrespective of the maximum medical coverage of the fixed benefits plan, this plan will have specific sub-limits within the maximum coverage. For example you can purchase a fixed benefits plan for $50,000/- , with a limit of $3000/- for surgery. Should the traveler have a surgery while insured, and the surgery bill is $10,000/-, the traveler will be responsible for payments greater than the $3000/- limit of the plan. As opposed to this, in a comprehensive plan, the entire surgery bill will be covered after paying the co-insurance component.

In brief, the fixed benefits plans are more affordable when compared to comprehensive plans, however the coverages are also significantly different. Comprehensive plans are definitely recommended for younger travelers given that the price difference is not that significant to justify the lesser coverage. For older travelers, the customer has to make a decision between the lower priced plan with limited coverage with a more expensive plan but with greater coverage.

My mother – a citizen of India was to travel to Sweden for a wedding. In order to get a Schenghen Visa (which is a requirement) she needed to show the Swedish Embassy proof of medical insurance. She needed to show that she was covered by an insurance policy with a policy maximum of $50,000 for medical and hospitalization benefits, $7,500 for repatriation and $10,000 for evacuation. I assumed it would be easy enough to find, but then I realized that most policies limit the maximum coverage amount for people over 80. My mother is 89.

I was extremely concerned. Then as I searched the internet and found this website: US Visitor Insurance.

The website provided me with a phone really easy to use search engine that helped me find several policies that fit both my requirements and my budget. I was even able to call and speak to a customer care representative who guided me through the actual purchase of the policy. I was able to do it online while sitting in my office in San Jose and e-mail the plan documents to my mother in India. The plan I purchased from American Visitor Insurance was called Diplomat International – a plan that is Schenghen visa approved. This was the simplest transaction I ever made.

Do you spend many months away from your home country? Are you tired of changing medical insurance plans depending upon where you are and for how long you will be there? There are global medical insurance plans that will work for you wherever you may be. One plan, one premium, and after only one year, these plans offer excellent coverage for maternity, wellness visits, and other pre-existing conditions. You will have to answer medical questions and the policy will have to pass through the underwriting process which may take up to a week, but automatic monthly, semi-annual, or annual payments and the peace of mind may well be worth it. Chat with one of our friendly agents about your needs at 1-877-340-7910 or check out our search engine to see how much it may cost for a year of global medical coverage at our Global expatriate insurance channel.

If you are visiting or transiting through any of the 24 schengen states (Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Austria, Belgium, Greece, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Czech republic, Poland, Norway …), you will need to get the Schenge visa. The documents that you need for the Schengen visa are -

(1) A valid passport.
(2) Two completed applications
(3) Visa fees (details of fees will be provided by concerned consulate)
(4) Copy of travel itinerary with confirmed reservation
(5) Proof of financial support (proof of income, bank statements, sponsorship letter from family or friend..)
(6) Proof of insurance coverage while in the Schengen states.

You can get details and purchase Insurance to satisfy Schengen states requirement at our Schengen insurance compare engine .

Before you embark on your journey to America be fully informed about visitor’s insurance so that you have a stress-free journey

Purchasing Insurance. The quickest and easiest way to purchase Visitor’s insurance is on the internet, however do ensure that you have done your research and have compared plans before purchasing. Every insurance policy is different, read the details and the fine print. If you are expecting visitors from overseas, it is completely legal and quite the norm to purchase visitor’s insurance for them in their absence. Remember that while you can purchase visitor’s insurance during a trip, it is recommended that you purchase it prior to the actual start of the journey.

Long term versus Short- term Coverage. Visitor’s insurance can be bought to cover short periods of just a few days up to longer durations of years. You can also purchase visitor’s insurance for just a part of a trip, but it is not recommended to do so as accidents and emergencies are generally unplanned and can occur at any point during the travel. It is important to assess what works best for you as you want to receive the appropriate amount of coverage that is most cost-effective.

When you have visitors coming to America or Canada, it is strongly recommended that you purchase visitor medical insurance. Health care costs are very high in these countries and you do not want to visit a hospital here without medical insurance. Visitor medical insurance are offered by different companies. We have developed a facility where you can compare visitor medical insurance plans of the different insurers based on the price (premiums), as well as coverage details, provider network, rating of companies …

Always be aware of potentially hazardous weather conditions and other crises/pandemics that may impact your travel plans. The Atlantic hurricane season is coming up (June through November) and this can effect travel plans in numerous ways from airline cancellation to destroyed luggage to devastation of destination. While insurance is always recommended, this is a particularly important time to have visitor’s insurance if you are planning to travel to or through the Atlantic.

Be organized and prepared. Bring copies of your insurance card in case it gets lost or stolen. Do not discard any receipts or paper work relating to your visitors insurance. If you have a renewal plan, be sure to renew the insurance policy on time.

There are some factors that you should consider while purchasing visitor insurance

Comprehensive plans and Fixed Coverage plans.
A comprehensive plan is more expensive when compared to fixed benefit plans, however there is no limit on benefits based upon the type of medical expense. Benefits for covered medical expenses go all the way up to the plan maximum (less deductible and co-insurance). Typically for all covered medical expenses during the plan period the insured pays the deductible plus 20% of the first $5,000; and then the plan pays 100% of the eligible medical expenses up to the plan maximum. However with a fixed plan, there is a lower premium, but the insurance company has limits on specific medical expensese and only pays a pre-determined amount for each particular medical expense offered in the plan. Comprehensive plans also include travel-related coverage for things such as trip cancellations or loss of baggage, while fixed plans do not.

Cancellation refunds and renewal options.
Some insurance plans may offer refunds for cancellations on a pro-rate basis, while others do not. If you are unsure of the duration of ones stay, it is prudent to purchase a plan with a renewal policy.

Coverage limitations.
Try not to travel under conditions of injury or illness and if you have to, ensure that you take the necessary medications. Be aware that medical expenses related to health problems acquired before the start of your journey will not be covered by your traveler’s insurance. Be safe and protect yourself. Most U.S. visitor’s health insurance plans do not cover pregnancy or costs relating to sexually transmitted diseases. U.S.
visitor’s insurance also does not cover services relating to participation in illegal acts, riots or civil disobedience.