Here are some travel insurance tips for travelers with pre-existing conditions:
The following are the important factors to consider while purchasing visitors insurance for pre-existing conditions
Patriot America Plus from IMG offers coverage for acute onset of pre-existing conditions up to the age70 years for Non US citizens travelling to the USA. Another option for pre-existing conditions is Visitor's Protect offers temporary medical coverage with pre-existing conditions with deductible of $1,500 per injury or illness (plan deductible waived). The maximum limit through age 69 is $25,000, and ages 70 and older is $20,000. Visitor's Protect covers Limited pre-existing conditions for individuals traveling outside their country of residence and traveling to the US.
There are many international travelers who travel with medical ailments and it is important for them to be well informed about visitors insurance for pre-existing conditions. Most US travel insurance plans exclude coverage for pre-existing conditions. The definition of pre-existing conditions varies for different insurance providers as they have a ‘look back’ period and any medical ailments during this look back period would be considered pre-existing.
At American Visitor Insurance, we have plans which provide coverage for acute onset of a pre-existing condition, as well as full coverage for pre-existing conditions up to a clearly defined limit in the policy document. All of these details can be best understood by using our facility for comparing visitors insurance for pre-existing conditions and reviewing the policy brochures.
The visitor health insurance plans which cover pre-existing conditions clearly define what is a pre-existing condition, the look back period for pre-existing condition, whether the travel insurance coverage is limited to acute onset of pre-existing conditions or if it provides full coverage for pre-existing conditions and the coverage limit within the policy for pre-existing conditions. Any visitors travel health insurance coverage for pre-existing conditions will depend on all these factors.
Some plans boast they offer "full" coverage for pre-existing conditions, this can however be a little misleading. Firstly, any regular treatment or medication that is required by the condition is never covered. The main advantage to the IMG Visitor's Protect is that they cover sudden illness/injury regardless of whether it is pre-existing or not. The only difference is that a pre-existing condition will be covered with a higher deductible at a lower maximum than any other "new" illness or injury. However, coverage is not limited to an emergency or life-threatening situation. This plan offers temporary medical insurance with coverage for pre-existing conditions.
The "Acute Onset of a Pre-Existing Condition" is a sudden and unexpected outbreak or recurrence of a pre-existing medical condition which occurs without any advance warning either in the form of physician recommendations or symptoms and requires immediate care (within 24 hours of first symptoms).
A Pre-Existing Condition that is a chronic or congenital condition or that gradually becomes worse over time will not be considered acute onset. The acute onset coverage benefit does not include coverage for known, scheduled, required, or expected medical care, drugs or treatment existent or necessary prior to the effective date of coverage. An example of this might be someone who has a food allergy or bee allergy and is unknowingly exposed to their allergen and requires immediate medical attention.
Acute onset of a pre-existing condition can be defined as the sudden & unexpected occurrence of a pre-existing condition which requires in-patient, emergency hospitalization within 24 hours of exhibiting first symptoms. The main difference between acute onset & full pre-existing is that with Full Pre-Existing coverage, is that one is covered for all pre-existing conditions and associated medical costs and this includes follow up visits, hospitalizations and doctor’s visits, etc. The acute onset coverage will only cover the in-patient hospitalization expense.
A plan now offered by IMG called Visitor's Protect is temporary medical insurance with coverage for pre-existing conditions. The plan must be purchased for at least 90 days. Note that IMG plans is not available to green card holders.
Yes, Patriot America Plus from IMG offers coverage for acute onset of pre-existing conditions up to the age up to 70, Patriot Platinum also offers acute onset of pre-existing conditions up to the age up to 70 and Visitor Protect from IMG temporary medical insurance with coverage for pre-existing conditions up to 99 years. The plan must be purchased for at least 90 days.