Medical emergency without US visitor insurance

Common US Healthcare Terms of travel insurance

Deductible is the amount that insured travelers need to pay for coverage before the travel insurance actually starts to pay for the healthcare services along with the co-pay or coinsurance. Travelers will need to pay the medical fees up to the amount of deductible and along with coinsurance and co-pay.

For example if the deductible amount is $1,500 then travelers need to pay up to $1,500, it is only after this amount is paid that the insurance plan stays paying. The Deductible is introduced to prevent frivolous claims.

Coinsurance is similar to co-pay in domestic US health insurance. Here the insured needs to pay a percentage of the total cost of the medical fee instead of paying a fixed amount. If you have 10% of coinsurance that the insured will have to pay 10% of the total cost of the bill. Co-insurance is paid on top of the Deductible. Typical Co-insurance ranges from 10% to 20%. The higher the co-insurance, the lower will be the cost of travel insurance.

Travelers can review the insurance glossary for travel to the USA to understand other terms and also check our travel insurance guide for easy understanding.

Riders – Riders are additional benefits that a traveler can purchase within the insurance policy. These are benefits that are usually not covered under the standard insurance policy. Depending on the need of the traveler, customers can add rider benefits at additional cost while buying the policy.

Copay or copayment is the fixed amount that the insured will have to pay for the medical service availed. The amounts would usually differ depending on the service availed.

Network and Out of Network - In US most hospitals have PPO networks. In the PPO network there are selected doctors and hospitals that have a working agreement with the insurance providers who charge the insurance provider directly and work out cheaper for the travelers. If the insurance provider is in the network they will provide a list of in network facilities so that the insured finds it easy to use the provider who can offer services.

Out of network insurance is literally when the customer goes to a healthcare facility outside of the covered network provider. In this situation, the insured will have to pay for the treatment themselves and then file a claim, this process might be confusing and sometimes out of network doctors and hospitals are more expensive and may even not be covered.

Pre-existing Conditions Coverage

Pre-existing condition is a medical ailment that existed before the start of the travel insurance cover. Acute onset of a pre-existing condition is a sudden relapse of the pre-existing condition without advance warning which requires medical attention within 24 hours.

Travelers with pre-existing conditions always find it hard to buy travel health insurance. There are various conditions that are considered as pre- existing diseases but some of common ailments in this category are Asthma, heart related issues, high blood pressure, kidney disease, cancer, diabetes etc. Typically all insurance providers have their terms and conditions for the pre-existing condition coverage provided. Travelers can buy a travel insurance policy without a medical check, however most insurance providers only provide coverage for acute onset of pre-existing conditions. With the pre-existing condition there is a "look back" period of 60-180 days to determine the claim. Most insurance providers offer health insurance coverage for acute onset of pre-existing conditions with fixed or limited coverage

If any of the travelers has one of these conditions it’s very important for them to buy a policy that includes the illnesses in the coverage and to be aware of the terms of pre-existing condition coverage.

INF is one of the few companies which offers USA travel insurance plans for visitors to the US with full coverage for pre-existing ailments. INF offers best travel insurance for pre existing medical conditions with full Pre-Existing conditions coverage. This means INF visitors insurance with pre-existing conditions coverage insures any in-patient, out-patient, urgent care, specialist, doctor visits, anything related to pre-existing conditions. INF insurance will cover any pre-existing conditions ranging from blood pressure, diabetes, to kidney complications and arthritis. All of these issues are covered by the INF Premier insurance and INF Elite Plan. Compare the best travel insurance for pre existing conditions.

Affordable insurance for visitors above 70 years of age

Senior Citizens who are 70 years of age are vulnerable to illness and are at high risk for travel sickness and injuries. While most insurance providers refuse or severely reduce coverage for travelers who are 70 years, there are a US insurance providers who insure older traveler's. IMG in their Patriot America Plus Insurance offers coverage for up to $50k - $M and World Trips in their Atlas America Insurance offers $50k - $2M coverage.

State Limitations on Travel Insurance

The US there are no federal policies that set the rules for the whole country, however different state have specific rules regarding travel insurance. There are few states with restricted rules like in Colorado Maryland, New York, South Dakota and Washington. These states prevent its residents and individuals with mailing address in these states from buying insurance plans from some companies. Travelers can check insurance restrictions of their insurance providers while buying the insurance.

Pre-approvals for medical treatment and Hospital Visits

Pre-approval commonly known as pre-authorization is a sanction provided by the insurance provider to obtain the medical treatment and hospital visits. The healthcare service workers like network providers, hospitals or doctor’s offices often choose to inform the insurance provider and get a pre-approval. In a case where the insured is using an out-network provider the insured will need to notify the insurance provider to get pre approval or pay and then apply for a reimbursement.

In situations like an admission at the hospital for overnight stay, Major Surgery, Prescription of expensive drugs, Medical appointment to a behavioural, physical, speech or occupational therapist for treatment all of this would typically require pre-approvals from the insurance provider.

Resourceful insurance for travellers benefits information to look out for while buying travel Insurance

Travelers can check if it’s covered while buying the insurance

• Acute onset of Pre-existing conditions, look back period
• Dental care for dental emergencies
• Skin care and dermatological problems
• Vision care except for treating eye injuries
• Preventative or routine health care coverage
• Injuries and illness due to terrorism or war
• Childbirth, pregnancy, and maternity
• Injury from high-risk sports
• Mental health care
• Injuries related to drugs and alcohol

Renewability and Deductible in an extended /renewed Travel insurance

Not all plans are renewable, so check on the renewability of the travel insurance plan. Most travel insurance plans can be extended based on the traveler’s requirement. When the policy is extended, the deductible is usually reset.

Multi-trip travel insurance

Regular or frequent travelers visiting the US can buy the annual multi-trip travel insurance plan. Here the traveler is insured for a whole year from the start of the plan, but each trip is limited to a certain length of stay outside the home country and are required to have a domestic health insurance.