Visitor Insurance FAQ - Renewals, Cancellations, Specific Coverage

Nearly all insurance companies will refund a policy fully if it is cancelled before the start date. Some insurance plans will give a pro-rated refund if cancelled early without any claims being submitted minus a cancellation fee (usually $25). What we usually recommend is that if your visit is open ended or uncertain, you purchase the amount of time that you will need the policy for certain (if this is at least three months it will give you the most options for renewing the policy).

Then, you can renew a policy (usual fee is only $5) once you have the return dates set or keep renewing the policy for up to the term limit. The renewal policies are listed on our search engine if you choose up to four policies and click on "Compare Details" in the upper or lower left hand corners.

You can call us at +91-(877)-340-7910 or Email us and we will have the changes made to your policy and have a corrected policy sent to you. If the mistake is more than a typo and/or causes a change in cost of the policy, you may be asked to cancel the policy and apply for another.

If it is merely a typo, we can contact the company and make the change easily within one business day. If you need an immediate update, you can cancel the policy and repurchase it so you have correct documents immediately (for a visa appointment, for example).

Please send an email to chs.service@imglobal.com with the required specific travel dates.

Most policies are renewable, however some of them are not. Some require that the initial purchase be at least 3 months in order to renew it. We have provided this information under the 'Other benefits' column in our compare engine under "Compare Details" and some have it written in red letters beneath the "Premium" column of the initial table of results.

The answer to this question is depends on the customer’s health and specific needs. It is also dependent on the plan, as each plan is different from the other. There is no single specific answer to this question. However, here are some pros and cons of renewing a plan versus buying a new plan.

Pros of Renewing a plan
If there is a claim in initial policy period, any further eligible expenses for treatment of the same claim will be covered under renewed plan. This will however be treated as a pre-existing condition if you buy a new plan and will most likely not be covered in the new plan.

Cons of Renewing a plan
If there exists a claim in initial policy period, the amount spent on that claim which is deducted from the policy maximum, will not be reset to the original policy maximum in the renewed plan. In other words the available medical coverage is reduced in the renewed plan, however with the new plan there is a new policy maximum and hence the available medical coverage is greater.

In case of claim there will be no change in the premium when the plan is renewed. Any further follow up treatment with reference to earlier claim will receive coverage for the eligible expenses. For instance, if you broke your leg and have a claim for this incident during the initial policy period, further treatment for this broken leg will still be covered under the renewed plan.

You must take care of the traveler immediately in the best way possible. If you have previously researched which hospitals are in network, you can request to be taken there, but, really, the main thing is the health of the visitor.

If the emergency is covered by the insurance, all aspects of the treatment (ambulance, emergency room, surgery, etc) will be covered by the plan. Do not take your visitor to the emergency room if it can be dealt with at an Urgent Care facility, but clearly you must insure the well being of the visitor.

Many of us love the challenge and excitement of extreme sports when we are traveling, especially in the U.S. where there is a limitless abundance of recreational activities. But remember that injuries related to voluntary participation in high-risk activities and extreme sports are not usually covered under a generic traveler's insurance plan.

Some plans DO include some coverage in the price and for others, you can purchase an optional rider to include them for coverage. Such activities that may not be covered are: snow skiing, motorcycle riding, scuba diving, inline skating, mountaineering, bungee jumping, parasailing, etc. If these activities are a planned part of your trip, read all the exclusions carefully to see which are and are not covered.

Visitor travel insurance will not cover you for voluntary illegal acts or inappropriate behavior such as participation in riots and civil disobedience, or committing a felony. Some will not cover you for accidents or injuries sustained while intoxicated or on illegal drugs.

Yes. You can take your visitor to doctor in any hospital. Some providers may call the insurance company but some will need payment from you first after which you will scan the receipts and fill out the claim form and send it to the insurance company for reimbursement.

Usually, cosmetic surgery is not covered, however if reconstructive surgery is needed to restore function after an injury that is acquired while traveling, the insurance plan will most likely cover

You can typically renew your visitor insurance plan if you are planning to stay longer than anticipated, however, renewal must take place prior to the date that the current plan expires. In some cases, insurance companies may require a local doctor's report or may place restrictions on coverage for previously-existing conditions after the policy is renewed.

Generally speaking, if you had any conditions that occurred in the last period of your policy, they are considered pre-existing upon renewal and therefore not eligible for coverage under your plan. The use of new medication and exclusions related to maintenance of ongoing conditions are defined in each policy and differ from company to company; be sure to read your renewal policy carefully before renewing.

Yes. Each plan has a maximum policy limit, for instance, $100k or $500k. You will be responsible for paying out-of-pocket expenses after you have reached your maximum policy limit.

To request a cancellation for your policy, contact customer service, and they will work with the insurance company on your behalf. You may be asked for the following:

• Your policy number
• The date you want to cancel your policy
• Proof of your early departure, if applicable.