I visited a web site and I don't see the same plan that is offered on your web site. Are those products really offered by that company? Have they stopped offering those products? Is it legitimate?
Some products are released with limits and not all insurance agents can sell them. They were designed with a very specific client market in mind (mostly Indians traveling to USA), therefore a small handful of insurance agents are able to offer these plans. Since we are the leading insurance broker in the United States for international medical insurance, we are able to offer these insurance plans to you.
You have many visitor medical insurance plans, how do I decide which one to purchase?
When it comes to health insurance for foreign visitors, we have different plans to suit your individual needs based on the amount of premium you are willing to pay up front, your age and also the amount of risk you want to share in case you need to use the insurance. In general, higher premium plans provider better coverage and you would end up spending less from your pocket when you get sick or injured. Please look at the side by side comparison of various plans that we offer.
How can I purchase visitor medical insurance?
Online: You can purchase medical insurance for visitors to the USA instantly online, if you are paying by credit card. It can be effective on the day you specify, or as early as the next day after your purchase. Purchasing online is simple, fast and hassle free. There is no other paperwork required neither is there any need for any membership into any organization. We are also a Better Business Bureau accredited business, to give you further peace of mind that we are a reliable company to work with. Our web site is also certified 'McAfee Secure' that assures that the data you enter is secure with us.
Phone: We can take your application over the phone.
Fax: You can fax us the application and if paying by check or money order, please fax us the check/money order. We will process your application as soon as we receive your fax and will send you confirmation of coverage by fax or email. You still need to send us the physical check or money order. However, the fulfillment kit will be mailed only after the check/money order is cashed.
Mail: You can send us the application along with payment by credit or check/money order enclosed with it. We will process your application as soon as we receive it. However, the fulfillment kit will be mailed only after the check/money order is cashed.
What information would you require if I want to purchase an insurance plan?
In most plans, you need the date of birth and the passport number of each insured person. In some plans, the passport number of only the primary applicant is required. In some plans, the passport number is optional. You do not need to send any paperwork or any medical reports to us or to the insurance company. You can complete the entire process completely online. Insurance can be effective as early as the next day after your purchase or any other future date you specify.
When should I buy visitor medical insurance?
Once your trip is confirmed, you should buy the insurance.
What should I select as the period of coverage for effective date & end date?
In most plans, insurance coverage can be purchased in increments of days, with many plans for as little as 5 days to better suit your needs. The effective date for insurance coverage can be the date of departure from home country, or it can be any other later date specified by the insured. If you would like to be covered for any medical emergencies (for covered expenses) during your journey, like if your relatives are coming from India to the U.S.*, it is advisable to put the start date one day in advance as the effective date is 12:01 AM wherever the insurance company is located (Eastern time, Pacific time etc.) for the day you specify.
I am currently not in the USA. Can I buy the insurance?
Certainly. You can buy insurance from anywhere in the world as long as you can make the payment in US dollars, preferably using a credit card.
Is there any age limit?
Most plans provide coverage up to age 69. There are some plans that provide coverage up to age 79 and there are a few plans that provide low coverage for age 80+.
Do I need to take any physical exam or do I need to submit my previous medical records?
No. Most of the plans that we offer can be purchased online. Certain long term plans require you to fill medical history questions online, and are subject to underwriting.
What kind of proof will I get when I purchase visitors health insurance?
When you purchase insurance online, you would receive an immediate confirmation of your insurance details by email. It is essentially your virtual id card. Please keep a copy of this email and it's also wise to print it for your records.
If you fax us the application, you can receive the confirmation by either fax or email generally within 1 business day.
In any case, generally by the next business day, a traditional insurance card will be sent by regular postal mail. This is your health insurance card and it will contain essential details such as your name, policy number, group number, insurance company's phone number to verify the benefits and the address in USA where the claims should be submitted. You will also receive the details of benefits paid under this plan as well as its limitations & exclusions.
Exceptions: Some companies, such as Trawick International, provide fulfillment documents by email only. In others, like WorldTrips, if you choose 'Email Only', you will receive the documents only by email, and if you choose 'Email and Hard Copy', you will receive the plan documents by email as well as by mail.
Can I buy the plan initially for one month to see how it works out and then later buy it again?
You certainly can do that, but it can be quite disadvantageous in most plans. Unless the plan is extendable, you may be subject to a new deductible, new co-insurance and new pre-existing conditions clauses. Please be very careful if you decide to do it.
You should buy a plan that is extendable.
I would like to buy the insurance for 6 months for my parents. Do I have to pay for all 6 months at once or can I pay monthly?
Buying and paying is one and the same thing. If you would like to buy the insurance for 6 months, you will have to pay for all 6 months up front at once.
Alternatively, if the plan is extendable, you can purchase it for one month and then extend it month by month. All the plans may not be extendable monthly. When you extend Visitors Care, there is a $5 extension fee and your deductible will start all over again. Diplomat America or Visit USA-Healthcare are not extendable at all.
Most extendable plans charge a $5 extension fee. However, the overall premium will be the same whether you buy all for 6 months or monthly.
Therefore, if you are not sure how long your parents will stay, provided the plan is extendable, we suggest that you purchase initially for 3 months and extend it accordingly.
Some plans are extendable. What is the advantage of it?
There is a big advantage of extension. In many plans, even when you extend, you will have to pay the deductible only once during the policy period and not every time you extend the policy. In some plans, where you have to pay 20% (or 10%) co-insurance for first $5,000, that would also be accumulative and you would have to pay just once instead of paying every time within the new policy period.
Why should I unnecessarily spend money on health insurance right now? Insurance plans offered on this web site provide instant coverage. In case any of my parents get sick, I can always get instant coverage at that time. Can I not?
When you don't have health insurance, you can not be calling from your cell phone on the way to the hospital emergency room and expect instant coverage. Such a condition would be considered a pre-existing and will not be covered.
You must have heard 'You can't be digging a well when you are thirsty'.
The application asks for AD&D beneficiary (or common carrier AD&D beneficiary)? Whose name should I put in there?
Definitions for Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) and Common Carrier AD&D.
Generally, it should be the name of a close relative, or someone that would be responsible if something very unfortunate occured. E.g., if you are buying for your parents, write your name and the relationship is son/daughter/child. If you are buying for your in-laws, write your husband's/wife's name and the relationship is son/daughter/child. However, you can write anyone's name there. Just by writing your name in the beneficiary field, you do not automatically become liable for the medical expenses in case the medical expenses are not covered by the insurance company because it was either pre-existing conditions, not a covered expense or expenses are beyond what is covered in the policy.
I am buying visitors insurance in the USA for my parents. My father's date of birth is December 13, 1960. Assuming I buying the insurance in the year 2020, do I have to select the age as 59 years or 60 years?
If your father already had a birthday this year, the age is based on the current year - birth year. Therefore, in 2020, it would be 2020 - 1960 = 60 years. If your father didn't have a birthday this year yet as of the effective date, the age is based on the current year - birth year - 1. Therefore, in 2020, it would be 2020 - 1960 - 1 = 59 years.
Assuming that your policy is going to be effective on September 5, 2020, the age would be 2020 - 1960 - 1 = 59 years. If the policy were to be effective on December 24, 2020, the age would be 2020 - 1960 = 60 years.
While choosing the age, do I have to choose the completed number of years or the running year? E.g., my father's current age is 59 years and 10 months. Do I have to choose 59 years or 60 years?
You have to choose the completed number of years. Therefore, in your case, your father is 59 years old and you should choose the age accordingly.
My mother does not have a last name. She has only one name. However, the application asks for both first and last name. How do I fill the application?
Complete the application as per the passport. If the passport has only the first name (given name), enter that as the first name and enter last name as LNU (Last Name Unknown.) Similarly, if the passport has only the last name (surname), enter that as the last name and enter first name as FNU (First Name Unknown).
That is not how the visa stamp is, but the insurance companies ask for a copy of the passport at the time of claim, and not the visa stamp.
My father's first name has 2 parts; however, he does not have a last name and the application asks for both first and last name. How do I fill in the application?
Some examples of this situation are Chaman Lal, Sunder Rao, Harpreet Singh (or for females, Rama Devi, Prem Kumari etc.)
In such situations, you can put the first word in the name as the first name and second word in the name as the last name. Anyway, when the insurance card is printed, both names will be listed one after another in the same line, and the card does not specify which one is the first name and which one is the last name.
E.g., Sunder as first name and Rao as last name, even if Rao is not actually your last name. e.g., Rama as first name and Devi as last name.
Alternatively, you can put the entire name as the first name and put LNU as the last name. LNU stands for Last Name Unknown.
My father has a middle name as well in addition to first and last name. However, the application does not ask for it. How do I fill the application?
Some examples of this situation are Ram Kumar Sharma, Suresh Ramaniklal Patel, Srinivas Sunder Krishnamurthy etc.
In such situations, you can put the first and middle name as the first name (such as Ram Kumar), and the last name as the last name (such as Sharma). Anyway, when the insurance card is printed, all the names will be listed one after another in the same line.
Or you can choose to ignore the middle name.
If I am a U.S. citizen and also a citizen of another country (dual citizenship), while purchasing any of the insurance plans, can I use any of the citizenship?
No, for these insurance purposes, if you are a U.S. citizen, you must use your U.S. citizenship even if you are additionally a citizen of another country to review insurance plans. You can't use your other citizenship to try to circumvent the online application if you are otherwise not eligible to purchase a plan.
