Insurance for Visitors for Visitors to USA
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Visitor Insurance (or travel medical insurance) is a type of short-term health insurance plan which covers new injury or illness. INF offers visitor medical insurance which also covers pre-existing conditions. Visitor medical insurance is designed to cover sudden and unexpected medical expense which can arise during travel.
A study of INF claims data shows that most new sicknesses happen within the first 2 weeks of travel when visiting the United States. Visitors to USA should be aware of the stress international travel places on the body. The journey to the US itself is tiring. You are constantly moving, sleeping in an uncomfortable position, eating reheated food at 30,000 feet in the air, breathing recycled air for hours on end, and using unsanitary bathrooms during your flight. Then, once you land in the US- you have to adjust to the air, water, food, climate- all the stress on the body makes easy for a virus or disease to attack. The stress taken on the body is amplified when your visitor has a pre-existing condition. For example, we know that if a visitor to USA has high blood pressure or diabetes, there is a higher chance they will contract a UTI or Kidney infection. |
Listen to Raghu's experience with INF
These illnesses may require visits to medical facilities and end up costing you thousands of dollars.
Most insurance companies will not cover these issues, claiming they are pre-existing conditions. INF provides visitor health insurance that covers any pre-existing condition. When your parents are visiting USA, the last thing you want to worry about is if they get sick. With INF- get the coverage you want & the peace of mind you need. |
US Visitor Medical Insurance FAQ
Do I need Insurance for Visitors to apply for a Visitor Visa?Currently, the Trump Administration proclaimed all new immigrant visa applicants are required to present health insurance during their visa interview. Although this does not extend to visitor visa holders, yet, there have been reports recently of immigration officers asking visitors for proof of insurance.
If you want to be on the safe side- you should enroll your visiting parents in a visitor medical insurance plan. 
Visitors to USA should enroll in Insurance for Visitors
Are Insurance for Visitors Plans Renewable?Yes. INF Insurance for Visitors plans are renewable up to 360 days at one time. You should never have an issue renewing a policy at INF.
We give 6 notifications (email, text, phone call) 1 week & 1 day before your policy lapses. Renewal can be done online or over the phone. How are pre-existing conditions determined by Insurance for Visitors?Pre-Existing conditions are determined by the attending physician. The doctor will put their observation of the patient, lab results, and patient history into something called a "Clinical Note."
In the clinical note, the doctor will tell the insurance company if your mom or dad has a pre-existing condition. INF does not make any decision on whether your parents have a pre-existing condition or not. 
Diabetes is a common issue with older visitors to USA
Are heart attacks, strokes, or diabetic related issues covered by Insurance for Visitors?Yes. INF Elite & Premier Plan will pay benefits for heart attacks & strokes, as well as any complication caused by diabetes. When you buy a "full pre-existing plan," you get the peace of mind knowing you are covered no matter what.
Unlike acute onset plans, which have language that prevents any claims from being paid, full pre-existing plans will always pay claims related to pre-existing issues, as per the policy. My parents are only staying for 1 month, should I go with a cheap Insurance for Visitors plan?Cheap Insurance for Visitors for visiting parents is exactly what it sounds like: cheap. Do you buy cheap running shoes? Do you buy a cheap wallet? You should be aware that cheap is not better- cheap items break and cheap insurance does not cover.
There are plans called Fixed Benefit Plans, which pay a fixed amount for claims based on a schedule of benefits. Fixed benefit plans cost as little as $28 per month- and you may get a $2,000 claim paid. So- you got your money's worth, right? Wrong. If you have a $10,000 bill or $100,000 bill - these plans will still only pay $2,000. You are talking a lot of risk by enrolling in a cheap Insurance for Visitors plan for your visiting parents. |
How do I use a Insurance for Visitors plan?When making an appointment, you should say, "I have a short-term health insurance plan which uses the First Health / Multiplan PPO network. I found your contact in the provider directory. Do you accept plans which work with this network?"
Since visitors medical insurance is a short term health plan- you can't just go into a clinic and say, "I have an INF insurance, do you accept INF?" Most clinics will only recognize domestic health care plans like Aetna or Blue Cross. INF uses the First Health & Multiplan PPO network - which enables your visitors to access a wide variety of healthcare providers. There are added benefits if you go to an in-network provider: 1) INF Plans will be accepted, 2) You can access discounted medical rates, 3) The provider will bill INF directly- so you don't have to file for reimbursement. Can I purchase Insurance for Visitors after my parents arrive in USA? Yes. You can enroll your parents in an INF Plan after your parents arrive in the United States. This is not preferred however- as you must fill out additional paperwork if your visitor is already in the USA. Coverage will start as soon as the next day for anyone who is already in the USA
Make sure to enroll in a Full Pre-Existing Coverage Plan
Do Insurance for Visitors plans cover travel to the USA?Yes. INF plans cover travel to and from USA, Canada, and all of North America. INF Plans coverage start when your mom and dad leave their home on their way to the airport.
INF plans will cover accidents in the home country. INF Insurance for Visitors will cover any new sickness, accident, and pre-existing condition during their flight to the USA. This includes stop overs on their journey to the US. How long does it take for my Insurance for Visitors claim to be processed?Most Insurance for Visitors claims processed by INF take about 6 weeks to process. Although INF plans use direct billing, we still ask for you to file our simple online claim form. By doing this, it helps the claims process go faster and allows us to pay claims faster.
Claims are paid directly to the healthcare provider, so you do not have to worry about paying them for the full amount and waiting for a credit or anything like that. My parent recently had a heart attack and changed their medication. Are they covered by Insurance for Visitors?Yes. INF Plans do not care whether or not your visiting parents have had any medical event prior to the effective date. Nor do INF plans care if your visiting parent had a change in medication.
There is no language in the INF Elite policy which can prevent a pre-existing claim from being paid due to changes in medication. Your visitor insurance coverage remains full and in-tact. Is bypass heart surgery considered a pre-existing condition? Does acute onset coverage qualify for such conditions?Yes. A bypass heart surgery is considered a pre-existing condition. By definition, pre-existing conditions are any medical condition you are 1) Taking medication for, 2) have sought doctor consultation for in past, 3) knowing or unknowingly having said condition.
Complications from a bypass surgery are not covered by any acute onset plan. However. complications from a bypass surgery are covered by INF Elite Full Pre-Existing Insurance for Visitors. Only INF Elite will cover any complications which may arise from any prior heart surgery. |