Internet, the most convenient and popular tool to research and make online purchase. While it provides  the convenience to do things online with simple clicks, it can be tricky for certain line of products/service like insurance. Following guidelines can be helpful for Visitors Insurance buyers.

- Do not completely believe on what you read on the internet or forums. Many post are by the Agent/brokers themselves and posting with different names and praising themselves.
Needless to say, internet/online postings can be deceiving. Stories, Feedback, testimonials are fabricated and are selectively displayed on agents websites. You will not see any negative feedback about any product they sell or represent, but see many negative feedback about others.

- No insurance product is bad, Whether it is IndiaHealth network( Dr Rao), or ICICI or Sevencorners , HCC , they all have great products and are good companies.
What is important for you as a buyer is the service you receive from the agent( source from where you buy insurance) , their qualification and level of knowledge and commitment of doing business ethically.

As a buyer it’s your responsibility to understand and get educated yourself on what is covered and what is not covered. Do not get fooled by false sales postings on the net.
Focus on your need, what kind of policy you want, how much coverage is good for you, what kind of risk you want to be covered, and how much it cost you. There are several policies with similar coverage and different price tag, it is wise to compare them for benefits and pick the one you find most suitable for your need.

- Where to buy it from: If you search for the term visitors insurance, you will find ocean of websites, offering same products, and same price.  What’s the reality: There are limited insurance Plan administrators, all the websites represents them are agents.
Whom to trust ? : Make the conscious decision based on what is your own feeling about the source you select to buy. Follow if you have any feedback from close friends, or reliable recommendations.

Do your home work: It can be difficult to understand the complex terminologies of insurance policy, do not hesitate to call the agent and clarify them. Read yourself and get clarifications. Do not make assumptions.

Think practically: No matter which insurance company it is, the claims department always works on one principle to: Take every precaution, to not to pay extra or ineligible claims, and hence it requires supporting documents, evidence etc and can be a frustrating process sometimes. And it’s perfectly ok.  As a buyer, do your part; know your rights and rest assured, if the claim is legitimate it should be paid.

If you need any help or have question write to me at rajeev@VisitorsCoverage.com.

Happy researching… !

Let’s get familiar with the term and process known as “Pre-certification” to avoid any claim related issues. While you may not need pre-certification for each and every medical service you take, it is important to understand when you should. Let’s understand what is pre-certification and when is it required for visitors and travel medical insurance?

What is Pre-Certification/Authorization: It is the process of obtaining prior authorization from the insurance company for major medical services like planned surgery, hospitalization, or other complicated expensive procedures. It is not necessary to get pre-certified for less complicated medical services like general doctor’s consultations.

When Do We Need Pre-Certification: Pre-certification is usually required for any major medical service necessary for planned hospitalization, surgery, or other complicated medical procedures. Failure to obtain pre-certification often results in a financial penalty.  Pre-Certification is not required for emergency hospitalization. However in such cases, you would need to contact the insurance company within a reasonable time frame.

Why Get Pre-Certified: Pre-certification is the most common administrative practice in the insurance industry. It allows the insurance company to:

1.    Determine whether the required service is covered in your policy or not.
2.    Evaluate if specific medical services such as hospitalization, are appropriate treatment for a patient, thus controlling healthcare costs and limit unnecessary medical procedures.
3.    Assist you in finding hospitals and doctors that can perform such procedures, and help in negotiating the rates.

It is recommended that you proactively inform the insurance company in case of any in-patient medical service or any major medical situation.

It is heart-breaking to imagine the death of a loved one when they are visiting you in USA. Not only would this be emotionally devastating, it would be financially disastrous. The cost of taking the mortal body of a person back to the home country can be extremely expensive. So for all practical purposes, it is a good idea to purchase a plan that covers the ‘Return of Mortal Remains’.

How does having insurance help?

If your policy has coverage for Return of Mortal Remains/Repatriation, it will pay for the expenses as per the policy. Insurance assistance department will also help in making arrangements/guidance/co-coordinating with authorities/airlines to get you the help you need in such a difficult time when you  really need help. Accidents or unfortunate situations do happen; you are more exposed to all kind of risks while travelling. This is even more important if the person visiting is old, or may have existing health conditions.

It is wise to buy a good travel insurance plan which also covers for Return of Mortal Remains/Repatriation, even though you would hopefully and in all probability not need to use it. It is important to mention that many USA-based comprehensive plans do cover Return of Mortal Remains/Repatriation benefits even if the cause is a pre-existing condition.

Please discuss this with your agent or contact VisitorsCoverage, and we can guide to find a suitable policy.

Do not wait till the last moment..

Insurance is all about covering you future risks. You should plan it properly.
Start your process of research or buying, ahead of time.Get it in advance; don’t wait till the last moment.

Remember most of the business and insurance companies do not work on week-ends,

Imagine that you need the coverage to start from next day, you are trying to buy it over the week-end and stuck up with some issue, you may not find immediate assistance.