Traveling to an overseas country is like the two sides of a coin. It has a good part and a not bad but unforeseen part. On the one hand, you have fun and unwinding waiting for you, whereas, on the other, everything is uncertain and unpredictable, for example – a medical emergency.
Although you cannot foresee or avert a health crisis, you can always be prepared to fight its consequences with the best of your arsenal. And, when it comes to visiting a foreign country like the USA, your travel health insurance, the most crucial arms and ammunition of your saddle, should be in place.
While you can buy a visitor insurance plan from an insurance provider in your native country, say India, buying the same from a US-based service provider is always advisable, even though the latter is likely to be pricier. And, why so? Purchasing a travel health insurance policy from the USA has many upsides. We will discuss the different aspects of an insurance plan and how the scenarios are similar or different when you buy one from India and the U.S.
Note: The aspects that we will discuss in this content are non-specific and generic. So, you should not base your buying decision on these factors totally. Make sure to compare every aspect pertaining to your insurance requirements, including policy wording, inclusions, exclusions, terms, and conditions, among others. Also, the details presented below do not indicate or promote any particular insurance product or service provider. Let us read on to know more.
Difference Between Indian And USA Scenarios Based On The Following Parameters:
Insurance Service Provider – Experience and Reach
In USA:
When we talk about the scenario of travel medical insurance in a country like the USA, it is a bit different from India. Most of the insurance providers operating in the USA have years of experience with proven track records in the domain of the healthcare system in the country.
Plus, you have plenty of options to choose from, depending on your insurance needs and budget preferences.
Visitors insurance providers in the U.S. have tie-ups with the leading hospitals. So, you do not have to worry about claim settlements. As the insurance companies are well-connected to a particular PPO (Preferred provider organization) network, no issue arises with recognizing a company or billing. So, you are in safe and acquainted hands.
In India:
The problems with most private insurance service providers in India (that deal with travel insurance products) are – they are comparatively new in the industry and do not have much experience. The most important thing to note here – such insurance companies might be well known in India. However, not many know about them in the U.S., especially the healthcare facilities. So, you can understand the point here.
Insurance Broker Agent
In USA:
In the USA, an insurance agent or a company needs to be a licensed insurance company or individual to sell health insurance products. And, to get a valid license, an agent needs to undergo a stringent training process, including examinations regulated by the relevant insurance authority. An agent needs to be acquainted with how the healthcare system operates in the U.S.
There are many insurance broking providers in the U.S. You can take the example of VisitorsGuru. They are well-versed with the technicalities of travel health insurance plans. So, whenever you call them for clarification regarding any jargon or terms and conditions, they will help you understand it in the best possible way.
For example – if you find any issues with claim settlement (a rare thing, though) with a trusted insurance broker, they will help you sort it out, clear your doubts, and resolve the matter with the best of their knowledge and experience.
In India:
In India and many other countries, travel agencies sell travel insurance plans along with airline tickets. You know that well. Isn’t it? The representatives of the travel agencies are least likely to have any formal training background when it comes to overseas-based claims. Moreover, they are least likely to be knowledgeable of how the healthcare system works in the U.S. Therefore, you should make sure to buy your visitors insurance from a reputable insurance provider that deals with such insurance products instead of buying it from a travel agency.
Preferred Provider Organization Network or PPO
In USA:
In the USA, a majority of the travel health insurance plans are a part of a PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) network. The network comprises healthcare facilities, medical practitioners, and other service providers. So, when you go to anyone in the given network, they are likely to identify the insurance service provider.
What happens when they recognize your insurance company? They can directly bill your insurance provider for medical expenses and network fees. The best part – most of these insurance products have a nationwide network. So, no matter which part of the country you go to, the network follows you.
In India:
Probably, the concept of PPO does not exist. You can visit any clinic or doctor. Such insurance policies often claim, “buy an insurance plan from us and we will take care of the rest”. However, the most vital question, “who will accept the insurance claim?” remains as it is.
Most importantly, you will be left with queries and confusion in your mind and will have to accept what goes around. Firstly, you will have to confirm with a doctor or healthcare facility if they are willing to accept an insurance plan from India or not.
Fortunately, if they say yes, you get saved a big time. And unfortunately (the highest chances of occurrence), if they say no, you will have to bear all the expenses irrespective of what your insurance provider claimed. Upfront payment for healthcare in the U.S. is fairly high. So, you are wise enough to understand the repercussions.
Insurance Extension
In USA:
If you are willing to extend your staying period in America, you have the provision to do that for around one to three years. It depends on the insurance product you buy. The best part of such a provision is – it is an extension in reality. Therefore, you should not confuse it with repurchasing.
What if you have already been covered for a listed health condition in your previous period of stay (before the extension)? Sigh, the same conditions (along with others) will be covered in the renewed phase as well. Don’t you think it is an added advantage?
In India:
You got your travel health insurance from an India-based insurance provider, and you plan to extend your stay in the USA. In such a case, probably, there is no provision for renewal as such. You may find a handful of companies that claim to provide you with extension options. However, in most cases, they mean repurchase. Most importantly, you are allowed to repurchase a policy only if you have not made any claim in the previous cycle.
Extent of Coverage
In USA:
As far as the types of travel medical insurance in the U.S. are concerned, there are generally two types of policies – Comprehensive and Fixed. As the name suggests, the former offers a wider range of coverage, whereas the latter provides the policyholder with a limited extent of insurance protection. Moreover, comprehensive Visitors Insurance plans are more expensive than fixed ones. So, depending on the type of your travel and for how many days you are going to stay in America, you can choose one.
In India:
In India, most private Travel Health Insurance service providers offer fixed coverage policies only. As there is no definitive guideline to differentiate between a comprehensive and a fixed insurance plan, you may come across some companies claiming to provide you with all-encompassing policies. In such a case, make sure to check with your insurance provider about the inclusions, exclusions, and sub-limits. Policies with sub-limits are generally not comprehensive. So, beware of such facts.
Proof of Insurance (Card)
In USA:
If you are in the U.S. and you need to go to a doctor or hospital, there you will observe a standard pattern. The first thing they will ask you at the reception counter or help desk is an insurance card.
When you buy a visitors insurance plan from a USA-based insurance provider, they will provide you with an insurance card as proof of insurance. This card is handy and reads the name of the policyholder, their policy number, address of claim filing (USA), the logo of the PPO network, and important contact details. They will ask for your health insurance card for direct billing and other formalities related to healthcare and claim settlement.
In India:
In India, you are least likely to get a health insurance card against your travel health insurance policies. Therefore, in most overseas countries, the healthcare facility would be unwilling to bill your insurance provider directly in case of a medical emergency. And, you will have to shell out a fortune. No visitor would ever want to let this happen. Right?
