INTERNATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS, WHAT IS BEST FOR YOU

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This page contains dozens of short articles that will help you quickly understand international insurance. For example, terminology, purchasing details and managing your insurance coverage are topics that are all covered within these articles. Choose an Article From the Topics Below

CHOOSING A HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN -- WHAT TO LOOK FOR

  1. You want to make sure it is really "health insurance" and not a "caring" or "sharing" plan. These plans have worked for some, but many participants have been disillusioned.
  2. Check out the A.A. Best Rating for the company that underwrites the plan. This is not hard to obtain. An A+ rating is good, but a B+ is often acceptable for health insurance companies.
  3. Check out the company administering the plan. These companies are called "Third Party Administrators" (TPAs). Some TPAs that have been around for a while and have grown large give poor service, while younger and smaller TPAs give good service. So don't turn a TPA down just
    because it is small.
  4. Read the plan carefully to make sure the benefits match your needs, e.g., does the plan have maternity, medical evacuation, preventive care, etc? What is the policy regarding pre-existing conditions? Do they rider/waiver them or give limited coverage?
  5. Have their annual price increases been reasonable? At the present time "reasonable" would be somewhere in the 8 percent to 15 percent range.
  6. Do they offer the deductible you desire? Remember, the most cost-effective deductible is generally $1,000.
  7. How do they handle co-insurance? Do you pay co-insurance overseas or only in the USA?
  8. What is excluded from coverage? All insurance brochures have an "exclusion" section. Read that section carefully. Remember this key proverb when purchasing health insurance: THE LARGE PRINT GIVETH AND THE SMALL PRINT TAKETH AWAY!
  9. How good is the company at paying claims? Ask your broker this question. If he has represented the company for a year, he will have a pretty good idea of the speed with which claims are paid. Remember, the bottom line is that insurance is only as good as the claims-paying ability of the company.
  10. Finally, it is best to work through a broker who represents several companies. An agent technically represents just one company. If so, he only puts bread on his table if he sells you his product. A broker is different. He helps you search for a policy that will work for you, and is not dependent on selling you a specific plan. The good news is that Good Neighbor Insurance is a brokerage that represents seven major international health insurance companies. Thus we have a wide array of health plans from which you may chose.
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Health Insurance in the USA

"Jeff, I just wanted to say a quick "Thank You" for the newsletter, or "Quarterly E-Bulletin." I don’t know if this is all your work or a team, or you buy content, or just who puts it together; but I’ve gotta say it’s one of the few pieces of its kind that I actually *read* top-to-bottom. [The "Quarterly Bulletin" is written by Jeff, assisted by the GNI staff.]"

(DS, Pennsylvania)

"Nelma, Thank you so much for your immediate help in getting my credit from the insurance company. It’s this kind of service from you and your partners that keeps me coming back to GNI for ALL my international insurance needs. "

(KD, California)

"Trish, Thanks so much for your follow-up on this. We actually got a check in the mail already, covering all the charges minus the $250 deductible. I was surprised and pleased that we got it so quickly! Thank you again for taking care of us. You have been extremely helpful, Trish."

(AR, Indiana)

"Doug, I wish to thank Pei for the first class service I received. I value great customer service having worked for a Japanese airline for 17 years. I believe the service reflects the management."

(TM, New York)

Library of International Medical and Health Insurance Information and Resources