SHORT TERM HEALTH INSURANCE - SHORT-TERM AND INSURANCE CLAIMS

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HOW TO MAKE SURE YOUR SHORT-TERM INSURANCE WILL COVER CLAIMS MADE IN THE USA

To utilize your international insurance coverage, medical care must be initiated outside the USA. What does this mean? When you develop a medical condition as a short-term worker while on a team or while on individual short-term insurance, if you do not see a doctor while outside the USA, you will not be covered for added medical care back in the USA.

Here is the procedure you must follow:

  1. If the condition is not an emergency, call the “Call Collect” number on your medical ID card and consult with the insurance company concerning your medical condition. NOTE: If it is an emergency, go immediately to the hospital or see a doctor and call the insurance company later
  2. Visit the doctor or medical facility
  3. Pay the medical facility for medical care received. Make sure you get a receipt and also a detailed explanation of all care received--both in the hospital and at the doctor's office
  4. Get a dated written statement from the doctor explaining your medical condition and what you were treated for
  5. Submit these documents as soon as possible to the insurance company--no later than 90 days from the initial medical treatment
  6. When you pursue further medical treatment in the USA, consult with the insurance company to make sure you are using a doctor in its network

If you fail to initiate medical care outside the USA and then ask the insurance company to reimburse you for medical expenses for care received within the USA, the insurance company will not cover those claims. Why do they do this? Because this is the only way they can be sure that the medical condition developed while you were outside the USA. The whole purpose of international health insurance is to protect you while outside the USA.