International Travel Insurance Archives 2012 1st Quarter

The insurance plan I use in the USA won’t work overseas! The international plan I have overseas won’t cover me in the USA! Is there are plan that will cover me on both sides of the Atlantic (or Pacific)?

Blue Cross is partnering with a great international carrier to provide such a plan. Coverage includes both the USA AND the rest of the world for those who need exactly this coverage. This plan fully meets requirements for USA domestic health insurance plans. It adheres to all federal PPACA (The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act) stipulations.

The one requirement is that the insured must spend at least three months of the first year of coverage outside the USA. This does not mean three months at one time, but a total of three months. Hundreds are enrolled in this coverage. It is one of our most popular plans for career international workers and workers who often travel outside the USA.

To see these plans go to https://www.overseastripinsurance.com You can get a quote, download a brochure or application, and apply online. Our office is always ready to help if you have questions regarding this plan. Call toll free at 866/636-9100 or email us at Jeff@gninsurance.com.

02 DO YOU KNOW THE TOP THREE RISKS YOU FACE WHEN TRAVELING OVERSEAS?

GET OUR FREE BOOK AT http://www.DontGetStuckOverseas.com AND FIND OUT.

“Terrorism? Ebola virus? Rude restaurant servers? If you read our last eBulletin you already know one of the three biggest risks you face when traveling overseas! Discover the other two here. Better yet, give us your feedback and we’ll create a comments page where we share your impressions and travel advice as well!

One tip from the book: Don’t walk on or near the curb. Stay closer to the buildings than the street. Foreigners have been known to be ‘bumped’ into the street accidently by crowds of pedestrians coming the other way. Other get hit by mirrors or loads tied onto lorries that extend far to the left and right of passing vehicles. Congested streets and sidewalks can create some spectacularly scary accidents. If you see locals walking near the street, don’t follow their example.

As we quoted last time, US citizens overseas experience more road accidents than any other medical emergency. According to a USA Today analysis:

About 1,820 Americans, almost a third of all Americans who died of non-natural causes while abroad, have been reported killed in road accidents in foreign countries from Jan. 1, 2003, through June 2010. On average, one American traveler dies on a foreign road every 36 hours. >> read more

In the event of a fatal road accident, international health plans offer these key benefits often lacking in domestic health plans, even if they cover you overseas:

100% Usual &Customary medical coverage*

Emergency medical evacuation

Accidental death and dismemberment benefits

Repatriation of mortal remains

Note that this book is available for a limited time as a free download. Nothing will be shipped to you. We require name and email to reduce spam, but there is no hidden costs and no obligation to buy anything. Books like this one are one way we will continue to use our experience overseas to benefit others.

03 SHORT-TERM TEAMS – THREE GREAT INSURANCE OPTIONS

“Spring and Summer is coming, what’s the best insurance for my short-term team(s)?”

1. Our “One-Thousand Day” option – Add up the total days all of your short-term workers will be outside their home country. If the total is more than 1,000 days we can get you a very cost-effective per day quote. If you like the quote, they will set you up with your own web page,Â making it very easy for your team members to sign up. And it’s not just for missionaries, anyone can use this program for these great rates!

2. The “One-to-Eight Teams Per Year” option – If you fall into this category we have a very cost-effective plan for you. You will be able to sign up on line. Though they prefer five teams, the teams can be as small as two to enroll on this plan. Once again, anyone can get these rates through Good Neighbor Insurance!

3. The “Older-Age Teams” option – If your teams have all older members or a majority that are over 40, this is a good option. The plan is similar to # 2 above but the rates are significantly lower for those over 40.

If you want more information on any of these plans, visit our Short-Term Team page or contact us toll free at 866/636-9100 or email info@gninsurance.com.

04 INSURING THE PERSONAL PROPERTY OF YOUR WORKERS

You asked us, so now we have it. Not only do we have international property insurance for your organization’s valuable equipment during transit or storage overseas, but we can help you INSURE THE PERSONAL PROPERTY OF YOUR INTERNATIONAL (NGO) WORKERS.

Ever lost an expensive camera while overseas? What about a laptop, Kindle, iPad, iPod, computer, telephone, other personal items? If you lost all or any of these, what would the replacement cost be? We can now help you insure them! It’s fast and easy to enroll.

GNI is able to put up a special webpage for larger NGOs where workers can easily insure such items. The coverage is for personal property and liability. Recently one NGO with 500 employees has just asked for such a service. The worker will be able to go to the GNI/NGO page and select the exact coverage needed. Jewelry and other high value items can also be covered.

Items will be covered for loss due to theft, fire, vandalism, extreme weather conditions. The limit of coverage will be based on cost of replacement on the day you lost the item. Premiums range from $85-$245 annually depend on items covered. If your NGO would be interested in this type of coverage, email doug@gninsurance.com.

05 PROTECTING YOUR OWN PERSONAL PROPERTY OVERSEAS – SOME ADVICE

SOME USEFUL TIPS TO AVOID BEING A CRIME VICTIM:

First of all, don’t take valuable items overseas.

If you have an old watch, use it. If you have pictures you couldn’t afford to lose, leave them home. Don’t take any more credit cards that you absolutely need. Go through your billfold and purse and leave everything at home that is not absolutely essential. Leave all of your keys at home too. Don’t wear expensive sun glasses or jewelry. In fact don’t wear expensive looking clothes. And do not carry excessive amounts of money.

If you must take certain items overseas for work or that you can’t be without…get an overseas property insurance policy.

If you don’t want to leave your wedding ring at home, or must have your laptop to blog or work, and your company does not offer property insurance through your company, Buy your own.

Our global personal property and liability insurance plan provides complete protection for your property and belongings while you are overseas. It includes blanket coverage worldwide for your personal property and belongings up to the selected limit to help protected you form unexpected losses such as theft, fire, and so forth.

Up to $2,500 coverage per loss for unscheduled jewelry, watches, objects of art, computer equipment, cameras and photographic equipment, musical instruments (except pianos), and other similar valuables. Note that this policy won’t cover items if you are in a war-zone.

http://www.gninternationalpropertyinsurance.com/insurance/personal-property-liability

Use a money belt for money, airline tickets, passports etc. Also a good shoulder bag or a purse that you can put over your head and shoulder is very helpful.

You want to be able to keep both arms free. Do not put your wallet in your back pocket. Many travelers have had their wallets stolen by doing that. Keep your luggage with you. Don’t leave it unattended. Do not go to sleep with your luggage beside you. You may wake up to discover it gone. I lost a small walkman just by doing that.

In general, where possible, stay away from overcrowded places.

Be very careful of getting engrossed in animated discussions with strangers.

I know of several cases where travelers have become so engaged in such discussions only to discover later that their hand baggage had been stolen. One of my co-workers started visiting with two very polite young men while in the bank. When she got ready to go she discovered that they had stolen the $17,000 that she had just withdrawn.

Never accept packages from strangers.

One co-worker did this in one Asian country. The police apprehended him for carrying narcotics. He spent a couple of years in jail.

You can also find some tips on avoiding scam artists here: http://bit.ly/y2Kcfz

Have your own tips you’d like to share? Send them to info@GNInsurance.com with a TRAVEL TIPS subject line and we’ll consider publishing them!

06 HOW TO FILE A CLAIM FOR OVERSEAS MEDICAL CARE

DO YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO IN AN ACCIDENT OR WHEN ADMITED TO THE HOSPITAL OVERSEAS?

1) Ask if the insurance company you are with is contracted with the hospital where you are getting care. Often, if that is the case, the insurance company will automatically reimburse all claims.

2) If the hospital is not contracted – pay all the claims immediately, but be sure to get signed receipts for all medical care. Keep all office notes and medical information received. Make sure all are dated so you can be reimbursed. Also it would be good to keep a personal notebook listing dates and times care was received.

3) As soon as possible you will want to fill out the medical claim form provided by your insurer. Outline all details of your care.

4) Mail the claim form and copies of all medical documentation to your insurance provider. Don’t leave anything out. Make sure the insurance company has a complete record of your care and financial transactions. Claims are generally handled within 30 days.

We have seen some claims take six months. Why is this? Generally the delay has been caused by missing or incomplete paperwork. The insurance company will not settle a claim if they are still waiting for information. So it is always to your advantage to submit all paperwork to the insurance carrier.

If you feel you have submitted all paper work and the claim process still seems slow contact Good Neighbor Insurance. We will help you.

07 LOOKING FOR A GOOD HOSPITAL IN ETHIOPIA? HOW ABOUT SHANGHAI?

There are 8,000 hospitals in the world, but which are the best if you need to be admitted?

You can find information on some of the best hospitals in nearly every major city in the world by typing into Google – Best hospital in name of city, Good Neighbor Insurance. You will see some of the research we have done to help you locate the various hospitals in the cities you may be visiting.

Obviously we cannot vouch for every hospital, but based on our research the hospitals listed are considered among the good ones. Of course, this can change so asking around when you arrive is best. Recommendations can come from local specialists, from the Embassy, from expats and workers who have lived there longer.

If you want more specific information on any hospital in the city you are or will be living in, let us know. Some of the insurance companies we work with have contracts with various hospitals. They establish these business relationships with hospitals that meet their requirements.

So the Google Search above will give you some idea about the better known hospitals in your city. Good Neighbor Insurance can sometimes provide more detailed information about hospitals in your area as most of our staff have traveled and worked extensively outside the United States in such places as Indonesia, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Germany, France, Russia, Thailand, Bulgaria, South Korea, Dominican Republic, Vietnam, England, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Columbia, and the Philippines.

If you carry insurance with some of the key companies we work with, they can also give you assistance. You will not only be helped in choosing a hospital. They will also help you in choosing a local doctor if you need one.

08 SEE US ON FACEBOOK. SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE

‘Like’ us on Facebook at Good Neighbor Insurance.

We also have a great travel channel on YouTube.com you can subscriber to. Neither will bug you or send you alerts, but if you use either, you’ll see great content on your wall/notifications!

Are you a Third-Culture kid yourself having grown up overseas away from your native culture/land? <b
style=””>Don’t miss the video, “Third-Culture Kids” under our favorites on YouTube!

09 WORK OPPORTUNITIES OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES

We are in touch with many institutions outside the USA that are looking for English-speaking teachers. Most of these positions provide some reimbursement beside lodging and meals. If you would like further information, please contact info@gninsurance.com. Also, we have a NGO working in Afghanistan that is looking for a City Planner and also an Organizational Management Advisor.

10 DIFFERENT TYPES OF INSURANCE PLANS CARRIED BY GNI

[1] Long-term health insurance for individuals working outside their home countries

[2] Career/long-term plans for single women

[3] Short-term plans from five days to three years for individuals

[4] Group health for international agencies

[5] Short-term team insurance

[6] Term life insurance

[7] Trip cancellation insurance

[8] Insurance for pilots learning to fly

[9] Immigrant health insurance and insurance for students and visitors to the USA

[10] Political and/or medical evacuation insurance

[11] USA short-term health insurance including furlough insurance

[12] War and terrorism insurance

[13] Disability insurance

[14] Adventure sports coverage and sports team coverage

[15] Kidnap and ransom insurance

[16] Maritime medical insurance

[17] International car insurance

[18] Directors & Officers (D&O) insurance

[19] Foreign business insurance

[20] Individual and group insurance for most states in the USA – Call us.

11 HOW TO AVOID BEING DECLINED

Many insurance applications ask: “Have you ever been declined when applying for health insurance?”

It is good to avoid being declined so that you will never have to say “Yes” to that question, since it becomes a greater problem in trying to get insured.

The best way to avoid being declined is to let us “pre-qualify” you. Good Neighbor Insurance provides an electronic “Pre-qualifying Medical Questionnaire” that you can fill out and return to us. We then run this by the various insurance companies to see how they will handle your application. If one company says that you might or would probably be declined if you applied, we simply avoid applying for insurance with that company and thus avoid being declined.

If you’d like help getting pre-qualified, click here.

12 DO YOU WANT OR NEED PRINTED INSURANCE BROCHURES?

We mail hundreds of organizations updated brochures every year for their files. Sometimes we mail quarterly, semi-annually, or annually. If you are getting more brochures than you need, or if you don’t want them, please let us know! We don’t want to be wasteful and/or waste your time with unneeded mail. Thanks!

It is good to remember that insurance companies update their materials and applications every year. If your brochures are old, they are probably outdated. Please contact us for a new supply, or if you would like us to send them electronically instead.

Are you organizing a short-term team that’s going overseas? If you need brochures for your team members, let us know how many you need. We can also provide “group” insurance for your short-term team so that they will not need to apply individually. It’s easier for you, and for them!

13 HOW TO ADD A LINK ON YOUR WEBSITE TO GOOD NEIGHBOR INSURANCE

Some organizations and individuals have asked how to provide international insurance information for their friends and clients traveling or living outside the USA. Here is information to help you link your web site to GNI. (You are welcome to edit and/or shorten this suggested content.)

GLOBAL HEALTH INSURANCE –Individual, group, career, short-term international health plans. Coverage for: Short-term teams, non-profit and faith-based groups, those settling back into the USA, medical and political evacuation, terrorism coverage, non-Americans studying, visiting or working in the USA. Also term-life insurance plans.

Visit www.gninsurance.com; E-mail: info@gninsurance.com; Toll free: 866-636-9100; Fax: 480-813-9930.

Please note that our www.gninsurance.com web site has a whole section devoted to medical and travel tips for the international traveler, an extensive glossary of insurance terms and a large library of articles that will help you understand international health insurance, as well as group insurance. And since GNI represents more than ten international health insurance companies, we offer an excellent variety of insurance plans to fit every international traveler.

Insurance Policy Information: International Travel Insurance with International Health Insurance