If you’re looking for superior health insurance while living overseas or traveling frequently overseas, I’m here to tell you that the GMI Platinum plan from IMG is what you want. It’s one of the best long term international medical insurance plans available. And it’s the closest one to the health plans Americans have grown accustomed to.
It’s great for individuals and families who reside abroad as expatriates, or those who often travel overseas for business or pleasure. If you’re looking for peace of mind while you travel, this is the plan for you.
What is the IMG Global Medical Insurance Platinum plan?
IMG Global Medical Insurance (GMI) has four levels of coverage to choose from – Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. The IMG Global Medical Insurance (GMI) Platinum plan provides the most comprehensive benefits. It’s designed to accommodate virtually any medical care you may need while living or traveling overseas.
You can renew this 12-month plan as long as you want to. The GMI Platinum medical insurance plan has it all, from coverage for hospitalizations to wellness and preventative care, with coverage for maternity and doctor visits, as well as optional coverage for sports.
If you anticipate needing medical care and want to have great peace of mind while living or traveling overseas, you need the GMI Platinum plan. Let us share with you a few more details about this excellent international health and travel insurance!
Does GMI Offer an Option to Exclude Countries from Coverage?
GMI Platinum health insurance overseas comes in two areas of coverage, Worldwide and Worldwide Excluding. The Worldwide Excluding plan does not provide coverage in the following countries: U.S., Canada, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Singapore and Taiwan.
For Worldwide coverage, you have coverage in every country with up to six months of coverage in the U.S. per policy year. If you end up not being able to meet this eligibility requirement, unfortunately you would not be able to continue coverage on this plan.
What are the Benefits of the GMI Platinum Plan?
Medical coverage has a maximum limit of $8,000,000 per individual. Medical expenses such as inpatient, outpatient, ICU, local ambulance and medical evacuation are covered under the maximum limit. Other provisions such as wellness, return of mortal remains, emergency reunion, mental/nervous and prescription coverage have their own provision limits.
For example, adult and child wellness are two benefits that have a six-month waiting period. There is $400 for each adult and $500 for each child per year. This is also not subject to the deductible, nor are the other provisions just mentioned.
There is only a maximum of two deductibles that you could reach per family. Medical treatment outside the U.S. and Canada is subject to deductible but there is no co-insurance. Treatment inside the U.S. and Canada is subject to deductible.
Yet, co-insurance is only required if you use an out-of-network provider. Even at that, you only pay 10 percent of $5,000 with the 90/10 co-insurance. We recommend using the First Health network provided on this plan.
One last benefit is that on the Platinum plan you are automatically assigned a private room if you are hospitalized.
Does the GMI Platinum Plan Cover Pre-existing Conditions?
Pre-existing conditions are covered differently on the GMI Platinum plan than on the other GMI health insurance plans. On the Platinum Plan, conditions that are fully disclosed on the application and have not been excluded or restricted by a rider, will be covered the same as any illness. Contrast that with the other plan options which say that pre-existing conditions are subject to a $5,000 maximum per period of coverage after a 24-month waiting period.
Does the GMI Platinum Plan Have a Waiting Period for Maternity Coverage?
Maternity coverage is included in this international health insurance, with a waiting period of ten months. There is a $1,000 additional deductible, a $50,000 lifetime maximum limit, $200 for 12 months of child wellness, and coverage for the first 31 days after birth.
What Medical Evacuation Services are Provided on the GMI Platinum Plan?
International medical evacuation insurance will provide transportation to the nearest adequate medical facility when there is required medical attention needed, for which treatment is not available locally. Even if there is a good hospital, they may not be able to treat every type of emergency medical condition.
If a medical evacuation is needed, you or someone with you must contact the insurance company, who will actually coordinate and pay for the medical evacuation. This is important as the company is equipped and prepared for emergencies such as these. They actually have a specialized team with medical staff who are ready to handle evacuations if needed.
Does the GMI Platinum Plan Cover Political Evacuation?
One of the unique benefits of the GMI Platinum international medical insurance plan is political evacuation, covered up to $10,000. This is a benefit usually available on short-term travel health insurance plans, but is exclusively provided on the GMI Platinum plan.
What is the GMI Medical Insurance Reimbursement Process?
Claims outside of the U.S. and Canada are typically paid on a reimbursement basis. This means that you will pay out of pocket, submit the claim, and be reimbursed for all covered expenses once the deductible has been met. In the case of larger expenses, the insurance company may be able to arrange a guarantee of payment to the medical provider.
If you have claims, please request all medical records and keep all the receipts, both for claims and for your own records. Claims processing usually takes about 30 days, but has a maximum of
up to 60 days for processing. Usually delays in processing are due to incorrectly completed claims forms, or missing medical information and records.
Does a GMI Health Insurance Plan Require Pre-certification?
Pre-certification is required for major treatments, surgeries and hospitalizations. You can pre-certify by calling or having someone call the number on your ID card or online, either before the treatment, or within 48 hours (or as soon as possible) in an unexpected emergency.
A friend, family member, travel companion, or hospital staff member can pre-certify on your behalf. The benefit of pre-certification is that you aren’t penalized with medical expenses, and the insurance company can help with advice for facilities and medical care as well as benefit information.
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As you can see, IMG Global Medical Insurance is amazingly loaded with coverage for almost everything you could need in the insurance world. As far as the medical coverage, it provides phenomenal protection! This is a great plan for business travelers, for retirement and pleasure, and for those who reside abroad as expatriates, missionaries, or volunteers. It’s excellent for your protection for anything you may need as regards your health and medical expenses.
Good Neighbor Insurance provides international travel insurance to those living or traveling outside their country of resident/country of citizenship. Call one of our professional international travel insurance agents for a quote at 866-636-9100 or you may email us at [email protected].
Have amazing and safe travels!
