International travel should be a pleasant experience, regardless of the reason or destination. Unfortunately, complications and emergencies such as illness, injury, and natural disasters are a fact of life. While I sincerely hope none of these ever happens to you, I want to tell you about a travel insurance plan that will help you in case they do.

Atlas International medical insurance protects you from potential financial disaster while traveling abroad. It has been one of our most widely used plans throughout the years because of the broad coverage it provides at a low overall premium. The Atlas International medical insurance plan comes loaded with benefits that will work for almost any type of international travel. Learn more below.

Who is the Atlas International Medical Insurance Plan Good For?

The Atlas plan is best for individuals, families, and members of organizations who travel outside their home country who don’t anticipate needing medical care. It covers you almost anywhere on the planet you may travel for vacations, studying abroad, sports, corporate travel, and mission trips.

Although it lacks those more comprehensive long-term benefits, this plan does exactly what it is designed for! For emergencies and coverage while you travel, Atlas International provides great protection so that you don’t take a huge medical bill due to a minor claim or a major catastrophe. It gives you the peace of mind you’re looking for.

Although Atlas is a short-term plan, many people have reapplied for this coverage as they travel long term overseas. Short term essentially means that the plan is not renewable and lacks long term benefits such as: coverage for pre-existing conditions, maternity, worldwide coverage (including home country), and wellness benefits or preventative care. One other note: you must have domestic health insurance to be covered on this travel plan.

What Are the Atlas International Medical Insurance Plan Benefits?

Atlas International includes many great benefits in its short-term plan, so you don’t have to add any riders or other additions to coverage. If you’re traveling outside of your home country and are at least 14 days old, you’re eligible for coverage.

Atlas International medical insurance includes coverage for:

• Medical care that includes hospital room and board, intensive care, ambulance, and outpatient treatment.
• Overall Maximum Limit (OML) – if under age 70, you may select your OML ranging from $50,000 to $1,000,000. If age 70 – 79, the OML available is $50,000. If age 80 or older, the OML available is $10,000.
• Acute Onset of Pre-existing Conditions – if under age 70, the coverage for the sudden and unexpected onset of a pre-existing condition matches the policy limit selected.
• Emergency Dental
• Medical Evacuation insurance – $1,000,000
• Return or Repatriation of Remains – Overall maximum limit
• Emergency Reunion – $50,000
• Pet Return – $1,000 to return pet home if member hospitalized
• Political Evacuation insurance – $10,000
• Terrorism insurance – $50,000
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) – $50,000, differs by age group
• Natural Disaster – $100 a day for five days
• Trip Delay – $100 for two days, after 12 hours and overnight stay
• Trip Interruption – $5,000
•  Lost Checked Luggage
•  Hazardous Sports Cover

Deductibles can be chosen from $0 to $2,500. A deductible is the initial cost that you will be responsible for, if any claims occur. A lower deductible means a higher premium, which also means that if there is a claim, you have less to pay. For those coming to the U.S. there will be coinsurance after the deductible. If you travel outside the U.S., there is no coinsurance; the plan will pay 100 percent after the deductible.

Does Atlas International Cover Medical Evacuation?

Would you know what to do if you found yourself in a life-threatening situation far from home? HCCMIS is experienced in arranging emergency medical evacuations. Atlas Travel will cover the necessary expenses to transport you to the nearest medical facility qualified to treat your
life-threatening condition. We understand the importance of family support in these difficult situations. Atlas Travel will also cover the transportation, lodging, and meal costs for a relative to join you after an emergency medical evacuation.

A medical evacuation occurs when there is a medical necessity that cannot be provided locally, and this condition would result in loss of life or limb. The insurance company must be notified, and they will work with the attending physician and you or a relative to medically evacuate you. The evacuation will take you to the nearest adequate medical facility to provide the care you need.

In the event of a medical emergency, you will not be automatically transported back to your home country. If it is medically necessary that you be evacuated to a more appropriate hospital, the company will get you to the nearest appropriate facility where you can receive appropriate care based on your specific needs.

Does Atlas International Cover Repatriation of Remains?

In the very unfortunate event of your death while traveling abroad, Atlas Travel will arrange for and cover the costs associated with the repatriation of your remains. This way you don’t need to worry about what your family would do if disaster strikes while you’re away from home. The death of a loved one is never easy, no matter the circumstances, so we want to reduce the burden as much as possible. 

Does Atlas International Medical Insurance Cover Pre-existing Conditions?

If you’re younger than 70, you may be covered for an acute onset of a pre-existing condition. Atlas International medical insurance provides a limited benefit up to the medical coverage maximum lifetime for eligible medical expenses. This also includes a $25,000 lifetime maximum for emergency medical evacuation. 

An acute onset of a pre-existing condition is a sudden and unexpected outbreak or recurrence of a pre-existing condition which occurs spontaneously and without advance warning either in the form of physician recommendations or symptoms. Treatment must be obtained within 24 hours of the sudden and unexpected outbreak or recurrence. Chronic and congenital conditions, such as diabetes and asthma, are excluded from coverage.

If you’re looking for stronger pre-existing medical coverage for your international travels, we suggest another one of our popular travel plans: the GeoBlue Voyager Choice plan. Call one of our agents for more information at 866-636-9100 or use our Arizona office number at 480-633-9500. Our email is info@gninsurance.com.

Does Atlas International Cover Complications of Pregnancy?

Maternity, pregnancy care, and delivery is excluded on this short term international insurance. However, there is coverage for complications of pregnancy which is defined as “Illnesses whose diagnoses are distinct from Pregnancy, but are adversely affected by Pregnancy or caused by Pregnancy and not associated with a normal Pregnancy.” This includes coverage for someone pregnant in the first 26 weeks of pregnancy for this strict case.

Does Atlas International Cover Sports?

Many sports are covered on this plan up to the maximum limit! There is no sports rider to add, so you know that sports coverage is included. Not all sports are covered; professional sports are excluded. Please check the policy or with us to verify if a sport you are doing is covered.

Are There Policy Provisions Unique to Atlas International?

Here are some of the provisions of this plan that are rarely found in other short-term plans:

• Personal Liability is included in this plan up to $10,000. This is generally a rare benefit within short term health and travel insurance plans.
• The trip delay coverage is unique because it is usually included in trip cancellation insurance. Yet, Atlas International does not provide trip cancellation insurance.
• There is a Bedside Visit benefit that will pay up to a maximum of $1,500 for a family member to visit if you are admitted to ICU.
• Crisis Response is a valuable benefit and is covered up to $10,000.
• The plan will pay up to $1,000 for a traveling pet to return home if you are hospitalized, on the Pet Return provision.

What Coverage Does Atlas International Exclude?

Every short-term travel insurance plan excludes certain medical treatments from its coverage, and this plan excludes coverage for maintenance medical care and maintenance medications. Here are the treatments that this plan excludes:

• Maintenance medical care also includes medications prescribed for chronic and/or long-term medical conditions or Rx taken on an ongoing basis.
• Any drugs, medications, or other substances except as specifically stated in this Plan are excluded. This includes, but is not limited to, items dispensed by a Physician.
• Rx Examples: birth control, heartburn/acid reflux medication or anti-depressants.
• Medical maintenance examples: Needing blood transfusions on a continual basis for diabetes. Any ongoing medical condition or past medical condition that needs to be monitored and/or checked on a regular basis.
• Treatment of mental disorders or functional nervous disorders are not covered under the policy.
• Policyholder cannot be disabled at the time of travel and cannot be on a waiting list for any treatment.
• Policyholder cannot travel against the advice of a physician / medical facility.

Will Atlas International Cover Follow-up Care After the Policy Ends?

The Benefit Period is a period of 90 days after your policy ends to cover costs for follow up care of a covered illness or injury. This “covered” medical condition must have occurred while the policy was in effect. This period is great because it allows you to receive medical care in your home country, outside of the U.S. The plan does not cover inside one’s home country, except in the case of the Benefit Period.

How Does Atlas International Handle Claims?

Claims must be submitted within 60 days. Generally, you will pay out of pocket, submit the claim, and will be reimbursed for all eligible expenses minus the deductible. If there are international contracted providers with the insurance company, you may have the direct-billing ability.

Can I Trust the Company That Provides Atlas International Insurance?

HCC Medical Insurance Services LLC (HCCMIS), headquartered in the United States in Indianapolis, Indiana, is a full-service company offering international medical insurance and short-term medical insurance products designed to meet needs of consumers worldwide. HCCMIS is a subsidiary of HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: HCC), a leading Specialty Insurance group. HCC holds a financial strength rating of AA (Very Strong) by Standard & Poor’s and Fitch Ratings and A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best Company.

Why do I Need Travel Medical Insurance?

The vast majority of personal and group health insurance policies do not provide coverage for medical treatment outside the United States. Neither Medicare nor Medicaid offer protection when U.S. citizens travel abroad.

The U.S. State Department recommends that international travelers purchase comprehensive travel health insurance plans to cover the cost of medical treatment outside the country. A medical evacuation insurance policy will provide funding for transportation to a U.S. facility if necessary, along with repatriation of your remains in the event of death.

Often the primary medical insurance in your home country will not provide important services, perhaps essential ones, in the event of an illness or injury. The Atlas International plan includes these essentials such as translation assistance during treatment, doctor and hospital referrals, and assistance replacing lost prescriptions.

What Should a Good Travel Medical Plan Cover?

A good travel medical insurance plan will usually include the following provisions:

• Cover most countries in the world.
• Cover injury and sudden illnesses.
• Twenty-four hour emergency services and help (you don’t want to call to be told to call back later).
• Cover cancellations such as hotel bookings, flight, and other transportation bookings if you have a sudden illness, death in the family, or some other emergency.
• Cover emergencies, strife in the country visited, etc., that cause you to head home early.
• Have financial protection if any company you are using goes bankrupt and you are stuck in another country.

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Overall, the Atlas International medical insurance plan is a broad short term international health insurance plan with low premiums. You may get quotes and purchase this travel insurance plan also here at https://www.gninsurance.com/travel/atlas-international/ .

Good Neighbor insurance agents at 866-636-9100 / 480-633-9500 are here to serve you during Arizona business hours.  Or you may go to our corporate site at https://www.gninsurance.com/ .  If you want, you can email us your questions and request at info@gninsurance.com.

May you have amazing and safe overseas travels!