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Employer Group Insurance Resources: Videos

Ask Doug – Questions and Answers about your global employer group medical insurance, is a series of videos providing information on how to use your international employer group medical insurance best for you and your family. 

Good Neighbor Insurance, https://www.gninsurance.com, provides international employer group health insurance plans and comprehensive global insurance options for employers, non-profits, entrepreneurs, social good and mission agencies, for paid overseas staff, 1099 works, volunteers, and foreign nationals. Since our founding in 1997, we have provided international and U.S. insurance solutions for social entrepreneurs and global businesses both large and small with a variety of top-rated U.S. and international carriers such as UHC Global, Cigna Global, IMG, Talent Trust, and Azimuth to name a few.

For the most up-to-date information on our international employer group medical insurance options please –

Safe Global Travels – from your GNI Team!

  1. How does my deductible work on my international employer group medical insurance?
  2. Why is my deductible higher in the U.S. than overseas?
  3. What does cross-accumulate deductible mean when it comes to my international employer group insurance?
  4. What do these different levels of deductibles mean that I see on my schedule of benefits?
  5. What does “out-of-pocket maximum” mean when it comes to my international employer group insurance?
  6. What does “co-insurance” mean on my expatriate employer group medical insurance policy?
  7. Who should I call in a medical emergency on my international employer group medical insurance?
  8. Can our children have their own account online on my international employer group insurance?
  9. How do I know if I have a co-pay when I visit a doctor’s office on my international employer group medical insurance?
  10. What’s the reimbursement time for claims on our international group insurance?
  11. Direct Pay Explained: Maximizing Your Global Employer Group Insurance Benefits
  12. Navigating Ambulance Claims with Your International Employer Group Insurance

 

Ask Doug – Questions and Answers about your global employer group medical insurance, https://www.gninsurance.com/group-health, is a series of videos providing information on how to use your international employer group medical insurance best for you and your family. 

Question – How does my deductible work on my employer group medical insurance, Doug?

Answer – That is a great question, Sophia. International group medical insurance has an “annual” deductible, not a per incident deductible. Sophia, some employer group plans have the annual deductible based on the calendar (January 1 through December 31) and others based on the policy year (when the policy started during the year).  Deductibles are also calculated according to the service date, not according to when the claim was filed.

 

Ask Doug – Questions and Answers about your global employer group medical insurance, https://www.gninsurance.com/group-health, is a series of videos providing information on how to use your international employer group medical insurance best for you and your family. 

Question – Why is my deductible higher in the U.S. than overseas, Doug?

Answer – That is a great question, Chiara.

Chiara, some employer group plans have a lower or zero-dollar deductible for medical expenses incurred outside the U.S. This is to encourage you to have medical care in your country of service. Lower medical costs, will help lower increases to your employer group insurance premium next year. In the U.S, some employer group medical plans have a higher deductible “out of network” expenses. That’s because the international insurance company doesn’t get a discount with that hospital or doctor.  

Chiara, all employer group insurance allows deductibles to cross-accumulate, which means, any deductible met in one place will apply to the other.  So, if you already met your U.S. deductible and go back overseas, any additional medical care in that year won’t need to meet the deductible.

 

Ask Doug – Questions and Answers about your global employer group medical insurance, https://www.gninsurance.com/group-health, is a series of videos providing information on how to use your international employer group medical insurance best for you and your family. 

Question – What does cross-accumulate deductible mean when it comes to my international employer group insurance, Doug?

Answer – That is a great question, Henrik.  All international employer group insurance policies allow deductibles to cross-accumulate. Henrik, this means any deductible met in one place / location will apply to the other location.  So, if you already met your U.S. deductible and go back overseas, any additional medical care in that year won’t need to meet the deductible.

 

Ask Doug – Questions and Answers about your global employer group medical insurance, https://www.gninsurance.com/group-health, is a series of videos providing information on how to use your international employer group medical insurance best for you and your family. 

Question – What do these different levels of deductibles mean that I see on my schedule of benefits, Doug?

Answer – That is a fabulous question, Annabelle.  Here is a quick definition of a deductible: This is the part that you pay first before your international medical insurance company will pay anything.

Annabelle, there may be 1, 2 or 3 different deductibles depending on the international employer group insurance and how it is structured. The different deductibles can go into one of these three categories, of where the medical care is received:

  • International (Outside the U.S.)
  • U.S. In-Network
  • U.S. Out-of-Network

Annabelle, a typical annual deductible structure might be (all in USD):

  • $250 deductible overseas
  • $2,500 deductible in the U.S. for network providers.
  • $5,000 deductible in the U.S. for out-of-Network providers.

 

Ask Doug – Questions and Answers about your global employer group medical insurance, https://www.gninsurance.com/group-health, is a series of videos providing information on how to use your international employer group medical insurance best for you and your family. 

Question – What does “out-of-pocket maximum” mean when it comes to my international employer group insurance, Doug?

Answer – That is a great question, Katherine.  Here is a general definition of “out of pocket maximum” = These are expenses that the patient (or the Patient’s parents) can expect to pay themselves before the insurance company covers the rest at 100%.

Katherine, every international medical insurance company has their own formula for how the Out-of-Pocket Maximum is Calculated.  Here are the four major components that may be used to calculate out-of-pocket maximum expense (Not all companies count all of these components).

  • Deductible
  • Co-insurance
  • Co-pays
  • International, U.S. In-Network, U.S. Out-of-Network

Katherine, you will also have the total amount of your out of pocket maximum in U.S. dollars (international and U.S. in-network), which is shown on your schedule of benefits.

Ask Doug – Questions and Answers about your global employer group medical insurance, https://www.gninsurance.com/group-health, is a series of videos providing information on how to use your international employer group medical insurance best for you and your family. 

Question – My family is heading to reside as expats in Austria. What does “co-insurance” mean on my expatriate employer group medical insurance policy?

Answer – Great question, Kimiko. After your deductible is met, your international insurance company pays a percent of the next part of the medical bill. This is shown in percentages, Kimiko. 

When you see 80 percent next to a medical expense, that means that the international insurance company will pay 80 percent of that cost and you will pay the 20 percent after the deductible is met. That does sound like a lot of money to pay out, Kimiko.  But don’t worry, there is a dollar cap.  This is where the out-of-pocket maximum comes into play.  

Once you have met your out-of-pocket maximum (one person) for all covered medical services, the company will pay all the other eligible medical expenses at 100% for the rest of Policy or Calendar year (depending on your policy). The family maximum out of pocket is 2 or 3 times the individual depending on the expatriate medical insurance policy, Kimiko.

For the most up-to-date information on our international employer group medical insurance options please –

Safe Global Travels – from your GNI Team!
https://www.gninsurance.com

 

Ask Doug – Questions and Answers about your global employer group medical insurance, https://www.gninsurance.com/group-health, is a series of videos providing information on how to use your international employer group medical insurance best for you and your family. 

Question – Who should I call in a medical emergency on my international employer group medical insurance, Doug?

Answer – Luciana, that is a great question.  Besides calling 911 or the equivalent in your country of service, Luciana, your next call should be the Customer Care, Customer Service or Member Services of your international employer medical insurance which is on your medical ID card. Your medical ID card has an emergency phone number that you may call, Luciana. These phones are monitored 24/7 and they will take collect calls. If you have to leave a message, be sure to leave your phone number.  Please also include your telephone country code, if you are outside of the U.S.

Luciana, sometimes when we are anxious, which is very understandable, we speak too quickly or forget to leave important information in our message. So please speak slower than usual and provide all important information. Repeat your phone number and name also will be greatly appreciated.  It is also a good idea to make a request by e-mail, through your account online or on the mobile app after you have called.  This allows for anything you have missed saying on the phone to be added to your account, so they can best assist you.

For the most up-to-date information on our international employer group medical insurance options please –

Safe Global Travels – from your GNI Team!
https://www.gninsurance.com

 

Hi Doug, my spouse, Benjamin, and I will be residing overseas in Indonesia for a few years in a couple of weeks. Quick question as we go over our global employer group medical insurance.

Can our children, who are now in university in England and the U.S., have their own online accounts on my international employer group insurance?

Answer –

That is a great question, Charlotte.

  • The answer may vary depending on the international employer group medical insurance company. This is a typical question from employees residing overseas (outside the U.S.) who may have dependents that are full-time students in the U.S. and around the world. Sometimes, college students may wish to have the ability to securely schedule their own appointments and manage their healthcare without having to go through a parent who could be more than 10 time zones away.

I am so glad you asked this question, Charlotte.

  • We are happy to answer any questions regarding your global employer group medical insurance policy, whether they concern your plan benefits, how to submit claims, or any other administrative issues you may have.
  • Your global insurance team here at GNI is in the office from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Arizona time on business days.
  • You may call us at 1-480-813-9100 or we can set up a video call meeting.
  • We also respond to emails within 24 business hours. You may reach us at [email protected].

Change is always in the air!  Please check out our international employer group medical insurance options on our web page at https://www.gninsurance.com/group-health for the most up-to-date information on your global employer group insurance –

  • or call us at 480-813-9100 or we can set up a video call.
  • or email us at [email protected]

Your GNI team here in Gilbert, Arizona, wishes you both safe and awe-inspiring expatriate travels in Indonesia and beyond, Charlotte and Benjamin.

www.gninsurance.com

 

Question –

  • Hi Doug, Sabrina and I are going over our global employer medical insurance benefits over our fried rice lunch here in Indonesia, and we have a quick question on copays.
  • How do I know if I have a co-pay when I visit a doctor’s office?

Answer –

That is an awesome question that you and Sabrina brought up, Bill.

There are three ways to find out ahead of time if you need to make a co-pay to a physician’s office.

  1. The ID card provided by your global employer medical insurance company, whether it’s a physical card or an electronic one, will have a phone number on the back. You can call this number to be connected with the Help Desk / Member Services of the international employer group insurance company. There, you may ask any questions about your global medical insurance policy and benefits.
  2. If you have set up your online account (and you certainly should!), you may submit this inquiry online and receive an answer via email.
  3. If you have a copy of the Summary of Benefits, any copays will be listed there.

For example:

  • In this example, the charges and copays vary by situation:
    • There are no charges and no copay if you are overseas / outside the U.S. (second column).
    • There is a copay if you are using an in-network provider in the U.S. (third column).
    • The appointment is covered at 50% after the deductible – with no copay – if you are using an out-of-network provider in the U.S. (last column).
  • If you do not have your Summary of Benefits, we will be glad to send you a copy.

I am so glad you asked this question, Bill and Sabrina.

  • We are happy to answer any questions regarding your global employer group medical insurance policy, whether they concern your plan benefits, how to submit claims, or any other administrative issues you may have.
  • Your global insurance team here at GNI is in the office from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Arizona time on business days.
  • You may call us at 1-480-813-9100 or we can set up a video call meeting.
  • We also respond to emails within 24 business hours. You may reach us at [email protected].

Change is always in the air!  Please check out our international employer group medical insurance options on our web page at https://www.gninsurance.com/group-health for the most up-to-date information on your global employer group insurance –

  • or call us at 480-813-9100 or we can set up a video call.
  • or email us at [email protected]

Your GNI team here in Gilbert Arizona, wishes you both safe and awe-inspiring expatriate travels in Indonesia and throughout, Bill and Sabrina.

 

Question –

Hi Doug! James and I are enjoying our tandoori fish lunch here in India and chatting about our international employer group medical cover we have through you all at Good Neighbor Insurance.

We have a quick question related to claim reimbursement.

How long will it take for us to receive our reimbursement after we submit our claims on our international employer group insurance?

Answer –

That’s an excellent question that you both have, Abigail!

There is no single answer, though, because several factors can affect the payment process Abigail and James.

Most claims can be paid within 30 days, provided that the international insurance company has all the necessary information. The most common reason for payment delays is the insurance company not receiving all the required information.

There are three parts to submitting a claim:

  1. The claim form: Make sure that the claim form is filled out completely and correctly. Missing, incorrect or incomplete information will slow down the process.
  2. Accompanying Claim Documents: Ensure you include doctor’s and nurse’s notes, diagnostic results, tests administered, and any other documents explaining the treatment or procedure and its necessity. Additionally, attach all invoices or bills from the providers, along with proof of payment for any of them or any portion thereof. If any documentation is missing, the international insurance company will not reach out to you directly; instead, you will receive a notice on your Explanation of Benefits (EOB) stating that the claim was denied due to missing documentation. You will then need to contact your international insurance company to determine what is missing.  One way to communicate with your global insurance company is by sending an email through your online member portal.
  3. Payment and Reimbursement Instructions: The claim form includes a section where you can inform the insurance company of two important details:
  1. The amount you paid, and the currency used.
  2. Your preferred method of reimbursement (e.g., check, EFT) and whether you wish to be reimbursed in the same currency. (Please do not attempt to convert the currency yourself. The international insurance company will handle the conversion for you, based on the international exchange rate at the time of your service.)

As long as the instructions are clear, it will help your international insurance company to pay you quickly and efficiently.

I am so glad you asked this question, Abigail.

  • We are happy to answer any questions regarding your global employer group medical insurance policy, whether they concern your plan benefits, how to submit claims, or any other administrative issues you may have.
  • Your global insurance team here at GNI is in the office from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Arizona time on business days.
  • You may call us at 1-480-813-9100 or we can set up a video call meeting.
  • We also respond to emails within 24 business hours. You may reach us at [email protected].

Change is always in the air!  Please check out our international employer group medical insurance options on our web page at https://www.gninsurance.com/group-health for the most up-to-date information on your global employer group insurance –

  • or call us at 480-813-9100 or we can set up a video call.
  • or email us at [email protected]

Your GNI team here in Gilbert, Arizona, wishes you both safe and awe-inspiring expatriate travels in India and beyond, Abigail and James.

www.gninsurance.com

 

Hi Doug, Aya and I are reviewing our international employer group insurance (https://www.gninsurance.com/group-health) that we have with you at GNI, as we prepare to head over to Africa for the next few years next week.

Question –

What is Direct Pay and how does it work, Doug?

Oliver, that is a great question that you and Aya brought up related to direct pay on your international employer group policy. 

Please realize that not all international employer group insurance plans provide this wonderful direct pay benefit, Oliver and Aya. But the great news is that your global employer group insurance does have this fabulous benefit.

Answer –

Direct pay is the process that your insurance company has contracted ahead of time with international providers, so that you have no or little out of pocket cost.

The provider will bill the insurance company directly. You won’t need to pay for the total cost of your care upfront, only your deductible if you have one.

You’ll only pay your deductible at the time of service and the provider bills your international employer group insurance company directly for the balance.

Direct pay lets you take advantage of:

  • No or low out-of-pocket costs at the time of service
  • Better health care experiences (similar to what you’re used to in the U.S.)
  • Lower charges as they negotiate with our direct-pay providers
  • Easier admissions process when inpatient care is needed (providers know they will be paid)
  • Some companies require that you request Direct Pay ahead of your appointment, other company’s cards are immediately recognized for Direct Pay.

I am so glad you asked this question, Oliver and Aya.

  • We are happy to answer any questions regarding your international employer group insurance policy, whether it be about your plan benefits or how to submit claims or any other administrative question you may have.
  • Your global insurance team here at GNI are in the office from 8:00am – 4:00pm Arizona time on business days.
  • You may call us at 1-480-813-9100 or we can set up a video call meeting.
  • We also respond to emails, [email protected], within 24 business hours.  

Change is always in the air!  Please check out our international employer group insurance options on our web page at https://www.gninsurance.com/group-health for the most up-to-date information on your international insurance –

  • or call us at 480-813-9100 or we can set up a video call.
  • or email us at [email protected]

Your GNI team here in Gilbert Arizona, wishes you both safe and awe-inspiring expatriate travels in Africa and throughout, Oliver and Aya.

www.gninsurance.com

 

Hi Doug, Savanah and I are having our lunch here on the island of Papua, eastern part of Indonesia, with a tasty bowl of fried rice and shrimp crackers (krupuk udang) and are going over our international employer group insurance policy benefits, https://www.gninsurance.com/group-health.

Question –

Doug, we came across the ambulance benefit and are wondering, how do we file a claim if we need to use this benefit?

Philip, that’s a great question that you and Savanah brought up. Let me share information with you on how to file a claim for ambulance services.

Answer –

Your ambulance benefit service functions similarly to those in the U.S., transporting individuals from one location—be it their home or the site of an accident—to the hospital or nearest medical facility. Please note that the ambulance benefit discussed here does not pertain to emergency medical evacuation, which is covered in another video.

The payment for an ambulance claim can vary depending on several factors, including your specific health insurance policy and the terms of coverage.

  • It is important to review your Summary of Benefits or contact your insurance provider directly for accurate information about your coverage.
  • In general, global employer group medical health insurance policies typically cover ambulance services when they are medically necessary, like in emergency situations or when a patient requires transportation to a certain facility.

In this video, we will discuss using your ambulance service in the U.S., where you’ll need to consider the deductible and coinsurance.

  • I was checking your policy online here at the office, Philip and Savannah, and noticed that you have no out-of-pocket costs for medical care outside the U.S., provided that the medical condition is a covered benefit.
  • Additionally, you may use any Western-style medical facility outside the U.S.
  • Below, I will explain how ambulance claims are typically handled by your global employer group health insurance policy.

You might be responsible for:

  1. Deductible: Your health insurance policy has a deductible of $2,500, which is the amount you must pay out of pocket before your insurance coverage kicks in. If your deductible has not been met, you may be responsible for the full cost of the ambulance service. Many of our global employer medical insurance plans have a zero deductible abroad, which yours does.
  2. Co-insurance: Once your deductible has been met, your international employer group medical insurance policy may require you to pay additional co-insurance amount for the ambulance services, depending on how it was coded by the medical facility. The percentage is based on your specific benefits and whether it is International (0%), U.S. In-Network (10-30%), or US Out-of-Network (40-50%) Most of our international employer group medical insurance plans have a zero co-insurance abroad, which yours does, Philip and Savanah.
  3. In-network vs. out-of-network providers (in the U.S.): International employer group medical health insurance policies often have a network of preferred providers, including ambulance services. If you use an ambulance service that is in-network with your insurance, your out-of-pocket expenses can be lower. And if you use an out-of-network ambulance service you may be responsible for a greater portion of the cost, if it is not an emergency. Most out of network providers in the U.S., will have a higher cost.
  4. Medical necessity: Global employer group health insurance policies typically cover ambulance services when they are medically necessary for a covered condition.
  5. For non-emergency transport, it is always best to consult your global employer group medical insurance company directly for pre-certification.

I am so glad you asked this question, Philip and Savanah.

  • We are happy to answer any questions about our international employer group medical plans, including plan benefits for your team members, claim submission, or any other administrative concerns you may have.
  • Your global employer group insurance team here at GNI are in the office from 8:00am – 4:00pm Arizona time on business days.
  • You may call us at 1-480-813-9100 or we can set up a video call meeting.
  • We also respond to emails, [email protected] within 24 business hours.  

Change is always in the air!  Please check out our international employer group medical insurance options on our web page at https://www.gninsurance.com/group-health for the most up-to-date information on your international insurance –

  • or call us at 480-813-9100 or we can set up a video call.
  • or email us at [email protected]

Your GNI team here in Gilbert, Arizona, wishes you and your family safe and awe-inspiring expatriate travels in Indonesia and beyond, Philip and Savanah.

www.gninsurance.com