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The healthcare plans available for US citizens are usually not available to foreign citizens, visitors and some temporary workers. Besides, most mainstream health plans require immigrants to have resided in the US for a certain length of time. To address the above there are various medical plans designed specifically for new immigrants, temporary workers and visitors to USA.
Basics of Immigrant Health Insurance Plans
Group Insurance Plans
If you are traveling in a group (typically 5 or more in number) you can consider purchasing a group insurance policy. Group insurance is generally the least expensive kind. In many cases, group insurance policies are not available for online purchase and you will work with an agent for its purchase.
Temporary workers on a project assignment, tourists traveling abroad in large groups, cultural groups performing overseas, missionaries, religious groups engaged in social work, and adventure tour groups could take advantage of the lower costs of group insurance. A foreign employer can obtain a group policy for employees who travel frequently to the US as well.
Individual Insurance Plans
New immigrants to the US or those traveling individually can buy individual policies. Please compare the various policy options and shop carefully because coverage and costs vary among the policies. Most policies are available online for purchase and some are renewable.
Some tips when shopping for individual insurance:
Shop carefully: Policies differ widely in coverage and cost. Contact different insurance companies, or ask your agent to provide you information about several policies from several insurance companies so that you can compare the policies.
Make sure the policy protects you from large medical costs: Make sure it provides the kind of coverage that is right for you. You do not want unpleasant surprises when you are sick or in the hospital.
Check to see that the policy is renewable up to your anticipated time to obtain the required US immigration status or length of stay in a foreign country.
Be informed of the pre-existing condition clause.
Both Group and Individual plans typically require a monthly (sometimes on a daily or 15 day basis) periodic fee called the 'premium'.
You will pay a certain amount of money called the 'deductible' for each illness or policy period before the insurance payments begin.
Most plans also require a 'co-insurance' payment. After you have paid your deductible amount for the policy period (or for that illness, depending on the policy), you share the bill with the insurance company. For example, you might pay 20 percent while the insurer pays 80 percent of the covered expenses. Your portion is called 'coinsurance'.
Coverage amounts are available up to various maximum amounts; they range from $10,000 to $1,000,000. The coverage for the70+ age group tends to be limited to $50,000 or less.
You can also purchase additional policy riders or options for hazardous sports and terrorism acts.
Definitions of the health insurance terms used are included in the section called Health Insurance Terms.
Before you buy any health insurance policy, make sure you know what it will cover and what is not covered. To find out about individual health insurance plans, you can call appropriate insurance agents, insurance companies, and plan administrators. You can also find and compare plans online at
http://www.nriol.net.
What are the types of plans available?
Several types of plans are available offering global or USA only coverage. Policy premiums are influenced by several factors including the maximum benefits limit, the deductible selected, age group of the insured and other options (hazardous sports coverage, terrorism coverage) selected.
Comprehensive Coverage Program
These policies are characterized by providing benefits up to the policy maximum coverage limit. Typically there are few benefit limits based on the type of covered medical service. These policies usually require the insured to pay a co-insurance; for example a policy co-insurance may require the insured to pay 20% of the first $5000 of the covered expenses and then the policy covers 100% of the covered expenses.
Coverage includes expenses for treating illness, sickness, injuries, repatriation, emergency re-union, return of minor, trip interruption, baggage loss, dental, emergency evacuation, accidental death etc.
Scheduled Benefits Program
Scheduled benefits programs are characterized by benefits limits for each type of medical service. For example a policy with a maximum benefit limit of $50,000 can stipulate a maximum of $350 for Emergency Room visits, Diagnostic Tests (i.e. X-Rays, lab tests) to be $500.
The total payable benefits for all covered medical services will not exceed the policy maximum benefit limit for each Injury or for the policy period.
Coverage includes expenses for treating illness, sickness, injuries, repatriation, dental, emergency evacuation, accidental death etc.
