Insurance and Credit Cards

Is the insurance plan refundable should I leave the country during its validity

Some insurance plans do refund money if given enough advance notice, however since travelers insurance is typically for a short duration, they are often not refundable. If this situation is a concern for you, you should look out for insurance plans which are renewable. Such plans are available among the plans listed in our comparison engine.

What is the proof of my purchasing insurance?

How do I purchase the insurance? When does the insurance take effect?

Purchasing insurance online is very simple. From our , you can click on the 'Buy' button in the first column. This leads you to the appropriate online application form. You have to complete the appropriate online application form and you will immediately receive an email acknowledgement which is the virtual ID card. The coverage will start from the start date as indicated on the form. Within a week you will receive a package from the insurance company, which will include the insurance card and a hard copy with details regarding the insurance plan.

Purchasing insurance online is very simple. From our , you can click on the 'Buy' button in the first column. This leads you to the appropriate online application form. You have to complete the appropriate online application form and you will immediately receive an email acknowledgement which is the virtual ID card. The coverage will start from the start date as indicated on the form. Within a week you will receive a package from the insurance company, which will include the insurance card and a hard copy with details regarding the insurance plan.

Can I purchase insurance for only part of the stay of my parents in the US?

Yes you can purchase for only partial duration of the entire stay. However the purpose of purchasing insurance is in the event of unanticipated medical emergencies. One can never be sure when such an emergency can happen. Having purchased insurance for part of their stay will not help in the event of an emergency during the uninsured period.

Why should I purchase insurance with an American company and not buy insurance in my native country?

Fixed Benefits Plan (Scheduled Benefits Plan)

These policies are characterized by various benefit limits for each type of covered medical expense. These benefit limits typically are not the same as the policy maximum.

For example, a policy with a $50,000 maximum limit may feature upto a maximum of $2000 for surgery, upto a maximum of $500 for diagnostic services (X-rays, scans) etc. The maximum amounts for different situations are detailed in the policy brochure.

Typically you are required to pay an initial deductible for each injury or sickness and then the plan pays for the rest of the covered expenses.

Scheduled Benefits Plans have the lowest premiums, but the consumer must be aware that the benefits offered are relatively limited as compared to the Comprehensive Coverage Plans.

Examples of Scheduled Coverage Plans include 'Inbound USA' underwritten by Lloyds and 'Visitors Care' underwritten by Sirius International.

Comprehensive Coverage Plan

These policies typically do not have benefit limits based on the type of medical expense. Usually benefits for covered medical expenses go all the way upto the policy maximum (less deductible and co-insurance).

Typically for all covered medical expenses during the policy period the insured pays the deductible plus 20% of the first $5,000; and then the plan pays 100% of the eligible medical expenses upto the policy maximum.

The details for each policy such as the policy maximum, medical expense eligibility etc. are listed in the policy brochure.

Comprehensive Coverage Plans have relatively higher premiums, but in turn offer better benefits than the Scheduled Benefits Plans.

Examples of Comprehensive coverage plans include 'Diplomat America', 'Atlas America', 'Liaison International' and 'Patriot America'.

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Visitor Travel Health Insurance FAQ Disclaimer

NRIOL has tried to answer these frequently asked questions to the best of our knowledge. However we make no guarantee regarding the accuracy of our answers. The exact answers for some of the questions can change periodically as insurance companies change their policies. NRIOL is not liable for any problem resulting from the content on this FAQ.
Visitor Travel Health Insurance questions, comments, suggetions, inquiries about this site, please to contact us!

Why should I purchase insurance with an American company and not buy insurance in my native country?

It is advisable to have insurance from an American company while in the United States, even if the premium for these plans are more expensive. The reason is that while almost all Doctors/hospitals in the United States accept American insurance company cards, they will be reluctant to acknowledge overseas insurance coverage. The medical office can easily contact an American insurance company for clarification, while the same will not be true for an overseas insurance company. Typically medical offices in the US will bill directly to known American insurance companies. For overseas insurance companies you most probably will have to pay the bill, and then try to get the claim reimbursed from the insurance compan

There is such a wide array of choices between insurance plans offered by different companies. How do I know what to purchase?

It is precisely to help you make this decision that we built our insurance comparison facility. Using NRIOL's , you can evaluate different plans based on their cost, the deductible and their rating. This will help you identify the plan that best suits for your needs.

When should I purchase the insurance?

You should purchase the insurance only after being certain of your travel plans (having the passport/visa papers and the airline tickets in order). It is safest to start the insurance coverage from the date of departure from your native country.

My parents are not yet here, can I purchase insurance for them in their absence?

Why should I purchase insurance with an American company and not buy insurance in my native country

It is advisable to have insurance from an American company while in the United States, even if the premium for these plans are more expensive. The reason is that while almost all Doctors/hospitals in the United States accept American insurance company cards, they will be reluctant to acknowledge overseas insurance coverage. The medical office can easily contact an American insurance company for clarification, while the same will not be true for an overseas insurance company.

Typically medical offices in the US will bill directly to known American insurance companies. For overseas insurance companies you most probably will have to pay the bill, and then try to get the claim reimbursed from the insurance company.

There is such a wide array of choices between insurance plans offered by different companies. How do I know what to purchase?

It is precisely to help you make this decision that we built our insurance comparison facility. Using NRIOL's , you can evaluate different plans based on their cost, the deductible and their rating. This will help you identify the plan that best suits for your needs.

When should I purchase the insurance?

You should purchase the insurance only after being certain of your travel plans (having the passport/visa papers and the airline tickets in order). It is safest to start the insurance coverage from the date of departure from your native country.

Is the insurance plan refundable should I leave the country during its validity?

Some insurance plans do refund money if given enough advance notice, however since travelers insurance is typically for a short duration, they are often not refundable. If this situation is a concern for you, you should look out for insurance plans which are renewable. Such plans are available among the plans listed in our comparison engine.

What is the proof of my purchasing insurance?

When you purchase insurance online, you will immediately receive a confirmatory email with details of the insurance. This is the virtual insurance card, and it is prudent to print this and to keep a backup of this email. You will also receive an insurance card from the insurance company by mail. This card will have your name, policy number, group number, insurance company's contact information such as the toll-free telephone number and the address where claims should be submitt