Millions of seniors worldwide travel abroad to and from various countries, with numbers that continue to grow. After retiring, seniors have the time and money to travel; moreover, many have children working and living in other countries such as the USA, Canada and the UK. These professionals that left their parents to pursue education and careers abroad likely left when they were young. To show their appreciation to their family, they frequently invite their parents, in-laws or other elderly relatives from India, China and other countries to come and visit them as well as to tour their newly adopted home.
Unlike the cost of healthcare in their country of origin, healthcare costs in the U.S. are very high, therefore, purchasing travel insurance is highly recommended. However, many seniors suffer from various pre-existing conditions. Pre-existing conditions can be any medical condition that existed before the effective date of the policy, irrespective of whether you were aware of it, was diagnosed, or received treatment.
Unfortunately, visitors insurance plans are not designed to cover routine maintenance or expected expenses relating to pre-existing conditions. Travel insurance companies simply can not afford to do that.
Many people who are considering travel insurance for their visiting parents are concerned about the coverage details for pre-existing conditions. This article describes the best and the most that can be done regarding the coverage related to pre-existing conditions.
Even though pre-existing conditions are not covered, there are many visitors insurance plans that provide the coverage for acute onset of pre-existing conditions, which is a sudden emergency that occurs without any prior warning and symptoms and you must go for treatment within the next 24 hours. Some visitors insurance plans have limitations of 48 hours before the acute onset of pre-existing conditions can be covered, which is simply to avoid the disputes with the customers who might end up waiting to purchase the insurance after they already start having problems.
Insubuy is an industry leader in visitors insurance for trips to the U.S. and has been helping people worldwide for two decades. They suggest the following travel insurance plans to cover acute onset of pre-existing conditions for visitors to the USA:
- Age Group 80-89 Years
For senior most travelers, there is a visitors insurance plan with the most coverage for acute onset of pre-existing conditions and a plan that can offer valuable pre-existing condition coverage:
- Safe Travels Elite
This travel insurance plan provides $15,000 for acute onset of pre-existing conditions coverage for the 80-89 age group and $50,000 in new medical conditions.
It pays a fixed amount for each and every procedure, as described in the schedule of benefits, and you would pay the difference out of your pocket.
This plan also participates in a PPO network, making it a very popular fixed coverage visitors insurance plan. - Visitors Protect Insurance
This visitors insurance plan is unique in that it goes beyond covering just acute onset of pre-existing conditions, and can provide true pre-existing condition coverage with certain restrictions.
Visitors Protect Insurance can cover eligible pre-existing conditions up to $20,000 for ages 70 and older, or up to $25,000 up to age 69.
The advantage of Visitors Protect is that, unlike most visitors insurance plans, it can cover pre-existing condition treatment up to the stated pre-existing condition policy maximum, so long as the condition and patient meet all plan requirements and satisfy the pre-existing condition deductible of $1,500.
- Safe Travels Elite
- Age Group 70-79 Years
- Atlas America
While most comprehensive coverage plans provide a small amount or no coverage for acute onset of pre-existing conditions for visitors ages 70 and older, Atlas America can cover up to the policy maximum ($50,000 or $100,000) in acute onset of pre-existing conditions for the 70–79 age group.
In addition to having a $15 copay and waiving the deductible for urgent care and walk-in clinic, it covers 100% within the PPO network.
It is the most popular visitors insurance with acute onset of pre-existing conditions for 70-79 age group. - Safe Travels Elite
This visitors insurance plan covers up to $25,000 (cardiac $15,000) in acute onset of pre-existing conditions for 70-79 age group.
It is a low-cost fixed coverage plan for budget-conscious travelers. It provides coverage for one wellness visit and it is the only fixed coverage plan that participates in the PPO network, providing the ease of direct billing and avoiding the hassles of filing for reimbursement later. - Visitors Protect Insurance
A unique plan that can provide true pre-existing condition coverage with certain limitations.
Visitors Protect offers coverage for pre-existing conditions up to $20,000 for ages 70 and older.
Unlike other visitors insurance plans, pre-existing condition coverage with Visitors Protect is not limited to the acute onset benefit. It can provide true pre-existing condition coverage up to $20,000 for age 70 and older, and a separate $1,500 pre-existing condition deductible (all other treatment is subject to the selected plan deductible).
For treatment not related to a pre-existing condition, Visitors Protect offers an overall policy maximum of $50,000 for age 70 and older.
- Atlas America
- Under 70 Years
For this age group, there are many visitors insurance plans that provide a high amount of coverage for acute onset of pre-existing conditions:- Atlas America
Provides the coverage for acute onset of pre-existing conditions up to the chosen policy maximum, where the options are available up to $2,000,000 for ages under 65 and up to $100,000 for ages 65–79. - Beacon America
Provides coverage for acute onset of a pre-existing condition, the specific amount depends on the chosen policy maximum. If the selected policy maximum is between $550,000 and $1,100,000, then it covers up to $150,000. If the selected policy maximum is between $60,000 and $200,000, then it covers up to $50,000 for acute onset of pre-existing conditions. Policy maximums selected below $60,000 do not provide an acute onset of a pre-existing condition coverage.
- Patriot America Plus
Provides acute onset of pre-existing conditions coverage up to the chosen policy maximum, with highest available up to $1,000,000. - Safe Travels USA Comprehensive
This plan covers acute onset of pre-existing conditions up to $20,000 up to age 64, $10,000 for ages 65-69.
For visitors under the age of 65 years, the coverage is available up to $1,000,000. However, for the 65-69 years age group, the maximum available is $100,000. - Safe Travels Elite
It is a low cost fixed coverage plan that pays according to the schedule of benefits, where various policy maximums ranging from $25,000 through $175,000 are available. - Visitors Protect Insurance
Provides true pre-existing condition coverage up to $25,000 through age 69, and policy maximums up to $250,000 for the same age group. - VisitorSecure
Cheap visitors insurance that is a fixed coverage plan and pays as per the schedule of benefits. The policy maximums range from $25,000 to $130,000.
- Atlas America
Tips
In any case, please go through the certificate wording of each insurance plan that you may be interested in to look at the complete details and exclusions. As all of the above-mentioned visitors insurance plans are extendable, if the visitor decides to stay for a longer duration, it can simply be extended online.
With any visitors insurance plan, there are no medical exams or medical records requested before purchasing visitors insurance. After you become sick or are injured, the insurance company’s claims department will determine (based on the attending physician’s statement and medical records) whether something is a pre-existing condition, whether something is an acute onset of pre-existing condition, or whether something is a completely new medical condition.
In other words, there is no way to be sure that a specific medical episode occurring to the visitor in the US would be covered or not. There is some degree of risk that you would have to take while deciding to invite elderly relatives to visit the US.
As insurance regulations are very strict in the US, the insurance companies can’t deny any legitimate claims and they are required to pay according to the terms and conditions of the insurance policy you have purchased. In any case, if you run into any legitimate claim issues, Insubuy’s claims resolution specialist will help you at no additional cost to you. That is one of the major advantages of purchasing visitors insurance from a neutral broker such as Insubuy. Why not have the additional assurance, at no additional cost to you?
