Visitor Insurance for Parents

[waemindi]

Hi,
I am looking for good Insurance for My Parents, who are visiting US in DEC for about 48days. My parents enquired in india couple insurance companies ICICI Lombard, United Insurance etc. In india all the visitor insurances are not exceeding more than 12000 for both my parents. In US, i searched your website insubuy.com. with same deductible and co-insurance. It's almost 3 times than what indian insurances are providing. And a huge difference in the Policy, in india they told every thing will be 100% covered after deductable. In here, there are percentages like 80/100, 100/80 something like that.

So, my question is why is there a juge difference in these policies in india and US.

[insubuy]

That is simply not true.

You are not comparing apples to apples.

Please look at https://www.insubuy.com/visitors-ins...ia-comparison/ to understand the difference between buying from US vs India. Most of the plans from Indian companies are fixed coverage plans for persons above age 55 years, not comprehensive. Read https://www.insubuy.com/visitors-insurance/ to understand the difference between fixed vs comprehensive coverage plans.

It is always advisable to buy the insurance from the US companies.

Read the experiences of the people at http://www.immihelp.com/experience/v...insurance.html and also in this discussion forum.

After reading the content in those links, if you have specific questions, please feel free to post them here or contact us at any time.

[desishopper]

ICICI vs Atlas America

Narendra:

I did a comparison of the policy wordings of ICICI lombard and Atlas America for a person who is 61 years. Based on my research (I could be wrong and if so please correct me.) here is what I find.

Few of the common items that I find a lot of people are concerned about are listed below.

1. ICICI is comprehensive for a person who is 61 years. They seem to have recently removed the sublimits for 56 years+.

2. ICICI does not have a PPO network whereas Atlas America has PPO/Hygeia.
This should no affect us as long as the expenses do not go beyond the policy maximum. If the expenses go beyond the policy maximum then my assumption is in case of ICICI, you may have to pay the remaining full amount out of pocket. In case of Atlas America, you may have to pay the PPO pre-negotiated rate out of pocket.

3. ICICI has a deductible of $100/sickness whereas Atlas America has a deductible of $X per entire duration.
3.1 ICICI provides 100% after deductible. Atlas America the same if the provider bills directly. If not 80/20 for first $5K and 100/0 after that.

4. ICICI - pay out of pocket and get re-imbursed in ruppees later after return to india. Atlas america - insurance card available and provider can bill the insurance company directly.

5. ICICI covers pre-existing life threatening illness upto policy maximum where as Atlas america covers only upto $15000

6. ICICI has to be taken before the person leaves india. Atlas America can be taken before or after.

7. ICICI gold ($100K) costs little less than $300 (Exchange Rs 46/USD) for 6 months whereas Atlas America ($100K) costs around $1100 (depending on deductible)

Non-quantifiable ones
- Customer service
- Protection from consumer protection agencies
- Ease of claims process and how long it takes to get money back
- IMPORTANT: Whether the insurance company actually re-imburses your claims

Thanks

[insubuy]

As I wrote before, you are not comparing apples to apples. There are a lot of inaccuracies and incorrect information in what you wrote.

However, I am not allowed to comment on the plans that I don't offer. You will have to ask them whatever questions you have regarding their plan.

If you are so inclined to believe that the plan from an Indian company is cheaper and better for you, go for it by all means. However, I can tell you one thing: If you are thinking that you are getting more or less the same thing where one company charges you $300 and the other one $1,100, it would be a big misconception.

If you have any specific questions about any of the plans we offer, we would be glad to help you.

[csingh]

The 100% coverage claim made by ICICI is not true. I say this from experience..
my in laws visited us in 2007 and had ICICI insurance. My MIL who is a diabetic and also suffers from high BP was sick and we took her to the URgent care center where they wrongly diagnosed it as a heart attack and rushed her to ER in an ambulance. Later in the ER it was discovered that she did not have a heart attack but something as inane as low sodium brought about by her diabetes/ bp medication and dehydration. She was kept in the hospital for 3 days and monitored by a cardiologist initially and by an Internist later.
ICICI did pay all the small bills in full (the doctors, ambulance, URgent care), but didn't pay most of the hospital bill (which was a substantial amount...the smaller bills were not more than 1000 dollars); on being contacted they said that they pay what they think should be the right amount charged. Also, since they don't have a PPO network, the bills amounts weren't the negotiated, lower rates but the full rates charged by the hospital.

We worked with the financial counselors at the hospital who worked out a monthly payment plan with us and were extremely understanding and even grateful that we did intend to pay them rather than just stiff them of their money and have my MIL leave for India!

Dealing with ICICI was another matter: it took anywhere from 6 to 8 months to get them to settle. We had to constantly call them...almost every day for this entire period. Teh hospital billing people would tell us something and the ICICI folks would tell us something totally different regards teh progress of the case. At one point the hospital said the insurance co has denied all the claims...ICICI said we're still waiting to get your records from the hospital...and it went back and forth like that for 8 whole months.

This time, my parents are visiting and I've bought Atlas comprehensive coverage.
The advantages in my view areafter having gone thru the above drama):
PPO Network and negotiated rates
Customer service in the US
POssibility of direct billing.

I was also considering the fixed coverage plan at one time but after a lot of research I've figured those are little more than discount cards.

[insubuy]

Please note that 'desishopper' had called me on 11/24/2009 and indicated that he would be buying Atlas America.

I believe that he made an excellent decision.

If we can be of any help to him or to any one else, please feel free to contact us at any time.

[jain_pk]

Not sure yet

Narendra,

So let's say, if an elderly family member has an existing condition ( eg heart condition ), if there is an event releated to heart, even taking your insurance would not cover it ?

If my uncle has diabetes and comes to US with your insurance and has a diabetic episode, since its a preexisting condition, your insurance would not cover it ?

[insubuy]

Any expenses related to pre-existing conditions are not covered.

I suggest that you read https://www.insubuy.com/visitor-medi...ng-conditions/ to get more understanding about pre-existing conditions.

[desishopper]

Atlas America

I am shopping for visitor insurance again. Couple of questions

1. Can you provide me PPO list in NJ area (or pointer to the directory) for Atlas America?

2. If the visitor gets admitted into a hospital with a pre-existing illness, Atlas America would cover bills upto $15K. For the bills that run beyond this amount, will the bills be charged to us at pre-negotiated rates or hospital's original rates? The pre-negotiatated rates are usually 50% or so lesser than the the original rates. So wanted to understand this.

Thx

[insubuy]

1.
Look at https://www.insubuy.com/hccmis-ppo-network/

2.
Please note that Atlas America covers up to $15,000 in acute onset of pre-existing conditions for person below the age 70 years.

If the expense is covered (eligible claim), the entire claim is repriced and then covered up to $15,000.

However, if the expense is not covered (ineligible claim), nothing is repriced.


I hope that answers your questions.

You can purchase it online at https://www.insubuy.com/atlasamerica-insurance/