If you are going to be checked into a hospital or have a test like an x-ray or scan, you will need to contact the insurance company for three reasons.

1. They can give you direction and confirmation if this is the best place for you to receive the treatment you need
2. They will want to set up a direct billing relationship with the provider if possible so that you don’t have to pay out of pocket
3. You must pre-certify this activity with the insurance company to ensure the full benefit. Failure to contact the insurance company and pre-certify cuts your benefit in half.

The written documentation that shows proof of treatment during the time the policy was active. The most important item on the receipt is the date. The date shows the treatment began while the insurance was available and therefore the amount might be eligible for reimbursement.

The process the insurance company has in place to pay for your reimbursements under the guidelines of the policy. Because insurance companies are audited to make sure they are doing everything correctly they have a standardized procedure they must follow to collect your information, process the information and documentation from your illness or injury, and pay the claim.

The amount of money required by the doctor or clinic or hospital at the time of service that you pay first and then the insurance company will refund back to the individual or company after the completion of the claim process.

The process begins with the treatment for an illness or injury while you are overseas. Because you are probably in an area of a country that does not have the experience in dealing with international commerce and payments, they will want to be paid for the services they are providing on the spot. You may have medication charges as well as service charges. At this point the receipt is critically important because you or the company will be reimbursed based on the receipt that you include with your claim form.

1. Reimbursement – This is the most common method by far and most people use a credit card to pay for the services or access cash.
2. GOP- Guarantee of Payment is a second option that some providers will accept as a form of payment.  The insurance company sends an email or fax to the provider with a statement guaranteeing the payment for your treatment.  If accepted, then you don’t have to pay with a credit card and the insurance company and the provider will settle the payment later.
3. Direct Billing – This is the way bills are paid in the USA where the doctor or hospital send the bill directly to the insurance company and you are only responsible to pay for the deductible up front.

• If you become ill or injured on your trip, seek treatment immediately. Minor issues can become major issues quickly while overseas. You also need to begin treatment while the coverage from your policy is effective.
  You may go to a pharmacy, clinic, doctor, or hospital of your choice but you must get a receipt even if they don’t charge you anything because the date on the receipt is so important for documenting the beginning of treatment. Be aware that if you go to an emergency room and are not admitted there is a specific deductible for that situation that is different from the policy deductible. Usually this amount is around $250.00. This is something to keep in mind if the injury or illness is one that can easily be treated at a clinic or with a doctor.

• Once you have the receipt and the medicine, you have 90 days to file the claim paperwork. The receipt serves as proof of treatment so that the “follow me home coverage” has a start date from the date on the receipt not the date you return form your trip to your home country. This process might go on longer because you might see a doctor once you return home to follow up on the care you received overseas but you need to begin the process within 90 day of the first treatment.

• By filling out the short claim form and sending copies of your receipts to the claim department of the insurance company you are eligible for reimbursement of expenses that are within the policy guidelines. If you see a doctor back in your home country, send those receipts or any documentation called “Explanation of Benefits (EOB)” to the insurance company claim office so that you can receive the benefits found in the policy.

All premiums are collected by global(x) and submitted on your behalf to the insurance carrier and other emergency services vendors participating in our new policy/programs. You are able to raise support for the cost of coverage which varies based on number of days and the mission trip with global(x) you select.

A direct quote from the U.S. Department of State’s travel website regarding the need for insurance:

“Obtaining medical treatment and hospital care abroad can be expensive, and medical evacuation to the U.S. can cost more than $50,000. Note that U.S. medical insurance is generally not accepted outside the United States, nor do the Social Security Medicare and Medicaid programs provide coverage for hospital or medical costs outside the United States.

If your insurance policy does not cover you abroad, it is a good idea to consider purchasing a short-term policy that does.”

This is not a complete listing of benefits but a reasonable sample:

Dental Due to Accident for Sound Natural Teeth; Intensive Care; Ambulance; Emergency Evacuation; Emergency Reunion; Remote Transportation; Political Evacuation; Terrorism Coverage; Identity Theft Assistance; Felonious Assault; Loss / Theft – Valuables, Personal Papers

The greatest benefit for your family is peace of mind that in the event you have a medical need, there are medical personnel available to consult and guide your care up to an extreme medical evacuation. The emergency reunion benefit provides for one family member to be flown to be with you in the event you are hospitalized overseas for a period of time. Furthermore, if you continue to need care for an injury or illness you began treatment for overseas, your benefit will continue for up to 12 months back in the United States. This is a tremendous financial assistance to you and your entire family, saving you the burden and financial expense of medical care, emergency evacuations, and foreign claims.