Over last few decades, Multichoice Insurance Services have helped thousands of families with various insurance needs. Through their new launched website, VisitorPLANS, they would like to bring into light the salient features and benefits of the two kinds of medical insurance available: Domestic Medical Insurance vs. Travel Medical Insurance.
Often time, prospective visitors spend hours researching several plans but are unable to make a suitable choice as per their needs and requirements. Through this article, we would like to explain the domestic medical insurance and travel medical insurance, as well as provide a comparison of benefits offered by them.
Definition
Medical insurance or domestic medical insurance is USA domestic insurance that a resident possesses to help pay for health-related expenses. It is an insurance against the risk of incurring medical expenses among individuals, families and groups.
U.S. citizen and non-U.S. citizen as well as their families and friends, traveling outside their country of citizenship for minimum 5 days upto maximum 1 year of trips can be covered with travel medical insurance or visitor insurance for unforeseen medical emergencies.
The table below gives a comparison of benefits offered by Domestic Medical Insurance Vs Travel Medical Insurance.
|
Benefit Offered |
Detail |
Domestic Medical Insurance |
Travel Medical Insurance |
|
| 1 | Medical benefits | Coverage for unforeseen medical circumstances like new sickness, injury, accident. | Covered | Covered |
| 2 | Acute Onset of Pre-Existing Medical Conditions (excludes chronic and congenital conditions) | A sudden and unexpected outbreak or recurrence of a pre-existing condition(s) which occurs spontaneously and without advance warning either in the form of physician recommendations or symptoms, is of short duration, is rapidly progressive, and requires urgent care. The Acute Onset of a Pre-existing Condition(s) must occur after the certificate effective date. Treatment must be obtained within 24 hours of the sudden and unexpected outbreak or recurrence. A pre-existing condition that is a chronic or congenital condition or that gradually becomes worse over time will not be considered Acute Onset. This benefit does not include coverage for known, scheduled, required, or expected medical care, drugs or treatments existent or necessary prior to the certificate effective date. | Covered | Covered in some plans, age-restrictions apply |
| 3 | Emergency Medical Evacuation | Emergency Medical evacuation means evacuation due to a medical condition manifesting itself by acute signs or symptoms which could reasonably result in placing the insured person’s life or limb in danger if medical attention is not provided within 24 hours. | Covered | Covered |
| 4 | Political evacuation | In situation of political unrest and danger, political evacuation may be necessary. Some travel insurance plans provide political evacuation coverage for the insured person and his dependents. The coverage usually includes the transportation as well as lodging costs. During this time, the insurance company also relays messages about them to their family members. After the situation is safe and resolved, arrangements are made for the visitors to return to their home country or to the place they have been evacuated from | Not Covered | Covered |
| 5 | Trip interruption | An interruption is said to occur when a traveler unexpectedly has to cut short his trip or postpone his departure date (make his trip longer than planned). | Not Covered | Covered |
| 6 | Lost Checked Luggage | Replacement of clothes and personal hygiene items. | Not Covered | Covered |
| 7 | Travel Delay | Travel delay coverage includes Reimbursement for reasonable accommodations and meals when insured person’s travel delay requires an unplanned overnight stay | Not Covered | Covered |
| 8 | Border Entry Protection | Some plans, for example, provide coverage for Border Entry Protection, i.e. if traveling on a valid B-2 visa and denied entrance at the U.S. border. | Not Covered | Covered |
| 9 | Crisis Response | Insured person is covered for Ransom; and/or Personal Belongings; and/or Crisis Response Fees and Expenses. | Not Covered | Covered |
| 10 | Natural Disasters | Natural calamities like earthquakes, volcanoes, heavy rains/floods, fire, tornadoes, hurricanes, snow storms, etc. | Not Covered | Covered |
| 11 | Natural Disaster – Replacement Accommodations | Natural Disaster means an event of natural cause, including wildfire, earthquake, windborne dust or sand, volcanic eruption, tsunami, snow, rain or wind, that results in widespread and severe damage. In case the insured person is displaced- (means he/she is required to depart a destination due to an evacuation from forecasted natural disaster or following a natural disaster strike by prevailing authorities), replacement accommodations are provided for. |
Not Covered | Covered |
| 12 | Emergency Reunion | Bedside visit as it is popularly known as, Emergency Reunion coverage, covers the cost of round trip transportation of a family member or friend to the injured or sick insured person outside his home country. If the insurer gets hospitalized for a period of more than 7 days (usually) due to a covered injury or any other medical condition, one chosen person, a friend or family member’s travel can be covered by the insurance plan. | Not Covered | Covered |
| 13 | Return of Minor Children | If during an international trip the parent visitor suffers from some injury/illness and is hospitalized for more than a fixed number of days (normally 7), visitor insurance covers the cost of arranging and sending the dependent (minor) children back to their home country. It should be noted that the injury or illness should be covered by the chosen insurance plan. Other miscellaneous expenses such as, meals and lodging expenses are not covered by the Return of Minor Children coverage. | Not Covered | Covered |
| 14 | Common Carrier Accidental Death | Accidental death in a Common Carrier means death in an airplane, bus, train or watercraft operating for commercial purposes and carrying fare-paying passengers on regularly scheduled and published routes. | Not Covered | Covered |
| 15 | Accidental Death & Dismemberment | Accidental Death means a sudden, unintentional and unexpected occurrence caused solely by external, visible means resulting in physical injury to the insured and his/her subsequent death. Death must occur within 30 days of the sudden, unintentional and unexpected occurrence and not be contributed to by illness or disease. Accidental Dismemberment means a sudden, unintentional and unexpected occurrence caused solely by external, visible means and resulting in complete severance from the body of one or more limbs or eyes and not contributed to by illness or disease. Coverage and reimbursement in case of death, or loss of 1 or both limbs or eyes. |
Not Covered | Covered |
| 16 | Repatriation of Remains: | Under the Repatriation of Mortal Remains is covered, the air or ground transportation of the body (bodily remains) to the residence of the deceased insured person as well as the coverage of expenses incurred to prepare the remains for this transportation. | Not Covered | Covered |
| 17 | Local burial/cremation | Under some plans, Insurance company pays for the insured person to be buried or cremated in the country of death in lieu of repatriation of remains according to insurance plan benefits, up to the specified policy maximum. It should be noted that local burial or cremation cannot be used in conjunction with the Emergency Evacuation or Repatriation of Remains benefit and excludes coverage for death in the member’s home country. | Not Covered | Covered |
| 18 | Sports and Activities | Insured is covered for taking part in amateur/non-professional sports and activities, unless it is specified as excluded in the master policy. | Not Covered | Covered |
| 19 | Pet Return | The cost of a one-way economy air and/or ground transportation ticket for a pet to be returned to the terminal serving the area of the insured’s principle residence. | Not Covered | Covered |
Benefit Offered
Detail
Coverage for unforeseen medical circumstances like new sickness, injury, accident.
Domestic Medical Insurance
Covered
Travel Medical Insurance
Covered
Detail
A sudden and unexpected outbreak or recurrence of a pre-existing condition(s) which occurs spontaneously and without advance warning either in the form of physician recommendations or symptoms, is of short duration, is rapidly progressive, and requires urgent care. The Acute Onset of a Pre-existing Condition(s) must occur after the certificate effective date. Treatment must be obtained within 24 hours of the sudden and unexpected outbreak or recurrence. A pre-existing condition that is a chronic or congenital condition or that gradually becomes worse over time will not be considered Acute Onset. This benefit does not include coverage for known, scheduled, required, or expected medical care, drugs or treatments existent or necessary prior to the certificate effective date.
Domestic Medical Insurance
Covered
Travel Medical Insurance
Covered in some plans, age-restrictions apply
Detail
Emergency Medical evacuation means evacuation due to a medical condition manifesting itself by acute signs or symptoms which could reasonably result in placing the insured person’s life or limb in danger if medical attention is not provided within 24 hours.
Domestic Medical Insurance
Covered
Travel Medical Insurance
Covered
Detail
In situation of political unrest and danger, political evacuation may be necessary. Some travel insurance plans provide political evacuation coverage for the insured person and his dependents. The coverage usually includes the transportation as well as lodging costs. During this time, the insurance company also relays messages about them to their family members. After the situation is safe and resolved, arrangements are made for the visitors to return to their home country or to the place they have been evacuated from
Domestic Medical Insurance
Not Covered
Travel Medical Insurance
Covered
Detail
An interruption is said to occur when a traveler unexpectedly has to cut short his trip or postpone his departure date (make his trip longer than planned).
Domestic Medical Insurance
Not Covered
Travel Medical Insurance
Covered
Detail
Replacement of clothes and personal hygiene items.
Domestic Medical Insurance
Not Covered
Travel Medical Insurance
Covered
Detail
Travel delay coverage includes Reimbursement for reasonable accommodations and meals when insured person’s travel delay requires an unplanned overnight stay
Domestic Medical Insurance
Not Covered
Travel Medical Insurance
Covered
Detail
Some plans, for example, provide coverage for Border Entry Protection, i.e. if traveling on a valid B-2 visa and denied entrance at the U.S. border.
Domestic Medical Insurance
Not Covered
Travel Medical Insurance
Covered
Detail
Insured person is covered for Ransom; and/or Personal Belongings; and/or Crisis Response Fees and Expenses.
Domestic Medical Insurance
Not Covered
Travel Medical Insurance
Covered
Detail
Natural calamities like earthquakes, volcanoes, heavy rains/floods, fire, tornadoes, hurricanes, snow storms, etc.
Domestic Medical Insurance
Not Covered
Travel Medical Insurance
Covered
Detail
Natural Disaster means an event of natural cause, including wildfire, earthquake, windborne dust or sand, volcanic eruption, tsunami, snow, rain or wind, that results in widespread and severe damage. In case the insured person is displaced- (means he/she is required to depart a destination due to an evacuation from forecasted natural disaster or following a natural disaster strike by prevailing authorities), replacement accommodations are provided for.
Domestic Medical Insurance
Not Covered
Travel Medical Insurance
Covered
Detail
Bedside visit as it is popularly known as, Emergency Reunion coverage, covers the cost of round trip transportation of a family member or friend to the injured or sick insured person outside his home country. If the insurer gets hospitalized for a period of more than 7 days (usually) due to a covered injury or any other medical condition, one chosen person, a friend or family member’s travel can be covered by the insurance plan.
Domestic Medical Insurance
Not Covered
Travel Medical Insurance
Covered
Detail
If during an international trip the parent visitor suffers from some injury/illness and is hospitalized for more than a fixed number of days (normally 7), visitor insurance covers the cost of arranging and sending the dependent (minor) children back to their home country. It should be noted that the injury or illness should be covered by the chosen insurance plan. Other miscellaneous expenses such as, meals and lodging expenses are not covered by the Return of Minor Children coverage.
Domestic Medical Insurance
Not Covered
Travel Medical Insurance
Covered
Detail
Accidental death in a Common Carrier means death in an airplane, bus, train or watercraft operating for commercial purposes and carrying fare-paying passengers on regularly scheduled and published routes.
Domestic Medical Insurance
Not Covered
Travel Medical Insurance
Covered
Detail
Accidental Death means a sudden, unintentional and unexpected occurrence caused solely by external, visible means resulting in physical injury to the insured and his/her subsequent death. Death must occur within 30 days of the sudden, unintentional and unexpected occurrence and not be contributed to by illness or disease.
Accidental Dismemberment means a sudden, unintentional and unexpected occurrence caused solely by external, visible means and resulting in complete severance from the body of one or more limbs or eyes and not contributed to by illness or disease.
Coverage and reimbursement in case of death, or loss of 1 or both limbs or eyes.
Domestic Medical Insurance
Not Covered
Travel Medical Insurance
Covered
Detail
Under the Repatriation of Mortal Remains is covered, the air or ground transportation of the body (bodily remains) to the residence of the deceased insured person as well as the coverage of expenses incurred to prepare the remains for this transportation.
Domestic Medical Insurance
Not Covered
Travel Medical Insurance
Covered
Detail
Under some plans, Insurance company pays for the insured person to be buried or cremated in the country of death in lieu of repatriation of remains according to insurance plan benefits, up to the specified policy maximum. It should be noted that local burial or cremation cannot be used in conjunction with the Emergency Evacuation or Repatriation of Remains benefit and excludes coverage for death in the member’s home country.
Domestic Medical Insurance
Not Covered
Travel Medical Insurance
Covered
Detail
Insured is covered for taking part in amateur/non-professional sports and activities, unless it is specified as excluded in the master policy.
Domestic Medical Insurance
Not Covered
Travel Medical Insurance
Covered
Detail
The cost of a one-way economy air and/or ground transportation ticket for a pet to be returned to the terminal serving the area of the insured’s principle residence.
Domestic Medical Insurance
Not Covered
Travel Medical Insurance
Covered
Medical treatment costs are very high in countries like USA, which makes the need of visitor insurance or travel medical insurance imperative. Regardless of the nature of trip, leisure or business, or even the duration of the trip, VisitorPLANS highly recommends every visitor to be in possession of travel medical insurance. There is a plethora of insurance plans to choose from, but depending on the nature of the trip, an insurance plan should be carefully chosen. Since last many decades, MCIS has been instrumental in helping visitors make the right choice for their travel medical insurance. Whenever planning to travel overseas, contact us to help understand better, select from a wide variety of travel insurance plans. We help you make the right selection as per your unique travel needs. With VisitorPLANS, it’s simple: Quote-Compare-Buy and Fly. Call us today at 1-855-5-VISITOR or visit us here.
