Thursday, June 18, 2009

Eligibility Criteria For International Travel Health Insurance Plan

By Ray Sondeo

For people planning any travel, especially outside the home country, it is an absolute must to be covered by an international insurance package for a safe and secure trip. Any travel involves risks like stolen baggage, health complications and emergency scenarios demanding immediate evacuation. An international insurance policy is the answer to all these possible nightmares during a trip.

Once you opt for an health insurance for international travel policy with worldwide coverage, you are protected not only in your home country but also during your travel abroad across many countries in the world. However, in the case of international insurance, you may have a predetermined waiting period to avail of certain benefits like maternity and preventive care.

In order to get the best out of your international insurance package, you need to comply with some minimum eligibility requirements irrespective of your age, status and nationality. These requirements would be mentioned by your insurance provider in advance.

Many international insurance policies have restrictions on the amount of time spent in the United States by US citizens. Some policies require that if you are a US citizen, you must reside abroad or leave the United States on the effective date and live outside the US for about 6 months. For non-US citizens, most plans are less restrictive and do not require the 6 month stay outside the US.

You can apply for insurance when you are as young as 14 days or even at the age of 74 years. But when you cross 74 years, you would be covered under the same policy if you have been covered continuously by the insurance provider in the past. Most of the providers do not allow you to apply for a new policy.

You can cover your entire family under a single international health insurance policy plan. It works out beneficial for you if you cover your spouse and kids under the same plan as some of the international health insurance providers offer free coverage for the children if both the parents opt for the same insurance plan.

Newborns are typically covered from birth for illnesses provided the mother of the baby is covered by the insurance policy and qualifies for pregnancy coverage under the plan. Newborns are required to be included under their parents plan within 31 days of the date of birth.

Both individuals and families can enroll for the International Health Insurance. In case of family coverage, incentives are offered by the insurance providers. But to avail some benefits like preventive care and also maternity coverage, you may require waiting for 12 months.

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