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i cover insurance offers a range of insurance options for travelers and consumers.
Their travel insurance policy covers unexpected medical expenses, trip cancellations, and delays, with coverage starting at just $10 per day.
This can be a lifesaver for those who are not prepared for unexpected medical bills while abroad.
i cover insurance also offers a consumer protection policy that covers purchases made online or in-store, with coverage up to $10,000 per claim.
Travel Insurance Basics
Travel insurance can be a lifesaver when things don't go as planned on your trip.
Travel insurance typically covers a range of things, including trip cancellation, trip delay, trip interruption, baggage & personal items, emergency medical evacuation, and accident/sickness.
To ensure you're covered, it's essential to check all your existing insurance policies, such as your credit card or domestic medical insurance policy, before traveling abroad.
Here are some common travel insurance coverages:
- Trip Cancellation
- Trip Delay
- Trip Interruption
- Baggage & Personal items
- Emergency Med-Evac
- Accident/Sickness
What Does Travel Cover?
Travel insurance is a must-have for any trip, and understanding what it covers is key to making the most of your policy.
Travel insurance typically covers trip cancellation, which can be a lifesaver if you need to cancel your trip due to unforeseen circumstances.
Trip delay is also covered, which means you'll be reimbursed for any additional expenses incurred while waiting for your flight or other travel arrangements to be resolved.
A trip interruption can also be covered, which means you'll be reimbursed for any unused portions of your trip if you need to cut it short.
Baggage and personal items are also protected, which means you'll be reimbursed for any stolen, lost, or damaged luggage or personal belongings.
Emergency medical evacuation is a critical component of travel insurance, which means you'll be transported to a medical facility if you need emergency medical attention while abroad.
Accident or sickness can also be covered, which means you'll be reimbursed for any medical expenses incurred while traveling.
Here are some key components of travel insurance:
- Trip Cancellation
- Trip Delay
- Trip Interruption
- Baggage & Personal items
- Emergency Med-Evac
- Accident/Sickness
When Coverage Begins
Coverage begins at 12:01 a.m. on the day after the date the appropriate payment for this plan is received. This is your “Effective Date” and begins the trip cancellation benefits.
Most travel insurance coverages start when you depart on the first travel arrangement for your trip. This is when your protection kicks in and you can start enjoying your trip with some peace of mind.
Trip Cancellation and Interruption
Trip cancellation and interruption insurance can be a lifesaver if things don't go as planned on your trip.
Carefully examine the policy to ensure it covers what you need, including cancellation due to illness.
Trip cancellation insurance may allow for last-minute cancellations or changes to your itinerary in the event of a disease outbreak, but be sure to check the fine print.
The perils protected against under the trip interruption benefit are listed in your plan document and are similar to the trip cancellation perils.
These perils provide coverage once you depart for your covered trip and can reimburse you for unused, non-refundable travel arrangements plus additional transportation costs.
Here are some examples of iTravelInsured plans that offer trip interruption benefits:
- iTravelInsured Travel Lite
- iTravelInsured Travel SE
- iTravelInsured Travel LX
- iTravelInsured Travel Sport
- iTravelInsured Travel GT
Coverage begins at 12:01 a.m. on the day after the date the appropriate payment for this plan is received, which is your "Effective Date" and begins the trip cancellation benefits.
Most other coverages begin when you depart on the first travel arrangement for your trip.
It's a good idea to check all of your existing coverages or insurance policies before traveling abroad to identify gaps in your coverage.
Insurance Coverage Types
i cover insurance offers a range of insurance coverage types to suit different needs.
Life insurance is available through i cover, providing financial support to loved ones in the event of passing.
Health insurance plans can be customized to fit individual or family requirements, with options for hospital stays, doctor visits, and prescription medication.
Travel insurance is also offered, covering unexpected trip cancellations, medical emergencies, and lost or stolen luggage.
Primary Coverage
Primary coverage is a term often used when describing primary medical insurance. This type of insurance allows you to file a claim with IMG, regardless of other insurance coverage you may have, and IMG will be the first to pay out eligible medical expenses.
The effective date of your insurance coverage is crucial, as it determines when your trip cancellation benefits kick in. Coverage begins at 12:01 a.m. on the day after the date the appropriate payment for this plan is received.
Secondary
Secondary coverage is a type of insurance that requires you to pay out eligible medical expenses with your primary or additional medical insurance before submitting a claim to the secondary insurance provider.
In most cases, you must first file a claim with your primary or other insurance provider before submitting a claim to the secondary insurance provider. This can be a bit of a hassle, but it's worth it to get the coverage you need.
Your primary insurance provider must pay out eligible medical expenses before you can file a claim with the secondary insurance provider. This is why it's essential to understand how your primary and secondary insurance policies work together.
For example, if you have a primary insurance policy that covers 80% of your medical expenses, you'll need to pay the remaining 20% before you can file a claim with your secondary insurance provider.
Travel Expenses and Refunds
If you cancel your trip due to one of the reasons covered in your plan, you may be eligible for trip cancellation reimbursement.
You can add Cancel for Any Reason coverage to the LX plan, which allows you to cancel for any reason not otherwise covered by your plan and receive a partial refund. This option comes with an additional cost and terms apply, and it's not available in NY.
Trip cancellation insurance covers your financial investment in your trip, such as flights, cruises, or train tickets.
To get a refund, you'll need to familiarize yourself with your travel and medical coverage before going overseas.
Medical Coverage and Claims
i cover insurance offers a wide range of medical coverage options to fit your needs.
With i cover insurance, you can expect to have a maximum of $100,000 in medical coverage per year, as outlined in our policy details. This comprehensive coverage includes doctor visits, hospital stays, and even emergency surgeries.
You can file a claim online or through our mobile app, and our dedicated claims team will process it quickly and efficiently.
Drug Claim Procedure
To file a claim for prescription medication, you'll need to pay for the medication in full at the time of service, and then submit a claim to Aetna for reimbursement. You'll receive the Reasonable Charge allowance, minus any applicable copay, directly from Aetna.
You'll need to include all prescription receipts when submitting a claim. This will help Aetna process your claim efficiently.
The Reasonable Charge allowance is the amount Aetna will reimburse you for covered medications. Any amount exceeding this allowance will be your responsibility to pay.
If you're unsure about the claims procedure, you can click on the Claims Procedures link on the Home Page for more information.
Here's a breakdown of the copays you'll need to pay at the time of service:
Medical Necessity Review
Medical Necessity Review is a process used to determine whether a service or supply is necessary and appropriate for the diagnosis or treatment of a sickness or injury based on generally accepted current medical practice.
The fact that any particular physician may prescribe, order, recommend, or approve a service or supply does not, of itself, make the service or supply medically necessary.
Some services, procedures, and treatments are subject to medical necessity review, including customized musculoskeletal braces, drugs and medical injectables, and durable medical equipment (DME) greater than $500.
Here are some examples of services that may be subject to medical necessity review:
- Customized Musculoskeletal braces
- Drugs and Medical Injectables
- Durable Medical Equipment (DME) greater than $500
- Electric or motorized wheelchairs and scooters
- Home Health Care related services-unless ordered by attending physician as per the discharge instructions from inpatient hospitalization
- Air Ambulance (take off)
- Orthognathic Surgery procedures, bone grafts, osteotomies and surgical management of the temporomandibular joint
- Spinal procedures
If your plan does not cover a particular service, treatment, or procedure, or if it is deemed not medically necessary, it is possible that no benefit will be paid.
Customer Experience and Benefits
i cover insurance has received glowing reviews from satisfied customers, with many praising the ease of use and affordability of their policies.
The online application process is user-friendly, with various options to match your budget or needs, making it easy to find the right coverage for your trip.
Many customers have reported having great experiences with i cover insurance, with some even using their coverage multiple times. For example, one customer, Rina G., has used i cover insurance for almost every travel in the US and is now also using them for international travel.
The company's platform is easy to navigate, with diverse options to pick from according to your needs. As one customer, Serge D., notes, "I used the coverage from i cover insurance 5 years ago on a trip to Europe, and I am happy to use it again."
The claims process is also easy to follow, with reimbursement being very timely. For example, Leroy P. notes that when there is a covered expense, i cover insurance's response is very timely, and the claims process is easy to follow.
Here are some benefits that customers have reported:
- Phenomenal prices
- Easy to sign up
- Great coverage with reasonable premiums
- Easy to navigate and understand
- Reasonable and straight forward plans
- Timely reimbursement
Customer Testimonials
Rina G. uses IMG for almost every travel in the US and has had great experiences with phenomenal prices and an unbeatable sign-up process.
The online application process at IMG is very user-friendly, with various options to match your budget or needs, as Thomas F. points out.
Mercedes P. has purchased IMG insurance three times for her trips to Spain, and has had a fantastic experience on the website each time.
IMG's coverage is great, and the premiums are reasonable, according to Inna C., who has used the company several times.
Serge D. has used IMG's coverage for five years, and is happy to use it again, finding the platform easy to navigate with diverse options.
James B. and his family have been very satisfied with their third policy with IMG, finding the coverage simple and straightforward.
Arwen F. has been very satisfied with her previous purchases from IMG, and finds the company's plans easy to use and understand.
Randy K. has used IMG on several occasions and is very pleased with the service, finding the plans offered to be very reasonable and straight forward.
Here are some key benefits mentioned by customers:
- Phenomenal prices
- Unbeatable sign-up process
- User-friendly online application process
- Great coverage
- Reasonable premiums
- Easy to navigate platform
- Simple and straightforward coverage
- Very reasonable and straight forward plans
- Timely response to claims
- Easy claims process
- Timely reimbursement
Diane B. has used IMG for all her international travel for several years, and found the experience to be easy, even when she had to file a claim.
Rod M. was hospitalized with pneumonia while traveling to Bangkok, but found that IMG took care of everything with no surprises, and he won't travel internationally without IMG's coverage.
Extension of Benefits
If you're facing a hospitalization due to a covered illness or injury on your scheduled termination date, you might be eligible for an extension of benefits. This extension can be up to 90 additional days for a covered illness or accident, as long as the condition continues to require ongoing hospital confinement.
In this situation, all other plan provisions are still applicable to this benefit, so be sure to review your plan details carefully.
This extension of benefits can provide peace of mind and financial security during a difficult time, and it's essential to understand how it works to make the most of it.
Travel and Consumer Information
Travel insurance can cover a range of unexpected events, including trip cancellation, delay, and interruption, as well as baggage and personal item loss or theft.
You should consider travel insurance if you can't afford to lose non-refundable travel expenses in case of trip cancellation, or if you're traveling to a destination prone to severe weather.
If you were to get sick or injured on a trip, travel insurance can help cover medical expenses, which can be a significant financial burden.
Here are some factors to consider when deciding whether to purchase travel insurance:
- Travel Expenses - Could you afford to lose non-refundable travel expenses in case of trip cancellation?
- Severe Weather - Are you traveling to a destination that may be affected by severe weather?
- Getting Sick or Injured - If you were to get sick or injured on the trip, would you be unable to pay out of pocket for the necessary healthcare?
- Lost or Stolen Items - If your luggage is lost or stolen, could you afford to replace the missing baggage or personal effects?
- Country Restrictions - Some countries require you to have travel insurance before allowing entry.
Do I Need to Travel?
If you're considering traveling, you might wonder if it's worth the hassle. Traveling can be unpredictable, and things don't always go as planned.
Before booking your trip, think about your travel expenses - could you afford to lose your non-refundable, prepaid travel expenses if your trip is cancelled due to an unforeseen event?
Some destinations are more prone to severe weather, which can disrupt your travel plans. If you're traveling to a place that's known for extreme weather, you might want to consider the risks.
Getting sick or injured while traveling can be a major financial burden. If you're not able to pay out of pocket for healthcare, travel insurance might be a good idea.
Flight delays can be frustrating, and change fees can add up quickly. If you're not sure how you'll cover these costs, consider travel insurance that offers reimbursement for flight delays.
Lost or stolen items can be a significant financial loss. If you're traveling with valuable items, consider the risks and take steps to protect yourself.
Some countries require travel insurance before allowing entry, so be sure to check the requirements for your destination.
Consumers
As a consumer, you have rights and resources available to help you navigate the healthcare system. If you've received a denial of a treatment, medication, or service from your health insurance, you may be able to request a review.
You can ask your health insurance provider about their process for reviewing denials, or you can contact the MCARE (Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error Fund) for assistance. MCARE is a fund that helps ensure medical care is available and reduces errors.
If you're not satisfied with the outcome of your health insurance review, you can also contact the Consumer Help Center for guidance. They can provide information on your rights and options for appealing a denial.
Here are some resources to help you get started:
- MCARE (Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error Fund)
- WCSF (Workers' Compensation Security Fund)
- CAT Fund (Catastrophic Loss Benefits Continuation Fund)
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of 1Cover?
Get 24/7 emergency assistance, fast claims service, and expert support no matter where you are in the world. With 1Cover, you're protected and supported every step of the way
Who underwrites 1Cover?
1Cover travel insurance policies are underwritten by HDI Global Specialty SE - Australia. They are also managed by Coffre-Fort Pty Limited as an authorised representative.
What is Cover me insurance?
CoverMe insurance provides comprehensive protection for personal health, life, travel, and critical illness, all in one simple plan. Get easy-to-understand coverage that's easy to purchase and manage.
Sources
- https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/insurance
- https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/before-you-go/your-health-abroad/Insurance_Coverage_Overseas.html
- https://www.pa.gov/agencies/insurance.html
- https://www.imglobal.com/travel-insurance
- https://www.ciee.org/in-the-usa/insurance/about-your-insurance-plan
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