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International Health Insurance, Travel Health Insurance, Expatriate Insurance, Visitors Insurance, Missionary Insurance, more. All Dependable U.S.-Style!
Over 30 Years of Health Insurance Experience
GLOBAL MEDICAL SECURITYHome | Plans & Rates | Buy Smart | U.S.-Style | Guarantees | Value-Added | Contact/About Us | Links | Legal
Page Contents...
- Introduction
- Plan Comparison Table
- Inbound Immigrant Health Insurance Plan
- Secure STM Short-Term Medical Insurance Plan
Introduction... Immigrant Health Insurance
You will find several international health insurance plans in the market today for temporary U.S. visitors. These plans protect the insured only while he or she is outside of their "home country." These plans will only cover you in the USA if you do not plan to immigrate. As soon as you become a permanent U.S. resident or U.S. citizen, your medical insurance coverage ceases.
Here are some health insurance choices for recent U.S. immigrants. Please note: These choices are not intended to be long-term or permanent health insurance solutions. We recommend that once you become eligible for permanent U.S. major medical insurance, either individually or through your employer, you should obtain such coverage.
Buyer Beware... We often see ordinary international travel insurance plans marketed as "immigrant insurance." However, in the "Eligibility" section of the insurance contract, it clearly states that to be eligible, you must be traveling outside of your home country. Upon further reading, you will find "Home Country" defined as "the country where the member principally resides and receives regular mail," or similar wording. True U.S. immigrants currently residing full-time in the USA should avoid plans with such wording.
| Name of Health Insurance Plan |
Inbound Immigrant | Secure STM |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance Company | Lloyd's, London | Standard Security Life Insurance Company of New York |
| Type of Insurance | (Limited) Basic Medical Schedule of Benefits Plan |
More Comprehensive Major Medical Plan |
| Coverage Period | Renewable up to 5 years. | Renewable up to 6 or 12 months (varies by State). |
| Eligible Ages | Age 14 days and up. No maximum age limit. |
Age 14 days to age 65. |
| Notes on Plan Rates. | Generally less expensive. However, insurance benefits are not as comprehensive. | Generally more expensive. However, insurance benefits are far more comprehensive. |
| Notes on Eligibility | All ages, may be purchased within the first 24 months of arrival in the USA (see brochure for details). |
Must have a U.S. Social Security number to be eligible. |
| Look-Back Period in the Definition of "Pre-existing Condition" |
6 months, 12 months for persons age 70 and over. |
5 years |
Inbound Immigrant... A "Schedule of Benefits" Health Insurance Plan - Continuous Coverage for up to 5 Years
Insured by The Insurance Company of the State of Pennsylvania
Administered by Seven Corners Inc.
Inbound Immigrant... On-line Rate Quotes & Secure On-line Application (opens in a new Window.)
For Brochure and Policy Wording ("Program Summary"), please open the link above and see the two links in the left column.
This is a scheduled benefit plan, providing up to 5 years of basic medical coverage to non-US citizens who come to the U.S. for business, pleasure, to study, or to immigrate. You must start the plan within 24 months of arrival in the USA.
Some Plan Advantages - The "look-back" period for excluded pre-existing conditions is only 6 months (12 months for ages 70 or older). The plan is relatively low-cost (quote). There is no upper age limit for coverage. The Inbound Immigrant plan may be renewed for up to 5 years maximum (after which many immigrants are able to buy into Social Security Medicare).
Main Plan Disadvantage - This is a "schedule of benefits" medical plan. This means that the benefits are paid not according to the actual medical costs, but rather according to the benefit schedule found in the policy (see brochure). Medical care in the USA is among the most expensive in the world. In many cases, the actual cost of care will exceed the amount covered under the benefit schedule. For this reason, we strongly recommend that you elect the "$100,000 max per injury/illness" option.
Note To Prospective Buyers - If you decide to purchase this plan for yourself or a relative, please call us after your purchase for some advise on using the plan, if needed. (Orlando, FL, USA, Tel: 407.532.3383 - 30+ years of health insurance experience.)
Secure STM... A Short-Term Medical Insurance Plan
Secure STM
Insured by Standard Security Life Insurance Company of New York
Administered by Health Plan Administrators, Inc.
Secure STM... On-line Quote and Application (opens in a new Window)
Secure STM... Plan Description - after opening page, see links on right under
"Do You Know..." (opens in a new Window)
Most U.S. health insurance plans require that you be a U.S. citizen, or you have been a permanent U.S. resident for a specified period of time, typically for at least one year. However, the "Secure STM" only requires that you have a Social Security number. No minimum time residing in the USA is required.
Secure STM is available to U.S. immigrants under age 65, their spouses under 65 and dependent children under age 19 (or under age 25 if a full-time student) who have a Social Security number and can answer 'no' to the health questions on the application. Children age 19 and over should apply separately. Child-only coverage is available for ages 2 through 18.
Important Note To Buyers - Unlike most temporary international health and travel insurance plans, U.S. temporary insurance plans do not have an extended "Benefit Period." (See Buy Smart, Temporary Tip #2 for a definition of "Benefit Period.")
When the Secure STM policy period ends, your benefit period ends as well. This means that coverage for a possible ongoing medical claim would cease. Therefore, we recommend that you purchase Short-Term Health Insurance on a month to month basis, rather than for a fixed-term (single payment).
For example, suppose you purchased the Secure STM for exactly 90 days by single payment. On the 89th day of your coverage, suppose you fall and suffer injuries that will require ongoing medical treatment for several months. Your Short-Term insurance might cover your initial treatment on the 89th day. At the end of the 90th day however, your insurance coverage ends and all future medical care and treatment after that date would not be covered. Paying for a fixed-term (single-payment) costs less, but your risk is great. Do not be tempted by this lower-cost option.
Instead, we suggest that you purchase for the maximum period (6 or 12 months) and pay on a monthly basis. If you wish to cancel your insurance earlier, simply do not make the next payment and call or write the insurance company to let them know of your intention. (Unlike temporary international health insurance plans, your monthly payment is not charged automatically to your credit card. You must send a check or credit card payment authorization each month.)
Plan Advantage - This is a temporary major medical plan. It pays benefits based on "usual, reasonable, and customary" charges.
Disadvantages - The "look-back" period for the "pre-existing condition" exclusion is 5 years (compared to 6 months for the Inbound Immigrant plan). This plan is not available to anyone age 65 or over. Health insurance coverage is only available for a period of 6 or 12 months (depending on your state of residence).
This is Your Best Place for Immigrant Insurance.
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Dependable U.S.-style international health & travel insurance for almost every need.
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Tips to help you find the right international insurance for your exact situation and budget.
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