Frequently Asked Questions:
Frequently Asked Questions:
Why
Purchase Medical Insurance for Exchange Visitors?
If a Sister Cities exchange
visitor became ill or injured:
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How would you know the best hospitals and providers in the host country? |
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How would you communicate with providers who may speak a foreign language? |
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How would you handle providers who require advance payment? |
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If you had severe burns, needed major heart surgery or a serious injury or sickness, how would you get evacuated to a more suitable facility or arrange for evacuation to your home or home country? |
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How would you arrange for repatriation? |
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How would you arrange for emergency legal assistance, get help with potential liabilities? |
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What would you do about participants’ lost or stolen items? |
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Would you be
responsible for participants’ uninsured medical expenses, or deductibles
or co-insurance? |
Unfortunately, injuries, automobile accidents, sudden sicknesses, and travelers’ mishaps are all too common. When these events occur during international travel, they are especially troublesome. Medical insurance prevents an accident from becoming a financial calamity.
What
About Existing Insurance?
U.S.
major medical insurance seldom provides for referral to Dr’s & Hospitals,
guarantee payment to providers, paid evacuation & Repatriation, and a host
of other assistance services. Any
Sister City Internationals coming to the USA with a J-1 visa are required to
have coverage meeting the INA mandated standards. Your policy meets all federal
requirements. SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL has therefore developed a
unique international medical insurance plan to provide peace of mind to its
member cities and their participants. The
SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL plan supplements existing insurance at a minimal
cost.
·
Comprehensive
Medical Benefits:
Unlike traditional plans which
feature high deductibles and coinsurance, the SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL pays
100% up to $50,000 after a low $50 deductible.
The plan makes direct payment to overseas physicians, hospitals and transportation
agencies. This makes the complications of exchange rates and payments easy.
Assist Services will put your members in touch with cooperating & approved
Doctors, Hospitals or Service Providers
around the world;
·
Complete
Assistance Services: Unlike
traditional plans, Medex Assistance’s 24 hour support staff helps to interpret
symptoms in a foreign language; guarantees payment to the hospital and
physician; arranges and pays for return transportation of an ill or injured
insured; and provides assistance on a wide variety of problems such as legal
matters and lost or stolen items.
How
To Enroll a Group
The
plan is only available on a group
basis. A group may be as
small as a single individual, but 100% of the group must be insured.
To enroll a group, complete and return the enrollment form located
here.
Who Endorses This Plan?
We
endorse this plan enthusiastically and recommend that all Sister Cities exchange
groups purchase this important coverage. If you have any questions, please call ABCO
100, our insurance broker, at 1-800-222-5780.
SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL