Visitors Medical Insurance for In-Laws

[AKteacher 104]

Good news - my wife's parents and brother miraculously received 10-year multiple entry tourist visas, so they're coming from Philippines to the USA to visit!

 

My concern is medical insurance for them while visiting, due to the obscene cost of medical care in the USA.  I have been exploring different companies, quotes, etc. and there are a plethora of different plans covering (and excluding) things I never thought of and some things I never even knew existed.

 

Does anybody out there have any experience with travelers' medical insurance for visiting the US, particularly with claims. Many of these policies offer "reimbursement" for medical expenses (evacuation. etc.) and I would not want to pay six figures for some expense and then the company denies it, or other problems like that. Also, many hospitals mark up the bill by a tremendous amount if you're not in an insurance network. Denials due to anything deemed "preexisting," and so on, and so on... the possibilities are endless for being financially trapped and/or ruined by the US medical system. My wife's parents are elderly (late 60s/early 70s) and are relatively healthy but who knows, anything could happen.

 

I am willing and able to pay for good insurance, and I'm looking for a company that pays claims directly and doesn't unreasonably stall or deny claims. Can anybody recommend which companies are good, and/or which ones to stay away from?

 

I realize this topic has been addressed before but I am hoping to get information on specific companies, what to look for and what to watch out for. Thanks in advance!

[Crazy Cat 41,837]

I haven't used travel insurance, but I can tell you that there are no perfect insurance plans for travelers.  There will always be high deductibles, exclusions, claim issues.  You probably just have to find one you can tolerate.  Good luck.

Edited July 10, 2023 by Crazy Cat

[powerpuff 6,697]

~~ Topic moved to Tourist visa forum as the question is regarding health insurance for tourist visa holders ~~

[Boiler 45,468]

I can not say I am that familiar with the Philippines Insurance market, I know quite a few of the major Internationals operate there.

 

With the amount of people travelling I am sure there are lots of options.

 

They are looking for Travel Insurance, Medical and Emergency Travel costs is a significant element but by no means the only thing.

 

Just like you would buy Travel Insurance in the US if you are going on vacation overseas then they would buy it in PI.

[Adventine 3,196]

I used to work in a foreign embassy's Manila office. We processed a LOT of Schengen visas (tourist visas for Europe). One of the major requirements was travel insurance to cover their entire trip. No travel insurance, instant visa denial.

 

Applicants typically submitted Malayan, Axa, or Pacific Cross travel insurance. All three can be purchased locally by PH citizens. Ask your in-laws to look into that.

Edited July 10, 2023 by Adventine

[RamonGomez 271]

When my mother in law came to visit some time ago, I looked into various travel insurance policies. Most were, to be frank, useless. Remember, US hospitals by law must "stabilize" anyone that walks in the ER - that means putting a cast on a broken bone or stent for a heart attack. Research all the cash-based options for primary or urgent care near you, you may be surprised at what you find. There is a family practice doctor near us that is cash-only and charges $120 for a 30 minute visit. There are several urgent cares that charge a $400 flat fee for cash-paying patients. Most standard medications like antibiotics or inhalers are dirt cheap if paying cash. So for 95% of run of the mill issues (infections, broken bones), you'll probably come out ahead by self-insuring.

 

I'm not familiar with the Philippines at all, but do any health care plans there cover medical care abroad?