Toll Free: 877-204-0222 Members Area Contact Us
Telephone: 408-850-2154 Decrease Font Size Increase Font Size
  Home Program Quote Online Enrollment Provider Network FAQ  

May
11

Will a claim be paid for a pre existing condition with visitor medical insurance?

A common question for visitors is “Will a claim be paid for a pre existing condition with visitor medical insurance?”  To answer this question, let’s take as an example a family member that had a heart attack 2 years ago.

Medical insurance for visitors with pre existing coverage of India Network Health Insurance policy would cover heart attack while other policies sold on various web sites would not. Consider the exclusions, requirements and limits. Some policies may have a look back period that might prevent reimbursement of a recurrence while another exclusion may require a precertification.  Some other health insurance plans for visitors have lifetime limits for pre existing condition coverage which could possibly exclude reimbursement for a second heart attack and some policies only cover “recurrence” of conditions.

Consider also that if the family member had high blood pressure but no prior heart attack, then a heart attack would not be covered as it is not a recurrence under all plans sold by various vendors except India Network Health Insurance Plan.

India Network Health Insurance does not have any of these exclusions, limits or requirements. It has two simple guidelines. First, it is advised that the family member have insurance on the day of or day before their arrival in the USA to receive pre existing coverage from the onset of the enrollment. If the visitor is enrolled after arrival  in the United States, the first 7 days covers accidents only. This policy keep rates lower by reducing insurance fraud where a visitor would wait to be enrolled until they need medical attention.  Second, reimbursement for pre existing coverage requires an emergency, not a scheduled check-up. This reflects common sense for those enrolling in visitor health insurance with India Network Health to maintain the lowest rates and highest pre existing coverage benefits.

 

May
10

Physicians Prefer India Network Comprehensive Health Insurance for visitors

It is well known fact that a number of American Association of Physicians of India (AAPI) origin purchase India Network Health Insurance for their loved ones visiting the United States. At India Network, we are thankful to those physician members for their continuous feedback to Dr. KV Rao to improve on various plans. The $5,000 deductible with higher coverage amount of $60,000 for pre-existing conditions was a suggestion of one of our physician members to help elderly parents with pre-existing conditions. In our recent discussions, physician members expressed full support to the India Network Health Insurance Program. The doctors continue to get coverage from India Network for their visitors. Most physicians are choosing India Network Comprehensive Health Insurance plan with pre-existing condition coverage for their parents over any other plan available in the market. These doctors are aware of the value India Network Plan brings with the insurance coverage of $150,000 with $20,000 pre-existing coverage option.

The Comprehensive Plan with network negotiated rates remove the uncertainty of billing. As a policy holder of Comprehensive plan, you are responsible only for your part of payment (20% up to  $5,000 dollars of bills). The  plan will go on covering you until the policy maximum or pre existing maximum allowed by the plan. Compare the pre existing coverage  plans by age group using EasySelect from India Network Health Insurance.

As always, India Network Health Insurance is underwritten by Chartis Insurance, an American International Group Company (AIG)  in the United States providing full assurance of processing of claims within SIX weeks of submission to their Kansas City Office in US. India Network has an added advantage of specialists at the Claims office dedicated to India Network Claims. SO when you make the decision to buy insurance from India Network, you are not just buying insurance,  you are becoming a member in an elite group, India Network Foundation that supports you in every way with your questions, claims, and other issues. Do not hesitate to call our office with any questions at 877-204-0222.

May
09

Medical Ailments among Visitors coming to US

India Network has been in the forefront to help families when their visiting parents got sick with a pre-existing condition or otherwise.. Many insurance companies that market health insurance for visitors do not offer any coverage for pre-existing conditions. Even those that advertise as having some kind of pre-existing coverage hide their risk under the word “recurrence”.. which means they would only pay $5,000 or so when an event repeats itself while visiting the United States. How many parents who already got heart attack are likely to get a second one???   Then on the other hand you have international health insurance plans sold in India by companies such as  ICICI Lombard, Reliance Insurance, TATA insurance, National Life Insurance etc. which happily sell a million dollar policy for six months for Rs. 15000! (roughly $300). This is most pathetic state of coverage. These companies as found by Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India exhaust their premium dollars by paying about 3 percent claims if at all they pay.

India Network health Insurance has helped so many families with very large medical bills that all other companies would decline stating pre-existing condition clause or “recurrence clause”.  Please spread the word, and more the participation of community in our endeavor to get an effective plan, the better we sustain these coverages for many years to come.

Here is a list of most common problems experienced by visiting parents among many other problems. India Network Health Plan claims processed up to $60,000 for this kind of illnesses. Of course, no two persons will have same problems, but most of them have similar experiences – Pneumonia and Severe UTI infections, heart attacks (first time), brain hemorrhage, etc. It is strongly advised that visitors obtain insurance coverage that include pre-existing conditions coverage and without that your insurance is only for psychological satisfaction.

ABDOMINAL PAIN
AC DUODENAL ULCER W PERF
AC/SUBAC BACT ENDOCARD
ACUTE CYSTITIS
ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCT
AMI ANTERIOR WALL NEC
AMI LATERAL WALL NEC
ANOXIC BRAIN DAMAGE
BENIGN NEO PITUITARY
CARDIAC DYSRHYTHMIAS
CARDIAC DYSRHYTHMIAS NEC
CELLULITIS OF BUTTOCK
CELLULITIS OF TRUNK
CHEST PAIN
CHOLECYSTITIS NEC
CL SKL BASE FX/MENIN HEM
CNS ABSCESS NOS
COMPLIC DEVICE/GRAFT NEC
CONCUSSION W COMA NOS
CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE
CORONARY ATHEROSCLEROSIS
CVA
DIABETES MELLITUS UNCOMP
DYSPNEA/RESPIRATORY ABN
FX LOWER END FEMUR-CLOSE
FX NECK OF FEMUR NOS-CL
FX NECK OF FEMUR NOS-CL
GENERAL SYMPTOMS NEC
GRAM-NEG SEPTICEMIA NEC
INGUINAL HERNIA NOS
INJURY-SITE NOS
INTRACEREBRAL HEMORRHAGE
INTRACEREBRAL HEMORRHAGE
LUNG DISEASE NEC
MALAISE AND FATIGUE
MALFUNC CARD DEVIC/GRAFT
MOTOR VEHICLE (UNDER 55 MPH)
MYOCARDIAL INFARCT NOS
PAIN IN JOINT
PERTROCHANTERIC FX-CLOS
PNEUMOCOCCAL MENINGITIS
PNEUMONIA, ORGANISM UNSPECIFIED
PSYCHOSIS NOS
PYREXIA UNKNOWN ORIGIN
SHOCK WITHOUT TRAUMA
SUBDURAL HEMORRHAGE
SUBENDOCARDIAL INFARCT
SYNCOPE AND COLLAPSE
TRAUMATIC SUBDURAL HEM

May
03

Muslim women are less prone to cervical cancer than Hindu counterparts

A study published in medical journal The Lancet says “Muslim women are less prone to cervical cancer than Hindu counterparts”. The reason could be circumcision among Muslim men which has a protective effect against sexual transmission of human papilloma virus, a causative agent in cervical cancer, says city-based researcher, M Siva Prasad Reddy.
Cervical cancer is around 40 per cent less common in Muslim women than in Hindu women. This is the uncommon evidence that has emerged from the ‘Million Death Study’, a collaborative research between Centre for Global Health Research (CGHR) and the Office of the Registrar General of India. The findings of the research, titled ‘Cancer mortality in India: A Nationally Representative Survey,’ were published in the British medical journal, The Lancet, recently.

Dr Arun Shet, head of the department of oncology at city-based St John’s Medical College Hospital and co-researcher in the cancer mortality survey, told Bangalore Mirror, “In 2010, more than 5.56 lakh cancer deaths were estimated in India and 71.1 per cent occurred in people aged between 30 and 69 years. With regard to women, cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer death both in urban and rural areas. But what is interesting is that cervical cancer risks were much lower in Muslim women and in states where the proportion of Muslims was larger.”

Cervical cancer starts in the cervix, the lower part of the uterus (womb) that opens at the top of the vagina. Among the top three fatal cancers among women, cervical cancer (with an incidence of 17 per cent) is followed by stomach cancer (14 per cent) and breast cancer (10 per cent).

On Muslim women being less prone to cervical cancer compared to Hindu women, Dr Shet attributed the phenomenon to circumcision among Muslim men. Circumcision has a protective effect against sexual transmission of human papilloma virus (HPV), which is a causative agent in cervical cancer, Dr Arun said.

The study throws light on vulnerability levels based on demography: The age-standardised rates (30-69 years) for cervical cancer in women in Jammu and Kashmir and Assam (where 75 per cent and 40 per cent of the total populations respectively are Muslims) were less than a quarter of the nationwide rates for cervical cancer.

Reacting to the survey, Dr M Vijay Kumar, professor and director, department of surgery, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, said, “The Muslim factor for cervical cancer is so distinct that the rate for this type of cancer is low in states with a significant Muslim population. It is not that Muslim women do not get cervical cancer; the fact is they are less vulnerable because of circumcision among males. The chances of Muslim women getting cervical cancer will get delayed, maybe 20 years or more after consummation.”

Interestingly, the study suggested that Muslim women were more prone to breast and stomach cancers.

On the strategies to reduce cervical cancer deaths, the research suggested vaccination against human papilloma virus before marriage and, for married women, a one-time testing or screening followed by visual inspection with acetic acid and further referral for treatment.

Killer tobacco

The study also warns of an increase in mortality rates from tobacco smoking. It states: “Prevention of tobacco-related and cervical cancers and earlier detection of treatable cancers would reduce cancer deaths in India. The substantial variation in cancer rates in India suggests other risk factors or causative agents that remain to be discovered.”

The risks of cervical cancer are much lower in states where the Muslim population is larger, Arun shet, oncologist, ST John’s hospital

Apr
28

India Network Health Plan Covers your Vacation abroad, anywhere in the World

It is a little known secret that India Network Health Insurance plan is valid worldwide except home country. If you or your family are traveling to Europe or India during summer, please take the India Network Health Insurance plan with you. It is a very cost effective means of coverage rather than adding overseas coverage to your existing programs.  The Insurance coverage provides benefits that most top class hospitals in the world will welcome you in case of any need.  Similarly if you are visiting Europe or any part of the World, India Network plan can provide coverage for you.

India Network plan is a great choice if you are applying for  Schengen Visa program in which more 25 countries participate. India Network program exceeds the requirements for the Schengen Visa program.  The Chartis Insurance, A member of American International Group (AIG) is world leader and provides excellent service anywhere in the world with their 24 x 7 travel assist program and collect call facility to reach Travel Assist from anywhere in the world.

 

 

Apr
19

Comprehensive or Standard (Fixed) Coverage Plan??

India Network offers two plans to its members to choose from – a) Standard plan (with or without Pre-existing Coverage option); and b) Comprehensive Plan (with or without pre-existing option).  One of our goals at India Network is to do the homework for thus making it easy to pick the best plan. Recently a physician member called our office to help decide which plan is best for visiting parents. The doctor could not make up his mind as both plans have very attractive but distinct features and unfortunately purchasing both plans for the same duration and for the same visitor is not allowed.  It is not easy to choose one; however, major differences between the plans are outlined below. We hope it makes it a bit easier to pick the right one for your visitors.

Standard Plans – Lower premiums for visitors 60 years and older, open to go to any provider or facility, pay well beyond the typical medicare payments that providers get from federal government for services, and offers a maximum of $60,000 for pre-existing condition related issues. You first meet your deductible, then the plans pay as given in schedule of benefits (caps for various procedures). If the provider charges more than allowed amount, you are typically responsible for payments for the difference.

Comprehensive Plans – Typically higher premiums for visitors 60 years and older, network based benefits, after meeting deductible, the plan pays 80% of covered expenses up to $5,000 and 100% of covered medical bills after that till policy maximum, pre-existing coverage offered is only $20,000 (highest offered by any plan in the United States for this kind of program). Since providers are in the network, you do not need to worry about excessive billing.

The major difference is that in Standard Plans, the insurance company does not use network and pay a pre-defined benefit either to Hospital or to policy holder. If the billed amount is below the defined benefit, then you are covered 100 percent.. but if it is short, then you are responsible for the difference. . thus exposing your liability for excessive billing by providers.

Which one to choose particularly people with pre-existing conditions such as Diabetes, Blood Pressure etc.?

Depending on your own philosophy of risk taking, you have to make your own decision. In seeing many cases, we find India Network Standard Plan with $150,000 policy maximum with $60,000 pre-existing condition would serve best for many and the reimbursements from $150,000 policy maximum plan are extremely high compared to average PPO plan payments.

Apr
11

India Network Health Plan offers Cashless Policy for Visitors

India Network Health Insurance program has been extended this Spring to include a special comprehensive health insurance coverage for all age groups with pre-existing medical condition coverage option. More information is available at http://www.kvrao.org.  The India Network comprehensive medical insurance plan is the best and highest possible coverage offered in the United States for elderly parents visiting the United States.

One important feature of our plan is that it uses a PPO network – MultiPlan. The PPO network offered by  MultiPlan is one of the best and broadest networks available in the United States.  When a policy holder seeks medical assistance from a network provider, the policy would work as a cashless policy and the providers directly bill the insurance. In addition to cashless nature of this policy, the comprehensive visitor health insurance limits your out of pocket expenses…a great relief to many of our members. We encourage everyone to look into this program and take advantage of this great policy.

Click here to search for a MultiPlan Network facility or doctor near you.

Mar
19

When and where we should buy Visitor Health Insurance ??

Many of you may be wondering when exactly one should purchase the medical insurance for visitors and to get the insurance from India or from a US based Insurance company.  Of course, it is an easy decision if you just look at the rupees charged by any number of India based insurance companies such as ICICI Lombard, National Insurance, Oriental Insurance, Reliance policies, TATA-AIG policies etc. All of these offer world-wide coverage  at a fraction of US based insurance company policies such as India Network Health Insurance. Why is the health insurance in India is so cheap??

Health Insurance concept in India is very new. It appears only 6 out of 100 claims are actually processed by India based insurance companies that report to IRDA (Insurance Regulatory Authority of India) and even these six claims take about 110% premiums collected for the policies (IRDA, 2008).  The problem is also misrepresentation of coverages to policy holders. “Most repudiations happen due to non-disclosure of material facts about the health of the life assured especially hypertension and diabetes which most of the lives assured are not even aware of.” (IRDA, 2012). Now, you can fully understand that premiums collected are insufficient to pay even 6% claims and there is every likelihood that your India based Insurance policy is only a psychological satisfaction paper and nothing more..

It is highly advisable to purchase the insurance from a US program, like India Network Health Insurance, which is underwritten by Chartis Insurance, an AIG company. The India Network health insurance premiums are determined scientifically to meet all claims arising out of the policy as along as they fall within the policy wording (which is clearly written up on our web site http://www.kvrao.org).  However, ONE MUST PURCHASE THE INSURANCE BEFORE THE VISITOR arrives in the United States. If you purchase the program after arrival, a seven day waiting period is imposed during which only accidents are covered. So, please buy before arrival and get it from a reliable, time tested India Network Health Insurance Policy.

Mar
12

How to Evaluate a Health Insurance Plan for your loved ones??

In this Internet era, there are many plans that show-up in google search… some of them pay up to $6 to get your attention! Don’t be misled by list of various vendors on the first page of google.. that does not mean that they are better than others but simply they have  lot more $$ to spend on advertising .. means that they will invariably have less money to pay your claims! All money spent on advertising has to come from the premiums you pay.  If premiums look too attractive compares to India Network Health plan, please read carefully all documents and ask questions. Since India Network Health Insurance premiums are derived scientifically, it is unlikely that an insurance company would offer plans with lower premiums for similar coverage. Be careful and get familiar with limitations, exclusions, small print, big print etc. Also, note that almost all plans in the market are advertised and sold by agents. . who sell many plans without fully understanding each and every plan they put on their web site.

As many of you know, India Network DOES NOT SPEND any money on google advertising or otherwise but still a number of you found it worthwhile to investigate and insure your parents/in-laws and other relatives with India Network health Plan – the only plan that exists more than two decades and still serving the needs of many of our members. With India Network, you are getting a plan that has vetted by many parents in the past two decades and found the plan is cost effective serving the very needs of the community at the best premiums possible.  You will not be wrong in choosing our comprehensive plan or the standard plan with pre existing conditions for your loved ones.

Read more under http://www.kvrao.org/program.html

 

Feb
03

India Network Launches Comprehensive Pre-existing Coverage, Effective Feb 1, 2012

India Network Foundation is pleased to announce that a new comprehensive health insurance plan with pre-existing conditions coverage of upto $20,000 with a maximum comprehensive coverage of $150,000 for below 70 years old;  and $15,000 comprehensive pre-existing condition coverage with $75,000 maximum coverage for 70 plus years old. This program is a unique program that should help saving conscious members who wish to limit their out of pocket expenses. The plan also known as Traditional plan is 80/20 plan which pays 80 percent of covered health care expenses upto $5000 and there after 100 percent coverage upto policy maximum for new medical conditions and accidents. In case of pre-existing condition related emergencies, the plan pays similar to the above example except first $1,000 deductible must be met by the policy holder. Please call India Network office for any questions or queries at 407-243-8760

Older posts «