Archive for December, 2009

How BUPA Reduces Risk for International Workers

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009

coffeeCombine the thought of “international health insurance” and not having my cup of jo from Brewed Awakening Coffee Hut around the corner of my home here in Washington State, and I was already having second thoughts about living in a remote village out in East Africa just 2 months from now.

But today I have fixed the concerns I had about international health insurance because I took out the BUPA career plan.  Two things that concerned me were unlimited coverage in the US and maternity coverage. BUPA solved those two issues as well as being a top international health insurance plan based out of the UK.

Maternity is a concern for us since most plans have a 12 month waiting period.  BUPA only has a 10 month waiting period before full maternity benefits kick in.  Now my wife and I are smiling!

Sure, the maternity coverage cost is not much overseas, but what happens if something dreadful occurs to my wife and baby during the pregnancy and birth? We want to make sure our health insurance will take care of everything, including the unforeseen things that may happen.  We pray it doesn’t, but as Mom used to say, “When you don’t use your head, you’ll have to use your feet.” And I don’t fancy work that can be avoided if I had only first used my head.

Then my other concern is what if I get so sick that I have to come back Stateside for good and am not able to get US individual health care? Most international health insurance plans have to follow US federal law of 6 months of US coverage during a 12 month policy period and once I do not meet this US government law I am literally a cup of hot water, sugar and cream without the “jo.” 

The neat thing about the two BUPA career plans is that they have unlimited coverage in the US which means I have peace of mind in case something terrible happens to me. I will not be stranded without health insurance in the US. 

With my health insurance issues solved, the barista at Brewed Awakening solved my other problem by handing me a few pounds of their beautiful, aroma filled coffee beans. 

Now East Africa doesn’t seem so frightening anymore!

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Posted in Why is it important? |

Deductible is not a dirty word

Wednesday, December 16th, 2009

HMOs (Health Maintenance Organizations) and PPOs (Preferred Provider Organizations), to say the least, are not the best of friends! One thing HMOs do in their marketing is to claim that they have “no deductibles.” Of course this is a slam at PPOs that have deductibles. Yet HMOs don’t mention that if a client goes into the hospital on many of their policies there is a co-pay of $250 or $500. This large co-pay in some ways is similar to and often larger than some deductibles.

Also, most people don’t realize that even though you may have a $500 deductible with a PPO you still have small co-pays if you visit a doctor. Generally, the doctor’s office visit, lab work, and x-rays are all covered with just the co-pay with no extra charge to the insured. This is very similar to how HMOs work.

So, when does the deductible kick in? Usually for outpatient surgery, emergency room, and in- hospital stays.

“Deductible” is not a dirty word. In many ways it is just a variation of a large co-pay.

Most international policies are “classical” PPOs, and, according to my knowledge, none have co-pays. They could all be classed as “traditional” insurance; that is insurance that works from a deductible, co-insurance, and then total coverage.

Good Neighbor Insurance – for international health and travel insurance

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Posted in Insurance lingo |