Mission & Missionary Medical, Health & Life Insurance Growing demand leads to comprehensive international health insurance being available for the first time for career missionaries
You barely have to turn the page in a newspaper or magazine these days to see that globalization is at the epicenter of the new world order. As global lifestyles emerge, the demand for comprehensive major medical insurance has grown rapidly. In response to this demand, a new generation of superior health plans is now available to serve global missionaries, who have historically had limited choice when it comes to coverage. Existing insurance options have often missed the mark because of limited benefits, long waiting periods, harsh exclusions, pre-certification penalties, lack of portability, furlough constraints and other problems.
The typical career missionary and his/her family will travel overseas for a period of one to four years and return home for furlough, deputation or educational continuation, then return to the mission field. Another scenerio would involve short-term outreach mission trips to international or domestic locations, typically from a few days to many weeks or months at a time.
Well built for the long haul
Insurance regulators have historically encountered international health plans primarily in the form of surplus lines products. Nevertheless, surplus lines plans have generally been the only renewable health option available to missionaries. Over the past few years, more than 40 U.S. states have stepped up and approved the sale of a new health insurance plan to serve people with global health insurance needs. Benefits are available inside and outside of the United States with no cap on time spent in any one place. The new generation of plans respond to your needs, whether you spend the majority of the year on a mission assignment or whether you are back home on an extended furlough.
Admitted Health Insurance vs. Non-Admitted, Surplus Coverage
Comparing surplus lines coverage to true health insurance yields some very critical differences. They are built very differently with far reaching consequences. Your personal health and financial security could hang in the balance.
Admitted health insurance advantages include:
Critical Protection- You are protected under US insurance laws and oversight. U.S insurance laws are strict and have long favored the health care consumer. This means that policy language must meet the plain English definition. Policy wording, plan definitions, exclusions, state mandates for coverage, claims process, claims turnaround times and the formal appeals process all must meet regulatory muster. Ongoing Coverage Rights- An admitted plan can be kept indefinitely even after your overseas assignment ends. U.S. insurance laws have evolved to ensure portability and renew ability of coverage. This is designed so that people do not suddenly find themselves back in their home country and uninsurable. A little known fact: most surplus lines plans find a member ineligible for benefits after returning home for a specified period of time. This is a risky proposition if a member has had medical treatment while traveling internationally. Many domestic health plans review health history and reserve the right to decline an applicant for coverage. A declination may be based on something that seems minor to the applicant. Having a fully portable and renewable policy is the key to avoiding long term insurance woes. Medical Provider Networks- Larger networks tend to be available in the United States with fewer billing issues for members. In addition, contracted doctors and hospitals are available in most overseas destinations. These providers are set up in many instances to bill the insurance company directly. Providers are profiled, contracted and members can review their biographical information. Better Benefits- Admitted benefits tend to be broader and deeper with few waiting periods or low limits on certain medical conditions. The table below illustrates some of the major differences between an admitted health plan and a non admitted surplus plan.