Missionary Insurance, Long-Term

Also called "annual" or "expatriate health insurance," here's a choice of competing international insurance plans for missions of one year or longer. All are USA-Style.

For some key consumer tips, please be sure to see Buy Smart. Your questions are encouraged. (Contact / About Us)

Page Contents...
Global Citizen & Global Citizen EXP
Global Navigator (New 2009)
Reside Prime Worldwide
Reside Worldwide
Your USA Plan + Travel Supplement
Avoid This "Gotcha"

Global Citizen (includes USA coverage).  Global Citizen EXP (no USA coverage)

Administered by HTH Worldwide Insurance Services, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Insured by UNICARE Life & Health, or HM Life Insurance Company (varies by state)

Global Citizen... (includes USA coverage)

Global Citizen > Online Quotes, Benefits, & Application (opens in new window)

Global Citizen > Sample Certificate (Actual policy wording! Opens in new window)

At this time, "Global Citizen" and the "Global Navigator" plan (below) are the only international medical plans of which we are aware that contain no restriction on the amount of time you spend within the USA. (You must reside in an approved state, or abroad at time of policy renewal.)

Global Citizen Plan Highlights:
- Medical limit up to $5,000,000.
- Provides coverage worldwide, with no limit on time spent inside the USA.
- No waiting period for most benefits and services.
- Deductible is waived for office visits and preventative services (co-pay only).
- Pre-existing condition exclusion is only 180 days.
- Includes coverage for terrorist events and professional sporting activities.
- Direct billing with doctors and hospitals in over 180 countries, including the USA.
- HSA plan available.
- Renewable up to age 84.
- A less ambiguous, more consumer-friendly definition of "pre-existing condition".

The Global Citizen health plan has met the standards of state regulators. There are no waiting periods associated with most benefits or services and no pre-certification is required. The plan is using HIPAA guidelines and the pre-existing condition exclusion can be waived subject to proof of prior creditable insurance. In addition, the plan automatically covers injuries or illnesses that are a result of a terrorist act.

The Global Citizen plan is available to the following persons:
- USA citizens living abroad who are age 74 or younger at the time of application.
- USA residents (USA citizens and legal foreign nationals) residing in an approved state (below), who are age 74 or younger at the time of application.

For Missionaries: Global Navigator (info below) is a similar in many ways to the Global Citizen, but with fewer benefits and lower cost.  

Approved States:
Insurance benefits underwritten by HM Life Insurance Company - Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
Insurance benefits underwritten by UNICARE Life and Health Insurance Company - Connecticut, Indiana, Kentucky, Montana, Nevada, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont.

Global Citizen "EXP"... (excludes USA coverage, but lower cost)

Global Citizen EXP > OnLine Quotes, Benefits, & Application (opens in new window)

If you exclude coverage in the USA, the title of the "Global Citizen" plan becomes "Global Citizen EXP." The EXP plan excludes coverage or treatment in the USA, so the monthly premium is less. (USA medical care is the most expensive in the world.)

Global Citizen "EXP" Highlights:
- same as Global Citizen (above) except there is no coverage within the USA

Note: On the Global Citizen quote page, if "include U.S. coverage" is checked "no," you will receive a "Global Citizen EXP" quote. If checked "yes," you will receive a "Global Citizen" quote.

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Global Navigator - New 2009 - for missionaries (and professional crew) only.

Administered by HTH Worldwide Insurance Services, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Insured by UNICARE Life & Health, or HM Life Insurance Company (varies by state)

Global Navigator > Quotes & Information (opens in a new Window)
Next, click "Learn More."

Global Navigator Plan Highlights:
- Medical limit up to $5,000,000.
- Provides coverage worldwide, with no limit on time spent inside the USA.
- No waiting period for most benefits and services.
- Includes coverage for terrorist events.
- Direct billing with doctors and hospitals in over 180 countries, including the USA.
- Renewable up to age 84.
- A less ambiguous, more consumer-friendly definition of "pre-existing condition".

The "Global Navigator" plan was designed with missionaries in mind. By reducing or eliminating certain benefits, insurance rates are reduced by 15% to 40% or more, compared to the "Global Citizen" plan.

Below is a comparison of a few key plan differences. For a more complete comparison of "Global Navigator" vs. "Global Citizen," see Comparison Highlights (.doc file, opens in a new Window).

There's nothing wrong with trading some benefits for a lower premium. The key is to understand the trade-offs. We encourage your questions. E-mail us

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Reside PRIME Worldwide (option: include or exclude coverage in USA & Canada)

Administered by Seven Corners, Inc. (SCI), Indianapolis, IN, USA
Insured by Lloyd's, London.

Reside PRIME > Instant Online Quotes & Application  (opens in a new window)

Reside PRIME Program Summary (Sample Policy Wording)  (new window)

Reside PRIME Brochure - including Rate Chart  (opens in a new window)

Reside PRIME Plan Highlights:
- Competitively priced.
- Medical limit up to $5,000,000 
- Provides coverage inside and outside of the USA (limit 6 mo. per policy year inside USA)
- The deductible is reduced by 50% and the coinsurance is waived if covered expenses are incurred within the USA "PPO" network
- You have the option of "including" or "excluding" coverage within the USA and Canada.

Very Important: The "Reside Prime" plan is not intended for anyone who will reside within the USA and/or Canada for more than 6 months during any given 12 month period. (See brochure for details.)

This "6 month in USA and/or Canada" limitation is the fundamental reason why the Reside Prime insurance plan is lower cost than the Global Citizen and (in some cases) Global Navigator (above).

Suggestion: We work for you (Guarantees). If you have had any medical conditions of concern, we invite you to consult with us before you "officially" apply for long-term health insurance (Contact / About Us).

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Reside Worldwide  ("basic" benefits worldwide - best for life outside the USA)

Administered by Seven Corners, Inc., Indianapolis, IN, USA
Insured by Lloyd's, London.

A "Schedule of Benefits" or "Basic Medical" Plan:
Regardless of where medical treatment is received, this type of plan pays a maximum amount (not to exceed the total charge) for listed medical procedures, such as hospitalization, doctor visits, certain outpatient procedures, etc.

Reside > Instant Online Quotes & Application  (opens in a new window)

Reside > Program Summary (Sample Policy Wording)  (opens in a new window)

Reside > Brochure & Rate Chart  (opens in a new window.)

On this type of plan, people would typically seek medical care outside of the USA. When receiving covered treatment outside the USA, the Schedule of Benefits is often adequate to cover most medical expenses. However, when receiving covered treatment within the USA, the "usual and customary" charges for hospitalization and other medical benefits will typically exceed the maximum allowance under this plan's Schedule of Benefits. The insured person would then be responsible for any difference (which in the USA could be substantial).

*Note: Reside Worldwide is not intended for anyone who will reside within the USA for more than 6 months during any given 12 month period. (See brochure for details.)

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Your Current USA Plan + Travel Supplement (an option for some to consider)

Choices are limited and underwriting standards are comparatively tough for fully-regulated long-term international health insurance plans -- plans that you can keep and renew - without re-qualifying - upon your permanent return to the USA.

In some instances, you might consider keeping your existing USA health insurance and supplementing it with a low cost, short-term health and travel insurance plan.

You may have the option of lowering the cost of your existing health plan by raising your deductible, or converting to a high-deductible "HSA." (The drawback is that if you wanted the lower deductible later, in most states you would need to apply and medically re-qualify.)

You would also need to check the "eligibility" requirements of your existing insurance. Some states mandate that you are allowed to keep your USA coverage, even during extended stays overseas. Others do not.

As long as you intend the USA to be your "fixed and permanent" residence, this is an option to investigate.

Note: If you believe this may fit your situation, I invite you to contact me (E-mail) for guidance.

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Avoid This "Gotcha"

Virtually all private insurance plans exclude coverage for "pre-existing conditions." It is vital to know that the wording of the definition of "pre-existing condition" can vary dramatically from insurance plan to insurance plan.

A small difference in your policy wording could make a huge difference in whether or not a large medical insurance claim is actually paid . . . . or not paid.

Here are two examples for illustration purposes:

Pre-Existing Condition #1: "Any condition which existed at or prior to the date the policy went into effect."

Pre-Existing Condition #2:  "Any condition which was diagnosed, treated, or manifested itself in such a way as to exhibit recognizable symptoms, prior to the date that the policy went into effect."

Note that in example #1, the definition is very broad and ambiguous. In this example, you might have a "pre-existing condition" and not even be aware of it. Examples might include any type of heart disease, which often goes undetected for years.

If you owned a long-term health insurance policy with ambiguous wording (as in example #1 above) and came down with a major illness, you could be in trouble. If doctors determined that your illness existed in any form before your policy went into effect, even if you didn't have noticeable symptoms . . . GOTCHA!!!

Avoid the Gotcha. All long-term international insurance plans found here contain a more consumer-friendly definition as in example #2 above.

Health insurance is primarily for the big expenses, and possibly for life-saving medical care. Why accept contract wording from an insurance company that allows them to avoid paying a major claim? Buy Smart.

Your questions are invited: E-mail me (Whit G., President, Liberty)         Top

               
International Health Insurance for virtually all Missionary Insurance Needs.