I want to let everyone know about the scam(s) being run by most of the Medical Insurance Company's especially for parents holding Visitor Visa's.

My parents visited US 3 months back and I have done good amount of research and after inquiring about various plan details got medical insurance from ICICI.
My parents paid around $1400.00 for 6 months.

The policy's name it self mentions Cash Less claim policy meaning
no payments/approvals required at the time of service and their US tie up United Health Care would take care of all the charges.

Unfortunately, my father had developed Heart Symptoms and on the advise of a family Doctor living remotely had to contact ICICI for finding out about any specific group to be visited.

We were told that, I need to pay the consultation charges and if it is more than deductible of $100.00, need to file for Claim.
I was ready for that but asked about any diagnostic tests prescribed, they had suggested the same pay and claim policy.
I argued with them about policy details and the ICICI representative was suggesting the same.
Later, I was told to visit a Doctor and send them Prescription for tests so that they would pre-approval.
At this point , I was pretty sure nothing is going to work out with this policy and it is a scam.
But still sent them all the test details.
ICICI never responded even after 2 weeks and kept on dragging requesting the same documents over and over.
Most ridiculous part was they operate without a Toll Free number and every time we need to keep on updating every representative.
Thank god with advise from my family Doctor, I sent my parents within a week.
After reaching India, my father was undergoing tests and one day suddenly developed severe Heart stroke and was rushed to hospital and got operated.
He is safe and stable now and is recovering.
Meanwhile, ICICI did come back after 4 weeks with a pre-approval, with $ 800.00 limit.
They dont have any pre-negotiated rates with any hospital in USA.
I asked how about United Health Care tie up.
They answered that United Health Care is a payment agency for ICICI in USA.

To put Long story short
*******************
Later, I came to know that most of my friends had same kind of issues with all the Insurance company's based out of India. So fellow immigrants beware of these Insurance Companies.

Iam filig a case in Consumer court and trying to take it to media attention back home.
Infact, even it is not immigration related issue, thought of sharing with all the immigrants
as most of us do face this kind of issues.

Contrary to most of the posts on this forum, we had an ok experience with Bajaj Allianz. We did not have a major hospitalization claim, but the amount was around 800-900$, which was reimbursed after deductible. Our Agent in India did follow up, so a good Agent is helpful even in India.

Sri,

From your question, I believe that your mother-in-law is 65 years of age or above. In that case, she is not eligible for certain plans if she is without insurance for 30 days or more.

Therefore, you can't buy any of the plans that display such message. You can buy other ones.

For example, in comprehensive category, you can buy Atlas America, available at
http://www.insubuy.com/visitor-insurance/

If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us at any time.

1. Please look at http://www.insubuy.com/visitor-insurance/

All the plans that have a link next to it that says 'Provider Directory' participate in PPO network.

2. No

3.
After you purchase for initially minimum 3 months, you can renew for minimum 5 days or any longer duration you desire, maximum up to 2 years.

If you would like to go month by month right away, look at Protection America instead, also available at http://www.insubuy.com/visitor-insurance/

4. Sure.

Please feel free to contact us at any time at (866) INSU-BUY if you have any further questions.

Hello SK,

Yes, such plans are available.

There are 2 types of plans: Fixed & Comprehensive. You can look at the description of both types at
http://www.insubuy.com/guide/terms.jsp?section=fixed and http://www.insubuy.com/guide/terms.jsp?section=comprehensive respectively.

And we clearly explain this distinction to all the customers that call us. And it is very clearly mentioned on our website too.

You should buy a plan from 'Comprehensive' category for what you are looking for.

Now, look at http://www.insubuy.com/visitor-insurance/ You will see all the plans in each category.

If you go to our website's home page, http://www.insubuy.com and enter appropriate criteria, you will find all the plans listed one after another with prices, and you can compare them side by side the ones you choose.

You can make instant purchase for any of those for your future needs.

And if you have any questions, please call us at 1-866-INSU-BUY and we would be glad to help you.

Could you please tell us whether you were explained clearly about its limitations when you bought your current insurance from your current insurance provider?

1. It starts from 12.01 AM Eastern time the day you specify.

2. Keeping time zone difference in mind between India and US East Coast (10.5 hours currently), in order to cover during the travel time as well, you should put the effective date one day in advance of the travel date.

3. Most products we offer are PPO plans therefore most doctors and almost all the hospitals in network bill the insurance company directly. You don't have to file for reimbursement. That is the biggest advantage of buying visitors insurance from US based company which has a PPO network.
Visit http://www.insubuy.com/visitor-insurance/ and next to each plan, you will see several links. Any plan that participates in PPO network (almost all) has a link called 'Provider Directory'. You will find participating providers there.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us at any time at (866) INSU-BUY.

Your understanding is partially correct about all the US plans we sell except Inbound USA that does not have PPO network and hence no network negotiated fees.

Visit http://www.insubuy.com/visitor-insurance/
Next to each product, you will see a link that says 'How Plan Works'.

That will explain essentially the same thing I am explaining here.

However, please note that network negotiated fees apply only to the covered expenses that the insurance is company is going to pay for. It does not apply to non-covered expenses such as pre-existing conditions.

We are insurance brokers and we offer many different products from different companies and all of them don't work the same way.

1. Visit http://www.insubuy.com/visitor-insurance/
Next to each product, you will see a link 'How Plan Works'. It will explain you in detail.

2. You must have purchased a product that didn't participate in any PPO network. Otherwise, there is no way, that one network discount it from $180 to $75 and other wouldn't do it at all.

There are few products out there that don't participate in any network, but still provide a link for provider directory! Those companies usually don't explicitly clarify that there is no network until asked. If asked for clarification, they would claim the link is provided only for your convenience of finding a provider. You could look up in Yahoo yellow pages, ask your friend, or search in Google as well.

Dear Mr. Appalla,

I am sorry to hear that you have ended up with large medical bills.

I have received the documents you sent me: the brochure and the certificate of insurance you had purchased.

From looking at your policy, it seems you have purchased fixed coverage plan. Please look at fixed vs comprehensive plans difference at http://www.insubuy.com/guide/visitors-insurance-types.jsp
 
Also, if you look at our web site http://www.insubuy.com/visitor-insurance/, you will see that we have cleared marked the fixed plans and comprehensive plans so that people know exactly what they are purchasing.

It seems that, in your case, you were not aware that it was a fixed coverage plan.

That is exactly why it is important to purchase the insurance from the broker like us who work in the best interest of customers, you. Look at FAQ #1 at http://www.insubuy.com/guide/faq/visitors-medical-insurance-purchase-faq.jsp We make it very clear to all customers what exactly they are purchasing.
 
I would have been glad to guide you, but looking at the policy, it says it will pay $1,750/day in hospital room and board for $100,000 policy. As long as they paid according to that, I believe there is nothing I, you or anyone else can do about it. You will have to take care of the remaining expenses yourself.

I recommend purchasing comprehensive coverage plans like Patriot America or Atlas America in future, available on our web site at http://www.insubuy.com

If you need any other help or have questions, please feel free to contact us at (866) INSU-BUY at any time.

Dear Mr. Behara,

We require more information from you before we can suggest you the most appropriate plan.

Please call us at (866) INSU-BUY and we would be glad to help you.