The Oriental Insurance Company / Mercury International Assistance and claims

During my visit to USA from August-October 2001, while staying with my son in Medina, Washington State, I accidentally fell from the staircase, hurt my left ribs and suffered from severe pain. I was treated for this in Lake side Hospital, Seattle on 2 days. My wife also took some treatment in this hospital around the same time. Meantime, I returned to India with my wife on 27th October 2001.

After paying the hospital bills for the treatment of myself and my wife, My son prepared two completed claim forms and sent them in March 2002 with one covering letter to Mercury International Assistance and claims Ltd. England, supported by all necessary documents and paid bills in original. However after a long interval, only my wife’s claim was settled by sending a cheque for $512.17 after deducting $100 as per the condition in the insurance policy.

In July 2002 my son reminded Mercury about my claim for $904.29 Mercury however, called for insured persons’ complete policy although this was sent earlier with the original claim form. A copy of the policy along with Xerox copies of the entire claim kept for our record earlier was also forwarded by my son to Mercury in November 2002 requesting early settlement of my claim.

There was no response for a long time. So a reminder was sent by my son in April 2003. In July 2003, Mercury again asked for the entire insured person’s complete policy. My son was visiting India in December 2003 and at that time a Xerox copy of the Mediclaim Policy B&H Policy Yr / No. 2002 / 3526 along with the entire bunch of documents returned by Mercury in July 2003 was retransmitted by registered post.

It is clear that after settling one claim of my wife, the documents with the other claim were simply filed by Mercury on the assumption that the case was disposed off. In the latest letter of 28th December, 2003 sent by registered post ack due, Mercury was specifically told of this error on their part and asked them to search and trace the other claim papers at their end.

The claim is nearly two and half years old and remains unsettled even to this day. I am at a loss as to what further steps are needed in getting my dues paid to me. Any help in this behalf is appreciated.

The truth is that fixed coverage may not be enough in many situations.

If you visit an emergency room, the expense could be $1500 or $2000, but insurance company would pay only $300 max in fixed coverage.

If you need surgery, it may as well cost you $20,000 or even $30,000, but insurance company would pay only $3,000 max($5,000 max for $100K coverage) in fixed coverage.

I know of a person who had purchased Inbound USA for 70+ father, and one day hospitalization bill was $12,000, but insurance company paid $950 as per policy. And that person called us to ask who is going to pay the difference? Of course, he had to pay the difference. Insurance company paid according what is there in the policy and insured has to pay rest.

In other words, if fixed coverage limits were good enough, no body would ever purchase comprehensive coverage. Also, fixed coverage is for persons who don't look at the benefits but just at the price.

I hope this answers it. If not, please feel free to call us at 1-866-INSU-BUY.

Hi,

I have to take a decision to choose between Comprehensive plan Vs. Fixed plan for my visiting parents. I know that comprehensive will give a better coverage than fixed. But the cost difference is too much between these two. Comprehensive is costing double the time as Fixed. By keeping this in my mind, I have the following question.

1. Let us say if I choose the Visitor Care, Is the amount limit in each cateogry is sufficient here in USA. Can we manage within that ? Is anyone has any experience with Visitor Care insurance? Good/Bad please share with me.


Thx
Renga

May I take this opportunity to thank your Company for arranging my recent insurance(Liaison International from SRI) and for your very helpful website with most important and easily understood information on all aspects of immigration which I feel sure accurately and responsibly addresses a great number of worries by many people including myself!

Medical advice and quotes too are a minefield...but again...SRI set out their Liaison Policy very concisely so clients (and doctors) know exactly where they stand.

Your site leans towards folk from the Sub- Continent but is still very friendly and applicable for guys from Wales. Again my thanks and good wishes for your continued success.

1. Comprehensive coverage is better than fixed coverage. Please read about it at http://www.insubuy.com/guide/terms.jsp?section=fixed and http://www.insubuy.com/guide/terms.jsp?section=comprehensive

2. $100,000 is better, but of course, costs more.

3. Inbound USA on this website provides same coverage as India Network plan for age below 70, but Inbound USA is 10% cheaper and requires no membership fee of $15. Therefore, it is better to buy Inbound USA. Both are fixed coverage plans.
Another fixed coverage plan is Visitors Care from IMG, also available on this website.

If you have any other questions, please contact us at 1-866-INSU-BUY.

Thanks & Regards

All,

I am pretty much confused in deciding health insurance for my visiting parents. I have seen many insuracne companies website and got various informations. I have the following questions.

My Parents does not have any pre existing medical conditions.

1. What is the difference between Comprehensive and Fixed insurance plan? Which one is good?

2. What is the good covergae for parents in the age group of 50-65. (50000? or 10000?)

3. What do you guys think about India Network Health Insurance Program. Any good or Bad experience with them?


Please help me in deciding this.

Thx for your time and info.

Thx
Renga

ap,

No, Atlas Extra will not work either as it will consider it as chronic disease and thus not covered.
Look no further. Believe me. There is no plan to cover pre-existing conditions.

Please call us at 1-866-INSU-BUY so that we can this in detail as I believe talking will much faster.

narendra,
what abt plans that say waiver of pre existing conditions?theres an atlas plan that says so.does that help?

36 months does not apply in your father's condition as he is still taking medicines and therefore the disease is considered to be there even now and not covered. All the insurance plans would exclude heart disease as he already had problem, no matter how long ago.

narendra,
thanks for yr input.i have a quick question.what is "controlled condition"?I see this term used in some insurance sites.

also, many insurance companies say that they cover for conditions occured more than 36 months ago.since my fathers heart attack was 5 years ago, wouldnt that be covered since he has had no problems since then and has good doctors reports since then?