Who is the provider of insurance coverage?

Among its many benefits, the iNext card includes insurance coverage under the group sickness, accident, and travel insurance policy maintained by CIEE: The Council on International Educational Exchange and administered by Travel Guard®, the industry’s leading provider of travel insurance plans.

What is the nature of the coverage?

The policy is designed to supplement private insurance by providing additional coverage for the costs of accidents and routine sicknesses while you are abroad. Additionally, the policy offers Emergency Evacuation and Emergency Medical Transportation coverage, 24-hour Medical, Legal, and Travel Assistance Services, Travel Document Replacement, as well as limited Baggage Delay and, in the case of iNext Premium, limited Travel Delay and Baggage and Personal Effects coverage.

Should I purchase or maintain a U.S. health insurance plan?

Before you depart it is important that you understand that the coverage provided by iNext and Travel Guard® begins only when you leave the U.S., and ends immediately upon your return to the U.S. For coverage in the U.S., you must purchase or maintain a separate plan. iNext strongly recommends that you consider retaining your U.S. health insurance, including hospitalization, even while abroad. This will cover you both before you leave and after you return from your travels; and should you have an accident or illness abroad that requires long term care, you will have insurance upon your return to cover these expenses. You may find it difficult to purchase a health plan if you return to the U.S. with what an insurance company considers to be a pre-existing condition.

How does supplemental insurance work?

Like all travel insurance policies, the coverage provided by iNext and Travel Guard® is supplemental or secondary to any other coverage that you may have. In other words, if you are covered by another insurance policy – e.g., a personal policy, college/university policy, or a policy maintained by your parents – then that policy is your primary policy. Prior to departure, you should contact your primary insurance carrier concerning coverage for accidents, illnesses, and liability cases that occur outside the U.S. Check your policy's limitations before making any assumptions about coverage.

In the event that you must file a claim for reimbursement of medical expenses incurred while you are abroad, please note that you must file a claim with your primary insurance carrier FIRST to determine what, if any, portion of those medical expenses are reimbursable through your primary policy. Subsequently, you should file a claim with Travel Guard® for any amount that was not covered by your primary insurance carrier.

How long am I covered by the Travel Guard® policy?

You are covered for 365 days from the start date of coverage. The dates of coverage are noted on the front of your iNext card.

In what countries am I covered?

Your insurance coverage is valid in any country outside the 50 United States and District of Columbia.

Is it possible to get referrals to local doctors or hospitals when I am abroad?

Travel Guard® maintains a fairly extensive database of licensed medical providers and is available 24/7 to offer referrals over the telephone. Simply call Travel Guard® collect at the number provided on the back of your iNext Travel Card.  

It should be noted that Travel Guard® is only able to offer referrals to medical providers. There is no list of preferred providers with which Travel Guard® has an established “financial” relationship. Unlike in the United States, most medical providers abroad are not set up, or even willing, to bill an overseas insurance company directly. In addition, no insurance company can force any doctor or medical facility to bill insurance rather than the patient. As with most travel insurance, the customary procedure with Travel Guard® is for you to pay for medical treatment received, and then submit a claim for reimbursement.

Is pre-approval required before I receive medical treatment?

No. You do not have to contact Travel Guard® before receiving any medical treatment aside from hospitalization or surgery. Treatment by any doctor or medical facility that is licensed to practice medicine will be covered. Simply go to a doctor, get a prescription, pay the doctor, and then submit a claim for reimbursement.

Exception:

You MUST call Travel Guard® before being admitted to a hospital or prior to a scheduled surgery unless it is an emergency situation and a call is not possible, in which case Travel Guard® should be notified as soon as possible.

What are the policy exclusions?

The policy does not include coverage for pre-existing conditions; mental, psychological, or nervous disorders; routine physical or dental examinations; or preventative medicine. For a complete list of exclusions, please refer to the policy description available here for Basic, here for Premium or here for Platinum.

What is a pre-existing condition?

Any injury, sickness, or other condition identified within 90 days before the start date of coverage. For additional information on pre-existing conditions, please refer to the policy description available here for Basic, here for Premium or here for Platinum.