INF - FAQ's, Frequently Asked Questions

This is a multifaceted answer. All INF Plans come with our $0 Copay Telemedicine service. Telemedicine allows your clients to get treatment from their home with ease. INF has two telemedicine provides: Teladoc & MeMD. Telemedicine is a great tool because it works just as well as going to an urgent care, it's much faster, it does not cost anything, and there is no claims paperwork involved.
We've helped members in the past set up their account and get treatment for issues like toe infections, leg infections, depression, sore throat, leg pain, UTI, and even chicken pox! Even if your client has a preference to go to a physical location- this is a free first opinion they can use. The telemedicine physician will also give their opinion on what next steps should be for treatment.
For doctors & hospitals - it depends on the plan which you enroll in. INF Fixed Benefit Plans (Premier & Standard) all have a deductible which must be met, and then the plan pays according to a schedule of benefits. It is important to remind the client that fixed benefit options have limited benefits.
INF Comprehensive plan (Elite & Traveler USA), have a deductible as well, and then pay 80% up to the policy maximum. When compared to other plans which claim to pay 100% after the deductible.

The answer to this question depends on the policy your client wants to enroll in.
For Fixed Benefit Plans: After the deductible is met, INF will pay a fixed amount. Any remaining part of the bill will be the client's responsibility.
For example:
Your client enrolled in the Premier $150K policy with a $75 deductible and $1,000 pre-existing deductible, paying $336 in premium. They see a cardiologist who charges $500 per visit, and order an EKG ($300 charge), blood work ($400 charge), and 3 follow up visits ($1,500 charge).
After the $1,000 deductible has been met, the plan will pay $200 for the blood test, & $375 for the follow up doctor visits (a total for $575). This means the patient is responsible for the other $1,125 (before PPO discounting).
As you can see in this example, the client got their money's worth from the plan- but because it is a fixed benefit option, only a portion of their total costs were paid.

For Comprehensive Plans:
After the deductible has been met, the plan will pay 80% of the eligible charges up to the policy maximum.
For example:
Your client has an episode of Syncope and is rushed to the ER. They are stabilized and discharged within 1 day and now are faced with a bill of $30,000. The bill is negotiated down to $22,500 and the plan will pay the remaining $18,000. Your client only pays $4,500 out of a $30,000 bill.

Again, we have a question that can have multiple answers. All INF plan will cover new accident & sicknesses. Under INF, new sicknesses include:

• Urinary Tract Infections
• Kidney Infections
• Bladder Infections
• Influenza
• Pneumonia
• Appendicitis
• And many more diseases which can be considered "new"

INF Plans typically do not exclude new sicknesses under the guise of pre-existing conditions like other plans (such as Patriot America & Safe Travels).
INF Plans typically do not exclude new sicknesses under the guise of pre-existing conditions like other plans. Some INF Plans (Elite & Premier) cover all pre-existing conditions. Known as "Full Pre-Existing Coverage," this means we cover the gradual worsening of pre-existing conditions, and we treat pre-existing conditions like new sicknesses (in-patient, out-patient, and specialist care). Full Pre-Existing plans have no look-back period, and will cover any pre-existing issue, as per the policy. That being said , medical tourism, maintenance, and preventive care are not covered by full pre-existing plans.
Other INF Plans cover only the acute onset of pre-existing conditions. This means we only cover pre-existing issues related in-patient hospitalization or emergency room. Our definition of acute onset is "emergency sickness," meaning if your client thinks they will experience an adverse health consequence without immediate medical attention, it may be considered Acute Onset.

Pregnancy & Childbirth: Some INF Plans provide benefits for pregnancy & childbirth. It is important to note that pregnancy is not considered a "pre-existing condition" but rather new condition. In any case, pregnancy is not covered if conception happens before the start date of the policy.
INF Plans which provide some coverage for pregnancy include:

• INF Standard
• INF Premier

Dental & Vision:
INF Plans provide all members with a Careington POS Discount Card, which allows them to access dental savings benefits of around 50% and savings on glasses and frames of around 30-40%. Clients can see the dentist and know they do not have to pay full price for complicated dental procedures.
For eye illnesses, such as pink eye, eye allergies, etc- these are considered sicknesses and covered by INF Plans, as per the policy.

Reflection on INF Plans:
When you advise your client to enroll in an INF Plan, you are making the right decision. INF is known for paying claims, having responsive customer service, ensuring the claims process is smooth, and being there when members need us.
If an insurance plan does not pay a claim- it's not just a reflection on the insurance company, but a reflection on yourself as a trusted advisor to your client. Our advice: don't sell your clients a lemon, advise them to enroll in INF.
Remember- always feel free to reach out with any questions you have about INF.

Yes, they can buy INF travel insurance

Yes, Europeans and other nationalities can buy the INF travel medical insurance plan for travel to Canada. With respect to Canada, many Canadian Snowbird travelers also buy INF plans for their travel to the USA do to the excellent pre-existing coverage policies.

Yes. The INF travel insurance insures many green card holders (especially those who are above the age of 65 years) in INF medical insurance. INF plans also offer ancillary benefits such as dental and telemedicine, something that is typically separate policies for domestic health insurance. Green Card holders can enroll in INF plans up to 1 year at a time, and then must renew their policy. There is however no "term limit" for INF plans

The standard answer is that any plan offering Acute Onset coverage will only pay claims for emergencies related to pre-existing issues. However- we all know that *most acute onset plans never pay claims. *We've put together some examples on Acute Onset of Pre-Existing conditions plans you can share with your clients:
Examples to show how INF offers coverage for Pre-existing conditions

*Example 1: James with cardiac issues*
James is visiting his daughter from the UK. He is 67 years old with a history of high blood pressure. His physician recommended an increase in his dosage of a blood pressure medication before his visit to USA and to stay away from flying. Nevertheless, James went ahead with his flight, regardless of his doctors form of physician recommendations. While walking in the park, James experiences a sudden recurrence of chest pain, and has a heart attack. Would this be covered?

*Example 2: Sony with chronic kidney issues*
Sony is visiting her son from India. She has a chronic medical condition which affects her kidneys. While visiting her granddaughter's college she has a sudden recurrence of her pre-existing kidney issues. The symptoms are of short and rapidly progressing. Is there coverage for this acute onset event through her travel insurance?

If you are looking for a plan that will cover parents no matter what happens- You can buy the INF Elite plan. This plan covers any worsening of pre-existing conditions, including issues related to kidney, thyroid, blood pressure, diabetes, and much more. INF Elite plan treats pre-existing conditions like new sickness. INF Elite visitors insurance covers all pre-existing conditions.

*Example 3: Amit with mild BP and Sugar*
Amit is visiting the USA for the birth of his grandson. Amit is quite healthy, and has only the things that come with age- a little bit of BP, diabetes, and the occasional leg pain. This is his first time visiting the USA, and his body takes a bit of time to adjust to the new air, water, climate, and food. After a few days after Amit arrives to the US, he contracts a Urinary Tract Infection. The infection rapidly progresses, and it ends up with Amit having acute kidney failure. Is this going to be covered by an Acute Onset of Pre-Existing Conditions plan?

Only the INF Plans cover urinary tract infections.

INF Elite visitor medical insurance will cover on a per incident (sickness) basis up to the policy maximum. And the deductible is applied per sickness as well. There's no "lifetime maximum" for the plan - theoretically you could go to the hospital 10 times and get $1.5 million in claims.

They must go through special membership approval for INF Elite / Premier / Standard / Traveler USA for Greencard holders.

Yes, they can buy INF travel insurance.

No time limit- but special approvals are much faster within 1 week after arrival.

Yes, people who are already in the US, can buy the INF plans, but they must get prior permission to apply for INF plans. To do this, they must submit the following forms:

• Latest I -94
• Health attestation form
• Any prior health insurance information (if applicable)

The I-94 form is a government doc that can be filled out on line, they should choose “Get most Recent” on the website here: https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/ and you should complete this “health attestation form”.

Note : Hop Travel Assist plans are not available if visitors are already in abroad

Yes, you can purchase INF travel medical insurance even if you have pre-existing conditions. INF offers Premier, Elite, Elite Plus and Elite 90 plans that provide coverage for pre-existing conditions. However, coverage for pre-existing conditions may have some limitations and exclusions depending on the plan and your specific condition. It is important to carefully review the policy details and ensure that the coverage meets your specific needs.

INF travel medical insurance for pre-existing conditions is a type of travel insurance that provides coverage for individuals who have pre-existing medical conditions. These conditions can include chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, or cancer, or any other condition that requires regular medical treatment or attention.

The INF insurance plans are designed to provide coverage for medical emergencies and unexpected medical events that may occur while traveling. The plans include benefits such as hospitalization, doctor visits, prescription medication, emergency medical evacuation, and more.

INF offers several insurance plans for travelers with pre-existing conditions, including the INF Premier, INF Elite, INF Elite Plus and INF Elite 90. These plans have varying levels of coverage and benefits, so it is important to review each plan carefully to determine which one best fits your specific needs.

The cost of the INF visitors insurance will vary depending on the age of the traveler, the type of coverage and the length of your trip. Typically, visitor’s insurance policies cost can start even as low as $1 per day, but will be much higher for older travelers seeking coverage for pre-existing conditions that INF insurance offers.

The INF Elite Travel Insurance plan is INF’s comprehensive insurance for visitors traveling to the United States. There are 3 types of INF insurance Elite plans and the price of these plans varies depending on the coverage they provide. The INF Elite plan, INF Elite 90 plan and INF Elite Plus plan.

The INF Elite plan is a comprehensive travel medical insurance plan that offers coverage for emergency medical and dental expenses, medical evacuation, trip interruption, and other benefits for visitors to the USA. The INF Elite plan, INF Elite 90 plan and INF Elite Plus plan are all part of the Elite Network of plans offered by INF.

The INF Elite 90 plan is designed for travellers who need coverage of eligible medical expenses up to 90%.
The INF Elite Plus plan provides coverage for pre-existing conditions as defined in the plan, as per policy limitations, exclusions and maximums, with no benefit waiting period.
INF Elite Plus also provides Preventive & maintenance care benefits, which can be used for a number of different covered medical services and offers coverage for TDAP, Flu, etc Vaccines.

You can apply for INF insurance online through American Visitor Insurance. You can also call them at +1 (877) 340 7910 to get more information on how to apply for INF insurance from licensed insurance agents.

The maximum length of coverage for INF insurance is 364 days.

INF insurance is available for international visitors to the United States, Canada or Mexico.

The main requirements for applying for INF insurance is the travelers passport details and the travel dates. You can apply for INF insurance online on American Visitor Insurance or call +1 (877) 340 7910 to get help in applying for INF insurance.

To purchase INF insurance coverage, you must not be a citizen or permanent resident of the host country you are traveling to, ie the US, Mexico, or Canada. The coverage is available for non-U.S. residents and non-U.S. citizens traveling to the United States, Mexico or Canada between the ages of 14 days and 79 years. US green card holders can buy INF insurance if they have a residence outside the USA. The coverage duration is available from 5 days up to 364 days.

There is a minimum purchase of 90 days required to buy these INF Elite plans.

Yes. Hop! plans offers medical Assistance for Pre-Existing Conditions.

Hop! Travel Assist is a travel assistance membership program for international trips, offering 100% payment with no deductible. Hop plans offers Travel, Medical and Security Assistance for travelers traveling worldwide outside their home country. Hop! Travel Assist is the guaranteed cashless claims process. Hop! has benefits for cruise, trip cancellation and pre-existing conditions.

Yes. Hop! Travel Assist offers coverage for trip cancellations or interruptions for travelers visiting worldwide outside their home country.

Hop! Trip Assist Plus and Hop! WorldHopper offers various benefits for travelers, such as:

• COVID-19 coverage: Hop! covers COVID-19 related expenses up to the medical assistance level of the plan.
• Pre-existing conditions coverage: Hop! covers pre-existing conditions up to the pre-existing assistance level of the plan, as long as they are stable and controlled before the trip.
• Cruise coverage: Hop! covers cruise passengers up to the medical assistance level of the plan, without any additional fees or exclusions.
• Trip cancellation coverage: Hop! covers trip cancellation expenses up to $500 per person or $1K per family. Hop! covers trip cancellation expenses up to $2K per family,
• Other benefits: Hop! also covers emergency dental treatment, emergency cash advance, lost or stolen passport assistance, lost luggage assistance, and more

There are 6 types of plans in Hop! Travel Assist. We have 5 comprehensive plans Hop Classico, Hop Ultra, Hop Ultra Plus, Hop VIP and Hop VIP plus. There is also one fixed plan HOP TripAssist Plus travel Assist. There is a minimum purchase of 30 days required to buy these INF HOP plans.

Safe Traveler USA Insurance Covid19 travel insurance by INF for coronavirus will cover eligible medical expenses resulting from covid19/SARS-CoV-2.

Yes. All of these expenses are covered. Since your dad is in a stable condition when he had a heart attack - this acute onset of pre-existing conditions are considered as "new sickness". Since the heart attack is "new sickness" - you do not have to meet a separate deductible for out-patient services.

Complications specifically related to the bypass surgery would be considered "pre-existing" and be subject to the pre-existing condition maximum. However, other heart complications may be considered new sickness, depending on the doctors observation & medical records.

No. Even if your father has high blood pressure, a heart attack would be considered a "new sickness" under the INF Elite travel insurance & INF Premier visitor health insurance.

Yes, INF Elite Network insurance and INF Premier visitor health insurance cover any acute onset of pre-existing conditions.

No. Although these are acute onset of pre-existing conditions, they are treated like new sicknesses if there is no history of such condition in the last 12 months.

No. Since she has been stable and has not visited a doctor for lightheadedness is the last 12 months - this would be considered a "new sickness" and covered until the policy maximum.

INF Elite Network insurance & INF Premier travel insurance with pre-existing coverage is for any out-patient care related to pre-existing conditions. All "acute onset" events are new sicknesses if there is no history in the last 12 months, and therefore are subject to the policy maximum

Yes. However, we treat these like new sicknesses. Meaning you are always covered underneath an INF plan.

If the Asthma condition has been stable for 12 months, it is NOT pre-existing in INF Elite or Premier. If it has been unstable (treatment required) in past 12 months- it IS pre-existing, and covered as a pre-existing condition.

Yes – INF travel insurance will cover the worsening of the condition, but not maintenance or preventive care.

No.

If the Arthritis condition has been stable for 12 months, it is NOT pre-existing in INF Elite or Premier. If it has been unstable (treatment required) in past 12 months- it IS pre-existing, and covered as a pre-existing condition.

No.

Yes – INF US travel insurance will cover the worsening of the condition, but not maintenance or preventive care.

If the Diabetes has been stable for 12 months (no change in Medication / sickness related to diabetes), it is NOT pre-existing in INF Elite or Premier. If it has been unstable (treatment required) in past 12 months- it IS pre-existing, and covered as a pre-existing condition.

Yes - INF US visitor insurance will cover the worsening of the condition, but not maintenance or preventive care.

No.

Yes- INF travel insurance for USA will cover a heart attack either as a new sickness or pre-existing condition, depending on how stable to insured’s condition was in the past 12 months.

Yes - INF visitors insurance for USA will cover the worsening of the condition, but not maintenance or preventive care.