Is any visitor medical insurance acceptable for direct billing?

[skumar221]

Hi,
I am looking for visitor medical insurance for my mother, who is going to visit me for 6 months starting Jan-13. She is 61 year old and has asthma bronchitis for last 6 years.

I was looking for comprehensive coverage that would cover sudden asthma attacks if they happen. Also, I want a plan that is acceptable for direct billing by in-network providers and hospitals. I plan to use the Henry Ford medical center, here in Michigan and they accept following insurance plans.

http://www.henryford.com/body.cfm?id=48542

I performed internet search and shortlisted “Atlas America” and “Liaison Continent”. The Atlas America uses CMN network and Liaison uses Choice Care network. Would they cover asthma attacks? Would they be acceptable for direct billing? If so, which of the two plans should I pick? I am open to other suggestions as well.

Thanks,
Sudhir

[insubuy]

Sudhir,

Thank you for your interest in purchasing visitors insurance for your mother.

We offer both Atlas America and Liaison Continent plans that you have shortlisted. They are available for instant purchase online at

https://www.insubuy.com/atlasamerica-insurance/

https://www.insubuy.com/safe-travels-usa-comprehensive-insurance/

Atlas America participates in First Health PPO network and Liaison Continent participates in Multiplan PPO network. I checked the networks that Henry Ford Hospital takes and I found that both of the PPO networks are accepted there. You can verify yourself by seraching at

https://www.insubuy.com/hccmis-ppo-network/

https://www.insubuy.com/companies/ppo-network/

Please note that individual doctors that work in a specific hospital or around there may run their own private practice and some may or may not participate in particular network. To find that out, you can either search which Drs in your area participate in what PPO networks. Or if you know the names of the providers, you can search using the links I mentioned above. Please note that this scenario is common to the US healthcare, no matter what kind of health insurance you buy, and that is the same for your own insurance as well. Just because the hospital is in the PPO network, it does not necessarily mean that all the doctors that work in that building are automatically in the same PPO network. Some doctors who work in the emergency room deliberately do not participate in any network, and because they know very well that you no choice while you are in the ER. Even if you ask them about the in-network, they may say that their billing office handles all that and they know nothing about it. This happened to me when I had to visit ER for myself (to the hospital that is in PPO network) and I have Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance and I later found out that the attending physician didn't participate in a single network.

However, if some Dr is out of the network, that does not necessarily mean that he/she will not bill directly. Most of them would still do that, as in both of these plans, you get the health insurance card that has all the information that they would need to bill the insurance company directly.

Both the plans cover acute onset of pre-existing conditions for people below the age of 70 years. The probability of your mother getting covered for such acute onset of pre-existing conditions is the same in both the plans. However, the amount of coverage differs in both the plans. Atlas America covers up to $50,000 in acute onset of pre-existing conditions no matter the policy maximum you choose. On the other hand, depending upon your policy maximum, Liaison Continent covers acute onset of pre-existing conditions anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000.

I hope that answers all of your questions.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to post them here or contact us at any time.