Exploring IMG Insurance for International Travelers
A part of International Medical Group, IMG health insurance is available to all expats and includes various benefits to provide financial protection for expats and their families during their well-deserved vacation abroad.
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Are you an expat planning a short-term trip or vacation? Do you want to ensure the safety of yourself and your family during your well-deserved break? Read on to find out more about IMG insurance to safeguard your vacation!
Today, in order to help you ensure your safety and wellbeing abroad, we’re going to go over IMG insurance, its coverage and benefits, the cost, and some possible options for coverage selections.
IMG Insurance Overview
The International Medical Group (IMG) is an expat health insurance provider offering expats and their families worldwide medical coverage. Founded in 1990 and headquartered in Indiana, IMG provides insurance to customers from over 190 countries.
IMG offers travel medical, international health, and travel insurance plans.
Travel insurance offers protection from financial losses in the event of trip delays or cancellations along with basic medical expense coverage for illnesses and injuries. Meanwhile, International health insurance provides medical coverage for families and individuals living abroad.
Thanks to its wide availability to all nationalities, IMG health insurance is perfect for expats looking to travel long-term (such as a year or longer). The various benefits of an IMG Global Medical Plan will provide financial protection for expats and their families while abroad.
IMG’s Health Insurance Plans
IMG Global provides international health insurance plans via the Global Medical Plan, which are available in the following categories of coverage:
- Bronze
- Silver
- Gold
- Platinum
The lifetime limits of the Global Medical Plan vary across categories, as listed below:
- Bronze: $1,000,000/individual
- Silver: $5,000,000/individual
- Gold: $5,000,000/individual
- Platinum: $8,000,000/individual
Coverage and Benefits
IMG Global Medical Insurance benefits include inpatient and outpatient care, maternity coverage, prescription drugs and medication coverage, and preventative services. Other coverage options such as dental and vision are also included.
Inpatient Coverage and Benefits
| Bronze | Silver | Gold | Platinum | |
| Physician visits | Covered | Covered | Covered | Covered |
| Hospitalization room/board | Covered | $600/day (240 days max) | Covered | Covered |
| Surgery | Covered | Covered | Covered | Covered |
| Labs and X-Rays | Covered | Covered | Covered | Covered |
| Physical therapy | Covered | Covered | $50 max/visit | $50 max/visit |
| Specialist visits | Max: $500 (before inpatient treatment)
Max: $500 (90 days after inpatient treatment or outpatient surgery) |
Max/visit: $70 chiro
Max/visit: $50 (with referral from physician) Surgical intervention consultation max: $500 |
Covered | Covered |
Outpatient Coverage and Benefits
| Bronze | Silver | Gold | Platinum | |
| Physician visits | Max: $500 (before inpatient treatment)
Max: $500 (90 days after inpatient treatment or outpatient surgery) |
Max/visit: $70 chiro
Max/visit: $50 (with referral from physician) Surgical intervention consultation max: $500 |
Covered | Covered |
| – | Inpatient treatment or outpatient surgery | Intervention consultation max: $500 | – | – |
| Outpatient surgery | Covered | Covered | Covered | Covered |
| Laboratory | Max/visit: $300 (only before and after inpatient) | Max/examination: $300 | Covered | Covered |
| Radiology/X-ray | Max/visit: $250 (only before and after inpatient) | Max/examination: $250 | Covered | Covered |
| Cancer treatment | Covered | Covered | Covered | Covered |
Maternity Coverage and Benefits
Maternity coverage is only available in the Platinum plan, with pregnancy covered under the “Routine Care During the First 31 Days of Life” plan. Below are the maternity coverage and benefits:
- Maternity Care: Available after 10 months of continuous coverage. The maternity deductible is $2,500 (in addition to the plan deductible), while the lifetime maximum is $50,000.
- Newborn Care/Congenital Disorders: Maximum coverage is $250,000. Eligible if pregnancy is covered under “Routine Care During the First 31 Days of Life” plan.
- Newborn Wellness: Maximum coverage is $200. Eligible if pregnancy is covered under the “Routine Care During the First 31 Days of Life” plan.
Prescription Drugs & Medication Coverage and Benefits
| Bronze | Silver | Gold | Platinum | |
| Prescription, drugs, dressings, and durable medical equipment | Available 90 days after inpatient treatment or outpatient surgery.
Max/event: $600 (orphan or biologic drugs do not apply due to maximum limit/event). |
Subject to deductible and coinsurance.
90-day supply/prescription after related coverage. US. retail pharmacy out-of-network: 80%. International retail pharmacy: 100% |
Subject to deductible and coinsurance.
90-day supply/prescription. US. retail pharmacy out-of-network: 80%. International retail pharmacy: 100% |
US. retail pharmacy: Prescription drug card is needed.
Copay/30-Day supply: $20 for generic brands, $40 for brand names in which generic brands are not available. International retail pharmacy (subject to deductible): 100% |
Preventative Coverage and Benefits
| Bronze | Silver | Gold | Platinum | |
| Emergency local ambulance | Max/incident: $1,500 | Max/incident: $1,500 | Covered | Covered |
| Emergency medical evacuation | Max: $50,000 | Max: $50,000 | Up to lifetime maximum | Up to lifetime maximum |
| Emergency reunion | Lifetime max: $10,000
Max days: 15 days Max/day: $25 |
n/a | Lifetime max: $10,000
Max days: 15 days Max/day: $25 |
Lifetime max: $10,000
Max days: 15 days Max/day: $25 |
| Return of mortal remains | Max: $25,000 | Max: $25,000 | Max: $25,000 | Max: $50,000 |
Optional Benefits
In addition to inpatient and outpatient care, maternity, prescription, and preventative benefits, expats can also choose the following optional benefits to customize their plans according to their needs:
- Dental: Can be added to bronze, silver, and gold plans. This covers USD $ 750/period of coverage, with a $50 deductible. Routine care is covered by 90%, while minor treatment is 70% covered and major restorative treatment is 50% covered.
- Vision: Once again, this can be added to bronze, silver, and gold plans. This covers up to USD $100 of eye exam fees and $150 of glasses & lens fees every 24 months.
- Global term life insurance: This benefit pays out a certain amount of money to a policyholder’s beneficiary in the event of their untimely passing while traveling. Coverage limits vary depending on age, with the highest coming in at USD $75,000.
- Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D): This benefit pays a principal sum (based on one’s age at the time of death) in the event of death or loss of two body parts (hands, feet, eyes, etc) and half the principal sum in case of losing one body part.
- Terrorism: Available exclusively for platinum plans, this benefit offers a USD $50,000 lifetime maximum for an eligible medical fee occurring as a result of an act of terrorism.
- Sports: This benefit is exclusively available for gold and platinum plans. They offer a USD $10,000 lifetime maximum for amateur athletics and a $50,000 lifetime maximum for sports performed by a policyholder younger than 49 years.
Cost
Your IMG insurance plan cost depends on numerous factors such as age and destination. You also have multiple options to choose from to get the exact coverage at the price point you’re comfortable with.
As always, though, it’s strongly recommended that you don’t just go for the cheapest plan available because that might not give you the exact coverage you need.
Options for Coverage Selection
There are several options available for customizing your coverage. We will discuss these options below, so you can understand how to optimize your plan for your needs.
Worldwide Coverage
You can choose one out of two coverage areas: Worldwide or the same worldwide option which excludes the U.S., Canada, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Singapore, and Taiwan.
Choose the coverage area that matches your geographic area of need. Each provides complete coverage, but premiums reflect the cost of care in parts of the world. Whichever coverage you pick, you can choose your provider as you wish.
Deductible Options
You can choose multiple deductible options to choose from. This is where you pay out of pocket before your insurance starts paying for services. Your premium will be reduced, although you may need to pay some of the bills yourself.
IMG offers you a choice between seven deductible options, all of which provides different premium levels. Also, your deductible could be reduced by half to a maximum of $2,500.
Four Premium Modes
You have the option to either pay for your premium entirely or choose from one of the four payment frequencies below:
- Annually
- Semi-annually
- Quarterly
- Monthly
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any eligibility criteria for IMG insurance?
The IMG insurance plan is available to all nationalities (U.S. and non-U.S. alike) from 14 days to age 74. U.S. citizens must plan to live outside of their home country for at least half of the 12 months covered by the plan year.
Are seniors still eligible for IMG insurance?
Individuals aged 75 and above are no longer eligible for coverage. But, if one were to enroll before their 65th birthday and maintain the plan, IMG will then offer an alternative plan for them to shift to upon reaching the age of 75: The Global Senior Plan.
What are the payment options for IMG insurance?
You can purchase IMG insurance plans online using a credit card or debit card. You can then choose to pay annually, semi-annually, quarterly, or monthly. Payment details are required during your application process, but your card may not be charged until the completion of the underwriting process.
What should I expect during the underwriting process?
This is where an underwriter will review your family’s medical status and history within five business days. You will then be notified of your application status upon completion, if any further information is needed, or if a rider or premium has been added to your plan.
Is IMG insurance renewable?
Subject to the plan’s terms set by the IMG, the insurance policy is annually renewable and the coverage is kept upon renewal. Before the end of each coverage period (12 months), you will be notified of renewals and you must continue to meet the eligibility requirements to renew.
How can I find a doctor or healthcare facility that works with the IMG?
You can access the list of providers and facilities through the IMG’s PPO and International Doctor Network online. This allows you to search by location, the physician or facility’s name, or specialty.
Conclusion
In conclusion, IMG insurance is perfect for all expats thanks to its wide availability and its array of benefits. Wherever you’re headed, IMG insurance is your answer to safeguarding you and your family during your well-deserved vacation abroad.
When selecting the right plan for you and/or your family, always make sure to consider pricing and not decide solely based on cost. It might be worth investing in plans that may not exactly be as cheap as you want, but the coverage and benefits you get will make up for it.
Being a veteran international health insurance broker, Pacific Prime is ready to help match you with the insurance plan that not only matches your budget but also your unique needs for both yourself and your family.
From short-term travel insurance to long-term international health insurance, we are happy to help you compare quotes and find the right coverage you need.
If you have any lingering questions or queries you’re unsure of, please get in touch with us and we will be very happy to help you with impartiality and service-mindedness.
Serena earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of British Columbia, Canada. As such, she is an avid advocate of mental health and is fascinated by all things psychology (especially if it’s cognitive psychology!).
Her previous work experience includes teaching toddlers to read, writing for a travel/wellness online magazine, and then a business news blog. These combined experiences give her the skills and insights she needs to explain complex ideas in a succinct way. Being the daughter of an immigrant and a traveler herself, she is passionate about educating expats and digital nomads on travel and international health insurance.
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