Travel Assistance ? TA

Travel Assist-TA

Fri, 21 Jul 2006 11:31:20 GMT

B2B-General Information

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 13:21:40 GMT

Access a worldwide network of medical and travel assistance personnel and emergency evacuation benefits when suffering illness or injury over 100 miles from home.

Gen Info-Spanish

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 12:10:48 GMT

ASISTENCIA AL VIAJERO

Los Miembros tienen acceso a una red global de médicos participantes, personal de asistencia al viajero y beneficios de evacuación de emergencia si ellos sufren una lesión o enfermedad seria cuando estén viajando a más de 100 millas del hogar. Bien sea una emergencia relacionada con asuntos médicos, de viaje o de seguridad personal, los coordinadores de Asistencia al Viajero están disponibles las 24 horas al día para ofrecerle la ayuda que los miembros necesiten. Esté tranquilo, sabiendo que tendrá ayuda con sólo una llamada.

Aspectos Destacados

Evacuación médica de emergencia
Repatriación de restos mortales
Transporte para reunirse con un miembro de la familia hospitalizado
Regreso de niños dependientes
Información previa a los viajes
Monitoreo del tratamiento en todo el mundo
Referencias médicas y dentales
Inteligencia de seguridad en tiempo real
Facilitación del pago a hospitales
Transferencia de información de los seguros a los proveedores médicos
Reemplazo de documentos de viaje perdidos o robados
Referencias legales
Medicamentos, vacunas y transfusiones de sangre

El servicio de Asistencia al Viajero no está disponible para los residentes de Oregon, Florida, Connecticut, y Washington.

Certificate

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 11:28:36 GMT

MEDEX PLUS

Please keep this document with you while you travel.

A comprehensive program providing you with 24/7 emergency medical assistance - including emergency medical evacuation and repatriation - and other travel assistance services when you are 100 or more miles away from your permanent residence in your home country.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

How To Access MEDEX PLUS Services
24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year

Your MEDEX identification card is your key to travel security. If you have a medical or travel problem, simply call us for assistance. Our toll-free and collect-call telephone numbers are printed on your ID card. Either call the toll-free number of the country you are in, or call the Emergency Response Center collect at:

Baltimore, Maryland - 1-410-453-6330

A MEDEX Assistance Coordinator will ask for your name, your company or group name, the MEDEX ID number shown on your ID card, and a description of your situation. We will immediately begin assisting you. A full listing of services follows.

If the condition is an emergency, you should go immediately to the nearest physician or hospital without delay and then contact the 24-hour Emergency Response Center. We will then take the appropriate action to assist you and monitor your care until the situation is resolved.

MEDEX PLUS provides You with Medical Assistance Services, Travel Assistance Services, Medical Evacuation and Repatriation Services, Personal Security Services and Worldwide Destination Intelligence as described below. These services are subject to certain Conditions, Limitations, and Exclusions also described below.

MEDEX Assistance Corporation
P.O. Box 19056
Baltimore, MD 21284
1-800-537-2029
1-410-453-6300
www.medexassist.com

MEDICAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES

Worldwide Medical and Dental Referrals: We will provide referrals to help You locate appropriate treatment or care.

Monitoring of Treatment: Our Assistance Coordinators will continually monitor Your case. In addition, Our MEDEX Physician Advisors provide Us consultative and advisory services, including review and analysis of the quality of medical care You are receiving.

Facilitation of Hospital Payments: Upon securing payment or a guarantee to reimburse, We will either wire funds or guarantee required emergency hospital admittance deposits. You are ultimately responsible for the payment of the cost of medical care and treatment, including hospital expenses.

Transfer of Insurance Information to Medical Providers: We will assist You with hospital admission, such as relaying insurance benefit information, to help prevent delays or denials of medical care. We will also assist with discharge planning.

Medication, Vaccine and Blood Transfers: In the event medication, vaccines, or blood products are not available locally, or a prescription medication is lost or stolen, We will coordinate their transfer to You upon the prescribing physician’s authorization, if it is legally permissible.

Dispatch of Doctors/Specialists: In an Emergency where You cannot adequately be assessed by telephone for possible evacuation, or You cannot be moved and local treatment is unavailable, We will send an appropriate medical practitioner to You.

Transfer of Medical Records: Upon Your consent, We will assist with the transfer of medical information and records to You or the treating physician.

Continuous Updates to Family, Employer, and Home Physician: With Your approval, We will provide case updates to appropriate individuals You designate in order to keep them informed.

Hotel Arrangements for Convalescence: We will assist You with the arrangement of hotel stays and room requirements before or after hospitalization.

Replacement of Corrective Lenses and Medical Devices: We will coordinate the replacement of corrective lenses or medical devices if they are lost, stolen, or broken during travel.

TRAVEL ASSISTANCE SERVICES

Replacement of Lost or Stolen Travel Documents: We will assist You in taking the necessary steps to replace passports, tickets, and other important travel documents.

Emergency Travel Arrangements: We will make new reservations for airlines, hotels, and other travel services in the event of an Illness or Injury.

Transfer of Funds: We will provide You with an emergency cash advance subject to Us first securing funds from You or Your family.

Legal Referrals: Should You require legal assistance, We will direct You to an attorney and assist You in securing a bail bond.

Translation Services: Our multilingual Assistance Coordinators are available to provide immediate verbal translation assistance in a variety of languages in an emergency; otherwise We will provide You with referrals to local interpreter services.

Message Transmittals: You may send and receive emergency messages toll-free, 24-hours a day, through Our Emergency Response Center.

Emergency Pet Housing and/or Pet Return: We will coordinate arrangements for temporary boarding or the return of a pet left unattended as a result of Your Injury or Illness.

WORLDWIDE DESTINATION INTELLIGENCE

Pre-Travel Information: Upon Your request, We can provide continuously updated destination intelligence for 173 countries covering subject areas such as weather, currency and culture.

Travel and Health Information: Upon Your request we can provide you with continuous updates on travel and health information such as immunizations, vaccinations, regional health concerns, entry and exit requirements, and transportation information.

Real-time Security Intelligence: Upon Your request We will provide You with the latest authoritative information and security guidance for over 173 countries and 283 cities. Our global security database is continuously updated and includes intelligence from thousands of worldwide sources.

MEDICAL EVACUATION & REPATRIATION SERVICES

Emergency Medical Evacuation: If you sustain an Injury or suffer a sudden and unexpected Illness and adequate medical treatment is not available in your current location, We will arrange and pay for a medically supervised evacuation to the nearest medical facility We determine to be capable of providing appropriate medical treatment. Your medical condition and situation must be such that, in the professional opinion of the health care provider and MEDEX, you require immediate emergency medical treatment, without which there would be a significant risk of death or serious impairment.

Transportation to Join a Hospitalized Member: If You are traveling alone and are or will be hospitalized for more than seven consecutive days, We will coordinate and pay for economy round-trip airfare for a person of Your choice to join You.

Return of Dependent Children: If Your Dependent child(ren) age 18 or under are present but left unattended as a result of Your Injury or Illness, We will coordinate and pay for one-way economy airfare to send them back to Your Home Country. We will also arrange and pay for the services and transportation expenses of a qualified escort, if required and as determined by MEDEX.

Transportation After Stabilization: Following emergency medical evacuation and stabilization, We will coordinate and pay for one-way economy airfare to Your point of origin. If following stabilization We determine that hospitalization or rehabilitation should occur in Your Home Country, We will alternatively coordinate and pay for Your transportation there.

Repatriation of Mortal Remains: If you sustain an Injury or suffer a sudden and unexpected Illness that results in Your death, We will assist in obtaining the necessary clearances for Your cremation or the return of Your mortal remains. We will coordinate and pay for the expenses of the preparation and transportation of Your mortal remains to Your Home Country.

PERSONAL SECURITY SERVICES

Political Evacuation Services: In the event of a threatening political situation, such as military uprising or coup, We will assist you in making evacuation arrangements, including flight arrangements, securing visas, and logistical arrangements such as ground transportation and housing. In more complex situations, We will assist You in making arrangements with providers of specialized security services.

Security Evacuation Services: In the event of a threatening security situation, such as rioting, or other violent situations, We will assist you in making evacuation arrangements, including flight arrangements, securing visas, and logistical arrangements such as ground transportation and housing. In more complex situations, We will assist You in making arrangements with providers of specialized security services.

Transportation After Political or Security Evacuation:

Following a Security or Political Evacuation and when safety allows, We will coordinate Your return to either Your Host Country or Your Home Country.

PROGRAM DEFINITIONS

The following definitions apply:

"You" and "Your" means a person validly enrolled for MEDEX PLUS and for whom We have received the appropriate enrollment fee.
"We," "Us," "Our," and "MEDEX" means MEDEX Assistance Corporation.
"MEDEX Physician Advisors" means physicians, retained by MEDEX to provide us with consultative and advisory services, including the review and analysis of the quality of medical care You are receiving.
"Home Country" means the country as shown on Your passport or the country where You have Your permanent residence.
"Host Country" means a country or territory You are visiting or in which You are living which is not Your Home Country.
"Injury" means an identifiable accidental injury caused by a sudden, unexpected, unusual, specific event that occurs during Your Enrollment Period.
"Illness" means a sudden and unexpected sickness that manifests itself during Your Enrollment Period.
"Enrollment Period" means the period of time for which You are validly enrolled for MEDEX PLUS and for whom We have received the appropriate enrollment fee.
"Dependents" means the Member's legal spouse; the Member's unmarried children from birth and under age 19; or under age 23, if enrolled as a full-time student in an accredited college, university, vocational or technical school; and children whose support is required by a court decree. Children include natural children, stepchildren and legally adopted children. They must be primarily dependent on the Member for support and maintenance and must live in a parent-child relationship with the Member. A spouse or child who is insured under this Policy as a Member will not be eligible as a Dependent.

CONDITIONS AND LIMITATIONS

The services described are available to You only during Your Enrollment Period and only when you are 100 or more miles away from Your permanent residence in Your Home Country.

We will only cover the transportation costs under the Medical Evacuation and Repatriation Services if We have given Our prior approval or if those services are coordinated by Us.

We have sole discretion in making the determination as to whether we will cover the cost of Emergency Medical Evacuations. Our decision will be based on medical considerations, including the opinions of the treating physicians, Our MEDEX Physician Advisors and Our medical director with respect to Your condition and ability to travel. We will determine the appropriate method, destination, and timing of any evacuation. The destination will be the nearest facility capable of providing appropriate care, as determined by Us.

We have sole discretion in making the coverage determination for your Transportation After Stabilization. Our determination will be based on Your need for continuing medical care. We will not return You to Your

Home Country for the sole sake of Your convenience.

In the event We are arranging transportation by commercial air under the Medical Evacuation and Repatriation Services, and You hold an original return airline ticket, We may use that ticket and are only responsible for any applicable change fees.

We will only direct-pay any transportation costs under the Medical Evacuation and Repatriation Services to the transportation providers, unless otherwise approved by Us in advance.

We are not responsible for the availability, quality, results of, or failure to provide any medical, legal or other care or service caused by conditions beyond Our control. This includes Your failure to obtain care

or service or where the rendering of such care or service is prohibited by U.S. law, local laws, or regulatory agencies.

Your legal representative shall have the right to act for You and on Your behalf if You are incapacitated or deceased.

EXPENSES NOT COVERED

We shall not be responsible for any costs or expenses arising from:

Hospital or medical expenses of any kind or nature.
Travel arrangements that were neither coordinated by nor approved by Us in advance.
Your traveling against the advice of a physician or traveling for the purpose of obtaining medical treatment.
Suicide, attempted suicide, or willful self-inflicted injury.
Taking part in military or police service operations.
The commission of, or attempt to commit, an unlawful act.
Injury or Illness caused by or contributed to by use of drugs or alcohol.
Pregnancies, except in the case of a major, vital complication during the first two trimesters of pregnancy which presents a clear and significant risk of death or imminent serious injury or harm to the mother or fetus.
Initial transportation to local facilities, including ground ambulance fees, except as arranged by Us.
Mountaineering or rock climbing necessitating the use of guides or ropes, spelunking, skydiving, parachuting, ballooning, hang gliding, deep sea diving utilizing hard helmet with air hose attachment, racing of any kind other than on foot, bungee jumping, operating a vehicle when not properly licensed, or participating in professional sports unless otherwise agreed in writing by Us prior to Your Enrollment Period.
Psychiatric, psychological, or emotional disorders.
Incidental expenses, including but not limited to accommodations, local transportation, meals, telephone, and facsimile charges.
Subsequent evacuations for the same or related medical condition, regardless of location.
Services not otherwise shown as covered.

REIMBURSEMENT TO MEDEX AND RIGHTS OF SUBROGATION

You or a responsible party on Your behalf shall either pay the cost of medical care and treatment, including hospital expenses directly or shall reimburse Us upon demand for all such costs and expenses which

may be imposed upon Us by health care providers for the cost of medical care and treatment, including hospital expenses, or related assistance services either authorized by You or deemed to be advisable and necessary by Us under urgent medical circumstances, to the extent that such expenses are not Our responsibility. Such reimbursement shall be without regard to the specific terms, conditions, or limitations of any insurance policies or benefits available to You.

We shall be fully and completely subrogated to Your rights against parties who may be liable for the payment of, or a contribution toward the payment of, the costs and expenses of assistance services provided by Us or medical care and treatment, including hospital expenses, in the event that We pay or contribute to the payment of them. You must assign to Us any and all rights of recovery under any such insurance plans, including any occupational benefit plan, health insurance, or other insurance plan or public assistance program, up to the sum of any payments by Us.

Intro

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 09:21:30 GMT

100 miles from home and you get sick. Or worse, your spouse becomes hospitalized while traveling. Medical Travel Assist can help arrange for your transportation to join your spouse. This service also offers medical and dental referrals you may require while traveling, facilitation of hospital payment, transfer of insurance information to medical providers, even help with replacement of lost or stolen travel documents. Keep reading.

General Information

Fri, 11 Aug 2006 10:39:52 GMT

TRAVEL ASSISTANCE

Members have access to a global network of practicing physicians, travel assistance personnel and emergency evacuation benefits when traveling 100 miles from home and suffering a serious injury or illness. Knowing help is merely a phone call away provides members with peace of mind.

Some of these services include:

Emergency medical evacuation
Repatriation of mortal remains
Transportation to join a hospitalized family member
Return of dependent children
Pre-travel information
Monitoring of treatment worldwide
Medical and dental referrals
Facilitation of hospital payment
Transfer of insurance information to medical providers
Replacement of lost or stolen travel documents
Legal referrals
Medication, vaccine and blood transfers
Transfer of funds
Translation services
Real-time security intelligence

A complete list of services, exclusions and limitations is available to all members.

*Travel Assistance not available to CT, FL, OR and WA residents

FAQ

Mon, 24 Jul 2006 11:28:20 GMT

TRAVEL ASSISTANCE FAQ

Q. How do members access the Travel Assist Service?
A. Members simply call a toll-free phone number to access the Worldwide Travel Assistance Network. If a toll-free number is not available from within a country to which the member is traveling, they can call Travel Assistance collect. The telephone access numbers are printed in the member's fulfillment kit and on the membership card.

Q. When do members utilize the services?
A. Travel Assistance is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Many times people are under the impression that the services are used only in serious cases. Be assured that Travel Assistance is there to help with any type of illness or injury, regardless of the severity.

Q. Is there a part of the world where Travel Assistance cannot provide services?
A. No. Travel Assistance services extend worldwide.

Q. How many cases does Travel Assistance handle a year?
A. Travel Assistance manages approximately 30,000 cases per year in virtually every country of the world; of which, approximately one half are emergency medical cases.

Q. How does Travel Assistance help locate appropriate medical care?
A. Travel Assistance has a global network of over 40,000 international providers. The network contains hospitals, clinics and physicians, as well as other providers geared uniquely to the travel insurance industry, such as air ambulances, house call physicians and medical escorts. Travel Assistance has rigorous credentialing and recredentialing standards. Travel Assistance members are provided referrals based on the medical specialty needed, location, language, office hours, training, etc.

Q. Does Travel Assistance require that members go to specific hospitals, doctors, or clinics?
A. In order to reap the full benefits of our service, we strongly recommend that members contact Travel Assist before entering hospitals so that we can refer them to facilities that we have previously worked with. Travel Assistance refers its members to the best providers in the area. If our members go to other providers, Travel Assistance cannot be certain of the level of treatment. However, Travel Assistance will provide the same assistance services regardless of where the members are treated.

Q. What happens in the event of a hospitalization?
A. It is important that Travel Assistance is notified as soon as possible. Travel Assistance will then monitor the members care and work through the complex details of foreign hospitalizations. Travel Assistance will immediately speak with the treating doctor to assess the member’s condition, treatment plans and whether or not an evacuation is necessary. Travel Assistance will update member’s family, employer and personal physician as appropriate. In addition, Travel Assistance will coordinate all insurance verifications and admission details.

Q. How does Travel Assistance facilitate hospital admissions?
A. Travel Assistance will coordinate all billing and insurance verifications, including settling any guarantees of payment. This ensures that there is no delay or denial of medical treatment because a member is unable to make the up-front payment or because a member's insurance is not recognized.

Q. What if the local facilities are not capable of providing treatment?
A. In evaluating the local facilities, Travel Assistance considers such factors as the quality of the blood supply, medical technology and specialties available, use of sterile equipment and the patient's medical requirements. If facilities are inadequate, the Travel Assistance Regional Medical Advisor will report on the safety of such and evacuation, any medical needs the patient may require en route and the evacuation plan details. Travel Assistance will consult with all parties involved and fully manage the issues surrounding the evacuation.

Q. Once a member is released from the hospital, do the services end?
A. Travel Assistance assists with a member's case until they have returned home or have received final treatment.

Statistics

Fri, 21 Jul 2006 11:32:50 GMT

STATISTICS

"In 2004, U.S. households generated 663.5 million trips and 1.164 billion person-trips within the U.S., up more than 2 percent over 2003." Travel Industry Association of America, 2004

"International tourism grew by 10 percent in 2004, and the number of international tourist arrivals will reach more than 1.5 billion by 2020, predicts the World Tourism Organization." Futurist, 2005

"Medical evacuation can easily cost $10,000 or more, depending on the location and medical condition." National Centerfor Infectious Disease Health Information for International Travel, 2001 – 2002

"39% of North American business travelers are confident their international travel will increase during 2003." American Express International Business Travelers Survey, 08/02

"Millions of people constantly travel on business and vacations, both within the United States and abroad." Lifeguard Emergency Travel, Inc. - 03/02

*Medical Travel Assistance not available to OR, FL, CT and WA residents.