As with any insurance plan, there will most likely be questions about the finer details of the plan benefits and exclusions. Included in our frequently asked questions section are some of the more common questions that we receive on a daily basis. If you would like further clarification on these or any other questions you may have, please do not hesitate to contact our friendly customer support team who will be more than happy to assist you.
Lloyd’s is the underwriter of the Atlas Travel plan. They are rated A (Excellent) by AM Best Company and A+ (Strong) by Standard and Poor’s, meeting visa requirements for the USA and countries around the world.
The plan is available to anyone who is traveling outside of your Home Country and are at least 14 days old, you are eligible for coverage. This includes international students, study abroad students, ESL students, foreign scholars, dependents living internationally, travelers, chaperones, international business groups, etc.
The Atlas Travel plan will cover you anywhere in the world, outside of your home country. If you are a US citizen, your home country is automatically the USA regardless of your principal residence. For non-US Citizens, Home Country is the country where you principally reside and receives regular mail.
You can purchase your plan up to six months in advance of your selected policy start date, however please note that the full premium will be charged immediately at the time of the application. You are also able to purchase coverage even if you have departed for your travels and in another country other than your home country.
Your coverage becomes effective on the latest of:
Your coverage will end on the earliest of:
Yes, when you apply online we will send all your documents to you immediately via email. You can download these documents, print them off and show them as proof of coverage. If you have applied for a plan and haven’t received your policy documents, be sure to check your spam or bulk folder. Once you have applied online, within an hour you will be able to log into the “Student Zone” to download your ID card, visa letter, or get claims information.
No, all documents are automatically emailed to you – however you can opt to have hard copies mailed to you when you apply so please make sure to indicate this on the application form when you apply if this is your prefered option.
You will receive a copy of your visa letter right after purchase, in your fulfillment documents. You can also access your visa letter by logging into the “Student Zone” and selecting the “Visa Letter” option after you have applied.
We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express credit and debit cards online. You are also welcome to use a friend or family member’s credit or debit card with their permission. If you would prefer to pay using a check and wire transfer, please contact us for more information.
A beneficiary refers to someone who is eligible to receive distributions from your insurance plan in case of your death while covered under the policy. Under the Atlas Travel plan there are death benefits that will pay out a financial sum if that were to happen, and so on the application you would need to define who would receive these benefits. Typically you would put down your mother, father, brother, sister, husband, or wife as a beneficiary – but you have the option to put anyone you want even if they are located outside your host country.
Please note – Extensions and renewals may be completed through the Student Zone before the plan expires and there is a $5 fee per extension or renewal.
Once a plan has expired or lapsed, it cannot be reinstated or restarted. You can instead purchase a new plan and begin coverage as soon as the same day. Apply now for the Atlas Travel if you’d like to purchase a new plan.
Yes, to be eligible for a full refund the cancellation request must be received prior to the effective date of your insurance plan. Cancellation requests received after the effective date will be subject to the following conditions:
All cancellation requests must be submitted in writing, we cannot accept cancellation requests over the phone. You can send this request by email through our contact page.
The Atlas Travel plan does not cover routine vision or dental services, however it does offer a limited emergency eye exam benefit, as well as limited coverage for dental accidents and emergency dental treatment for unexpected pain. Please see the plan benefits page for full details.
Please note – routine dental check-ups such as cleanings are not covered — if you are looking for a more comprehensive dental insurance plan, please see our dental discount plans.
URC — which stands for Usual Reasonable and Customary — is either the lesser of 150% of the charges payable under the United States Medicare program for claims incurred outside the PPO network within the U.S., or the average cost charged by a provider for a specific procedure in a specific geographic area. For example, if a particular procedure costs $5,000 on average in the New York City, the insurance company will not pay your provider in New York City $10,000 for the same exact procedure. Instead, they will limit their payment to "Usual Reasonable and Customary" — in this example, $5,000.
The deductible is the amount you are required to pay to your provider before the insurance company pays toward your eligible expenses. On this plan, you can choose your deductible (options are: $0, $100, $250, $500, $1,000, $2,500, or $5,000) which is paid once per certificate period.
Coinsurance is the percentage that the insurance will pay toward your medical bill after you have already paid your deductible.
Yes, the plan provides the following home country coverage options:
For policies purchased with a United States destination, you will be provided with a VantageAmerica Discount Pharmacy Card. This card will provide discounts on most FDA approved prescription drugs at over 54,000 participating pharmacies across the United States, and will save you an average 5%-15% off the cash price for brand drugs and an average 15%-40% of the price of generic drugs.
Once you have received your instant discount, the remaining prescription expenses can still be submitted for reimbursement as usual.
Please note:You are free to visit any provider you wish with the Atlas Travel plan; however, the plan does have an optional Preferred Provider Organization in the USA. In network providers will typically be able to direct bill the insurance company so you won’t have to pay for the services up front at the time of treatment. Direct billing is always up to the provider, so we suggest calling the provider before seeking treatment to be sure.
Depending on when you purchased your plan, and where you are from, your Atlas plan will either use the First Health Network or the UnitedHealthcare Network when seeking treatment in the United States. The network logo will be included on your insurance ID card, but please also keep in mind the following:
If your plan was purchased prior to July 1st, 2019, or, if your Home Country or Citizenship is in the European Union, your plan uses the First Health Network as the Preferred Provider Organization.
If your Home Country or Citizenship is in the following countries, your plan will use the First Health Network.
If your plan was purchased as of July 1st, 2019, and, if you Home Country is not in the European Union as listed above, your plan uses the UnitedHealthcare Network as the Preferred Provider Organization.
For more help finding a provider in your area that accepts your insurance plan, please contact us.
Claims are paid depending on where you are located and where you seek treatment:
If you are hospitalized for an emergency or planned hospitalization you will need to call the 24 hour emergency assistance number located on the back of your insurance ID card and they will assist you further with settling the hospital bills.
This plan is underwritten by Lloyd's.
