<table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2"> <tr> <td width="3%">1.</td> <td width="97%"><a href="/pre-existing-conditions-for-visitor-insurance/#1">What are pre-existing conditions? How do insurance companies determine these conditions?</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td>2.</td> <td><a href="/pre-existing-conditions-for-visitor-insurance/#2">Who determines if it is a pre-existing condition?</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td>3.</td> <td><a href="/pre-existing-conditions-for-visitor-insurance/#3">Why are pre-existing conditions not covered by visitor insurance plans?</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td>4.</td> <td><a href="/pre-existing-conditions-for-visitor-insurance/#4">Why should I purchase visitor medical insurance if it does not cover pre-existing conditions?</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td>5.</td> <td><a href="/pre-existing-conditions-for-visitor-insurance/#5">I want to get my surgery done for xyz problem in the United States. Will this visitor insurance help?</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td>6.</td> <td> <a href="/pre-existing-conditions-for-visitor-insurance/#6">I want to get a complete physical checkup done while in USA. Will my visitor insurance cover expenses for the checkup?</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td>7.</td> <td> <a href="/pre-existing-conditions-for-visitor-insurance/#7">I want to have a vision/eye test and get new pair of eyeglasses. Will this be covered in the visitor insurance?</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td>8.</td> <td> <a href="/pre-existing-conditions-for-visitor-insurance/#8">Is pregnancy and prenatal care covered?</a></td> </tr> </table></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD> <HR noShade size="0"> <table class="article-table" width="100%"> <th class="top_row"> <object width="250" height="200"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/oQR2i9v-76Q?fs=1&hl=en_US"> </param> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"> </param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"> </param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/oQR2i9v-76Q?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="250" height="200"></embed> </object> </th> <td><h2>Pre-existing conditions explained</h2> <p>Most visitor and travel insurance plans do not cover pre-existing conditions. Here is a video that explains why pre-existing conditions are not covered, and what visitors can do about it.</p></td> </tr> </table> </TD> </TR> </TABLE> <HR noShade size="0"> <br/> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2"> <tr> <td width="20" valign="top"><a name="1" id="1"></a><h2>Q1.</h2></td> <td valign="top"><a name="1" id="1"></a><h2>What are pre-existing conditions? How do insurance companies determine these conditions?</h2></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="20"></td> <td valign="top"><strong>Ans.</strong>Generally, high blood pressure, diabetes, AIDS, pregnancy, and any such physical or medical conditions which cannot be considered to have occurred overnight are considered pre-existing conditions. However, each visitor insurance plan has its own definition of what is considered a pre-existing condition, hence you are advised to read more about the plan before you purchase it. <p>Any injury, illness, or medical condition that meets any of the following criteria will be considered a pre-existing condition: a) condition that would have caused a person to seek medical advice, diagnosis, care, or treatment before the Effective Date of coverage under the policy, 2) condition for which manifestation, medical advice, diagnosis, care or treatment was recommended, received, or noticed prior to the Effective Date of coverage under the policy.</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="20" valign="top"><a name="2" id="2"></a><h2>Q2.</h2></td> <td valign="top"><h2>Who determines if it is a pre-existing condition?</h2></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="20"></td> <td valign="top"><strong>Ans.</strong>The insurance company requests and looks at the attending physician's (doctor's and hospital's) statement, past and present medical records, history, and the nature of the treatment and condition to determine if the condition is pre-existing.</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="20" valign="top" style="padding-top:20px;"><a name="3" id="3"></a><h2>Q3.</h2></td> <td valign="top" style="padding-top:20px;"><h2>Why are pre-existing conditions are not covered by visitor insurance plans?</h2></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="20"></td> <td valign="top"><strong>Ans.</strong>Travel or visitor insurance plans are short terms plans. If they start covering pre-existing conditions, they will end up paying much more than they receive from the premiums they generate, and they will not be able to run their businesses profitable.</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="20" valign="top" style="padding-top:20px;"><a name="4" id="4"></a><h2>Q4.</h2></td> <td valign="top" style="padding-top:20px;"><h2>Why should I purchase visitor medical insurance if it does not cover pre-existing conditions?</h2></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="20"></td> <td valign="top"><strong>Ans.</strong>Medical and health service costs in the USA are very high. The costs can be financially devastating especially in case of any emergency or accident and subsequent hospitalization. Visitors insurance is a means to insure against such unforeseen medical emergencies and should not be seen as a means to get medical treatment for existing medical problems.</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="20" valign="top" style="padding-top:20px;"><a name="5" id="5"></a><h2>Q5.</h2></td> <td valign="top" style="padding-top:20px;"><h2>I want to get my surgery done for xyz problem. Will visitor insurance help?</h2></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="20"></td> <td valign="top"><strong>Ans.</strong>No. Such situations come under pre-existing conditions, hence they will not be covered.</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="20" valign="top" style="padding-top:20px;"><a name="6" id="6"></a><h2>Q6.</h2></td> <td valign="top" style="padding-top:20px;"><h2>I want to get a complete physical checkup done while in USA. Will my visitor insurance cover expenses for the checkup?</h2></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="20"></td> <td valign="top"><strong>Ans.</strong>No, none of the visitor insurance covers physical checkup and any other preventive care.</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="20" valign="top" style="padding-top:20px;"><a name="7" id="7"></a><h2>Q7.</h2></td> <td valign="top" style="padding-top:20px;"><h2>I want to have a vision/eye test and get new pair of eyeglasses. Is this covered in the insurance?</h2></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="20"></td> <td valign="top"><strong>Ans.</strong>No</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="20" valign="top" style="padding-top:20px;"><a name="8" id="8"></a><h2>Q8.</h2></td> <td valign="top" style="padding-top:20px;"><h2>Is pregnancy and prenatal care covered?</h2></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="20"></td> <td valign="top"><strong>Ans.</strong>No</td> </tr> </table> <br />