Global Citizen FAQs
- Who is eligible to buy a Global Citizen EXP plan?
All U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents living abroad who are 74 or younger at the time of application are eligible to apply for coverage or;
All legal residents of the U.S.(citizens and foreign nationals) who are age 74 or younger at the time of application are eligible if they apply from a state listed below or;
An employee of a U.S. company, whereby the company is domiciled in a state listed below and the company pays the insurance premium.
Medical Benefits underwritten by BCS Life Insurance Company
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, WyomingIf you live in any other U.S state, please contact your agent directly or HTH Worldwide.
- Am I guaranteed to be issued a Global Citizen EXP policy if I apply?
No, Global Citizen is not a guaranteed issue plan. Each application is medically underwritten. Your application may be 1) accepted, 2) accepted with a rate increase due to your health status, or 3) denied.
- Is the quote I receive binding?
No, the quote you receive is not binding. The quote you receive may not apply if 1) you provided us with an inaccurate zip code, 2) you misstated a material fact on your application, or 3) we increase the rate due to your health status.
- When determining a rate while overseas, what zip code should I use?
Policies for U.S. citizens residing overseas are issued through the Global Citizens Association office in Washington D.C. The zip code that applies is 20036. Please enter "20036" or "0" in the quoting tool if applying online while living overseas.
- How long will the medical underwriting process take?
The underwriting time frame depends on the medical history listed on the application. Turnaround can be as quick as one day or as long as one month. Our commitment is to respond to a submission in writing within 3 - 5 business days. This may mean that we send a request for additional information to the applicant, such as a specific medical questionnaire, or notify the applicant that they erroneously missed a question on the application form. Occasionally we have to obtain medical records from hospitals or providers. Our turnaround time in these situations will depend on how quickly the provider responds to our request.
If we receive the application before the requested effective date, we can honor the effective date even if the approval comes through thereafter. - Once I'm approved for coverage do I have to go through medical underwriting again?
You do not need to go through medical underwriting when you re-enroll into your current plan design without changes. You may be medically underwritten again if you decide to select different benefits (see below). Plan changes can only be requested at time of re-enrollment.
If a member would like to increase benefits (by lowering a deductible or adding pharmacy coverage) they must complete a new underwriting application. If a member would like to reduce their benefits, they do not need to complete a new underwriting application. - How do I calculate out of pocket expenses and the annual limit?
Out-of-pocket expenses are defined as the expenses a member incurs when satisfying the plan’s deductible and coinsurance requirements. The total annual out-of-pocket expense limit is calculated by adding the deductible and coinsurance maximum together. Deductibles must be satisfied before most benefits are paid.
- How are the deductible and coinsurance calculated for families?
Deductibles are per person deductibles. For a family, the maximum deductible is increased by a factor of 2.5., regardless of the size of the family.
- Will my policy automatically renew? At what rate?
You can enroll in a Global Citizen EXP policy up to age 84. The policy does not automatically renew upon your request. You will be notified of your new plan rate at least 30 days prior to your policy expiration date. You must confirm your new policy rate in writing or by accepting the rate when logged in to our secure website. Plan rates are based on age at time of enrollment and are impacted by medical inflation. You will not be asked any medical questions and your personal health history will not determine your new rate. Global Citizen rates are standard rates for all re-enrolling members.
- When does my coverage end?
We may terminate your policy if:
- You no longer meet the eligibility requirements
- You fail to pay your premium
- We discover that you committed fraud or misrepresented a material fact to HTH
- We terminate the plan in your state or geographic service area
- Will my pre-existing condition be covered under a Global Citizen EXP plan?
If you were previously covered by a group or individual U.S. health plan that issues you a Certificate of Creditable Coverage, HTH Worldwide will apply this prior coverage to the pre-existing conditions waiting period, provided you meet HTH's medical underwriting criteria. HTH will also consider private health insurance issued in other countries as creditable coverage. HTH does not consider surplus lines insurance sold in the U.S. as creditable coverage.
The number of months of coverage shown on the Certificate will reduce or eliminate the six month pre-existing condition waiting period. If you have six or more months of creditable coverage, your waiting period will be eliminated. If you have less than six months creditable coverage, your waiting period will be reduced by the number of months you had creditable coverage. For example, if you have two months of creditable coverage, your waiting period will be reduced from six months to four months. - How do I access participating medical providers outside the U.S. and avoid claim forms?
HTH's Global Health and Safety services help members identify, access, and pay for quality healthcare all over the world. This includes a contracted community of elite providers in 180 countries. Members can access these carefully selected providers and arrange for the bills to be sent directly to HTH Worldwide for payment as follows: go to www.hthtravelinsurance.com and click on "Member Login" then click on "Register Here". After registering, you are able to create a Well Prepared profile and use the related web tool to request an appointment with the participating provider. HTH will automatically arrange for direct settlement of the bill for this visit. Please note, direct billing may not be available everywhere.
Direct billing can also be requested by calling the assistance telephone number listed on your member ID card, or by emailing globalhealth@hthworldwide.com. Please note that in the U.S. a member can simply show their ID card at time of service and participating providers will only bill the member for any required deductible or co-payment.
A claims instruction page is available online and can be accessed by visiting www.hthtravelinsurance.com and selecting "Contact Us" from the top right navigation bar. Claim forms are downloadable from this section of the site as well. - I live in New York and therefore am not eligible to buy a Global Citizen plan. When will New York be an approved state?
It is very difficult to predict state approvals. We are working with state insurance regulators to accelerate the process if possible.
If you are going abroad, you may wish to complete a pre-screening form prior to leaving. You can then apply for coverage using an abbreviated application when you are no longer a resident of New York. - I purchased a plan, but would like to cancel my insurance prior to its expiration. Will I have to pay any cancellation fees?
Any cancellation requests must be received by HTH in writing via email, fax or regular mail. There are no cancellation fees or penalties. However, HTH does not refund premium for a partial month. Retroactive cancellations are also not permitted.
- Are acts of terrorism covered under this plan?
Yes. The Global Citizen plan does not exclude illnesses or injuries related to terrorism or a terrorist act. In order to be covered in countries where there are open hostilities, such as Iraq and Afghanistan, a member must not be engaged in hostile or combative activities.
- How does the optional pharmacy benefit work?
The Global Citizen EXP plan includes a basic prescription drug benefit. The basic prescription drug benefit covers inpatient drugs up to policy maximum and is subject to the plan deductible and coinsurance. It also covers outpatient drugs at 50% up to a $500 annual limit. This outpatient drug benefit applies to drugs purchased outside of the U.S. An optional prescription drug benefit is available for purchase. This offers a higher limit than the basic drug benefit and is not subject to a deductible.
The option prescription drug benefit for Global Citizen EXP is $3,000 (80% of actual charges) per year and includes access to drugs everywhere, except U.S. - How are medical evacuation decisions made?
The evacuation benefit pays for a medical evacuation to the nearest Hospital, appropriate medical facility or back to the U.S. Transportation must be by the most direct and economical route. All evacuations require written certification by the attending physician that the evacuation is medically necessary.
- Is birth control covered?
Use of birth control is not automatically excluded on the policy. HTH reviews the medical condition for which birth control is being used. If it is being used solely as a contraceptive, it is excluded. If it is being used to treat an approved condition, it will be covered. In this instance, the member will have to pay for the prescription up front and submit a claim to HTH, along with a letter from the prescribing doctor indicating the medical necessity of the contraceptive.
- What is the Global Citizens Association?
GCA is a not-for-profit association serving those who travel the world for business, study and leisure. GCA promotes health and safety around the world through online knowledge tools and email news alerts. GCA members also benefit from the Association's group purchasing programs for travel, insurance, entertainment and telecommunication services. GCA benefits are available through its Rewards Worldwide program at www.rewardsworldwide.com.
- Where can I read the fine print?
To see plan definitions, limitations or to review a sample certificate visit: hthtravelinsurance.com/gl_citizen/gl_ctzn_cert_sample.pdf.