Irish Firm Offers U.S. Health Insurance

By April Drew

THOUSANDS of undocumented Irish people living in the U.S. can't afford to get sick. Day by day, they remain in fear of an unprepared return to Ireland due to poor health because they don't hold any medical insurance in the U.S.

However, Voluntary Health Insurance (VHI), the largest provider of healthcare insurance in Ireland, has customized a package called Global Insurance to cover those living abroad for six months or more and who intend to return to live in Ireland at a future date.

Trevor Montgomery, business development manager with VHI, had meetings with immigration centers while he was in New York as part of the recent FAS jobs exhibition.

“We know that a lot of individuals need insurance here and can't get it,” Montgomery told the Irish Voice. “We are now offering Irish people living abroad an opportunity to avail of health insurance that will cover them both at home and abroad.”

There are two flexible healthcare options to choose from, standard and comprehensive. Standard insurance is lighter on the pocket but it has less financial coverage. The two significant differences between the insurances are the policy limits and outpatient coverages.

With standard insurance an in-patient’s spending limit is $952,000 and their outpatient coverage extends to $635 on an annual basis. With comprehensive the in-patient policy limit is set at $1,270,000 and the outpatient coverage terminates at $6,350.

Montgomery recommends people in North America to choose the comprehensive option because the cost of insurance here is so expensive.

The pricetag on Global Insurance is dependant on a client's age. The older a person is the higher cost of their insurance.

The prices are classified under 15 different age groups. Examples are as follows and pertain to people residing in North America.

Age 25-29

Standard = $2,867, Comprehensive = $4,309.

Age 30-34

Standard = $3,048, Comprehensive = $4,636.

Age 35-39

Standard = $3,417, Comprehensive = $5,315.

Age 40-44

Standard = $3,600, Comprehensive = $5,550.

With Global Insurance, a patient may choose which hospital they would like to have their emergency or elective treatment in. VHI will shell out the full cost of such treatment up to the patient’s plan threshold. Patients will also be given the option to have their treatment done in the U.S. or return home to their families in Ireland and undergo it there. VHI will contribute to the cost of their flights.

Other benefits of Global Insurance include direct payment on a patient's behalf to hospital and doctors for inpatient treatment. In the event of death, VHI will pay for the mortal remains to be brought back to Ireland.

Global Insurance also provides an opportunity to add cover for travel insurance and hazardous sports and activities. In addition, it has a 24-hour customer service line (based in Ireland) which patients may call for claims advice or pre-authorization of treatment.

“It is imperative,” says Montgomery, “for patients to call the hotline before going into hospital.”

Since VHI isn't well known in the U.S., a representative from the company needs to verify with the hospital that the incoming patient is in fact fully insured.

If an existing customer holds a VHI domestic plan in Ireland, they can be transferred to Global Insurance after a six-month period if they pay the disparity in fees.

To get more information on Global Insurance or to receive the insurance, log onto www.vhi.ie/global.