Missionary Health

What Missionary Health is

Missionary Health is a broker, not an insurer: the site is run by Insurance Services of America, which its about page describes as an independent insurance brokerage. "For over 50 years, Insurance Services of America has specialized in securing international health insurance, trip protection, and short-term US medical insurance for our clients," the about page says, adding "we don't work for any insurance company. Instead, we shop for you!" As "an independent insurance brokerage firm," it says it has "the power to choose from a variety of insurance providers on behalf of our clients." The about page also calls the firm "a Better Business Bureau accredited business," and the homepage says "The leaders of our brokerage firm have missionary experience working in places like Turkey, Mozambique and many others." A separate charitable project is tied to the firm: "In 1999, Least of These Ministries was formed and Rebecca's Home Orphanage was created with the mission to donate 100% of its proceeds to help orphans around the world." That is philanthropy, not a policy benefit.

What it places

The homepage splits the offering into three groups. For short trips, a buyer can "choose from 4 plans which provide the necessary medical and emergency benefits for trips lasting less than a year." For long-term missionaries, "If you're serving full time or longer than 12 months choose from 2 major medical plans including benefits for US furlough coverage, maternity, wellness, term life insurance and war and terrorism coverage." For groups, it offers to "customize group major medical insurance for your mission agency, school or church" for "a group of 5 or more," and "for short trips abroad, choose from 2 group travel medical plans." The homepage gives no limits or carrier names for the long-term plans.

The short-term page gives real figures for each plan it describes:

• Atlas International Travel Medical. Open to "US and non-US citizens who are at least 14 days of age," with "Coverage from 5 to 364 days," "Guaranteed issue!" with "no health questions" and "No Age Limits." It offers a "Choice of 6 Medical Maximums up to $2,000,000" and a "Choice of 7 Deductibles (NO deductible option)," with "100% Coverage after your deductible up to the policy maximum" and "Accidental Death ($25,000)." Older travelers get lower caps: "Individuals age 70 to 79 as of the Certificate Effective Date are subject to a $150,000 Overall Maximum or less," and those "age 80 and over" are "subject to a $10,000 Overall Maximum." The page says "Plan underwriter is Lloyd's which is rated A (Excellent) by A.M. Best and A+ (Strong) by S&P."
• The Beacon Travel Medical Plan. "Up to $2,000,000 policy maximum (for travel outside of the US)" and "Up to $1,100,000 policy maximum (for travel inside of the US)," a "$0 deductible option," accidental dental, trip interruption, third party liability, an "Optional Extreme Sports Rider," terrorism coverage, and "This plan can be renewed up to 730 days." It "is underwritten by Lloyd's, London, which is rated A (Excellent) by Standard & Poor's and rated A (Excellent) by the A.M. Best Company."
• BlueCross BlueShield Global Single-Trip. "For an international trip of up to 182 days," with "Up to $1,000,000 medical/$500,000 evacuation," "Two levels of coverage are available: Gold and Platinum," and "One policy extension is available." It is "Underwritten by 4 Ever Life International Limited, Bermuda, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association."
• Group Outreach Travel Medical. "Three maximum limits; $50,000, $100,000, and $250,000" and "Three individual deductible choices; $0, $100, and $250," with emergency medical evacuation "up to $500,000 lifetime maximum (independent of the Maximum Limit)," emergency reunion "up to $50,000," and political evacuation among the listed benefits.
• International Major Medical. For foreign nationals aged 0 to 84, per the page, with "Up to $1,000,000 policy maximum (benefit reduced after age 69)," a "Zero deductible option" and "After the deductible, 100% UCR (NO co-insurance)."

The same page also carries International Assurance, a group plan it says offers "one low daily premium rate regardless of your age," TME trip protection plans, and High Limit Accidental Death cover for "Anyone ages 18-74."

Eligibility, pre-existing conditions and buying

Restrictions differ by plan. Atlas is "Not available to individuals who are physically located in New York, Maryland, Washington, or Australia or Canada at the time of purchase," or if the "Home Country/Country of Residence is: Australia, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, or Syria." The Beacon "is available in all states in the US and all countries," though "Excluded states and countries are subject to change." BlueCross BlueShield Global Single-Trip "is available to U.S. residents, 95 or younger, who live in approved states," "Children under age 6 must be enrolled with a parent," and "The initial purchase must be made in your home country prior to departing on your trip." It offers "a 10% discount for groups of five or more." International Major Medical lists a long run of excluded states, including New York and New Jersey.

Pre-existing conditions are handled plan by plan. Atlas "excludes coverage for pre-existing conditions, except as provided for under the Acute Onset of Pre-existing Conditions benefit." For BlueCross BlueShield, "Pre-existing conditions coverage is available (with Single Trip Platinum)," and the buyer "Must be enrolled in a primary plan to be eligible," though "The Primary Plan does not need to be a Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield medical plan." Group Outreach lists "Sudden and Unexpected Recurrence of a Pre-existing Condition" among its medical benefits.

Atlas buyers can "Purchase on-line application & print ID card." For other plans, the page links a brochure and a quote form and gives the brokerage's phone lines. The about page says the firm never hides "behind automated, and often annoying phone options." The pages print no premium for any plan and do not list the amounts behind Atlas's seven deductible choices.

Who it suits

The short-term plans suit missionaries and mission teams on trips under a year who want a named, rated underwriter and a published medical maximum to compare. Atlas fits older travelers who still want cover without health questions, since it states "No Age Limits" while capping the maximum at $150,000 or less from 70 to 79 and $10,000 from 80. The Beacon fits someone who may stay longer, with renewal up to 730 days and a separate US maximum. BlueCross BlueShield Global Single-Trip fits a US resident up to 95 who needs a route to pre-existing condition cover through its Platinum level. Mission agencies, schools and churches sending 5 or more people get the Group Outreach limits in print and a customized group major medical option.

Missionaries serving longer than 12 months have less to compare on these pages, since the two long-term major medical plans are described by benefit category only.