Military Students (IMS) | FAQ

Who underwrites the Atlas Travel plan?

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.

Am I eligible for the Atlas Travel plan?

The plan is available to anyone who is traveling outside of their home country and are at least 14 days old. This includes international students, study abroad students, ESL students, foreign scholars, dependents living internationally, travelers, chaperones, international business groups, etc.

Where will this plan cover me?

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 receive regular mail.

When can I purchase my plan online?

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 are in another country other than your home country.

Please note that if you purchase coverage to start the same day, any illness that begins by occurrence of symptoms and/or receipt of treatment within the first two days of coverage would not be eligible for coverage.

When does my coverage become effective?

Your coverage becomes effective on the latest of:

We receive your application and payment (if application and payment is made online or by fax)
12:01am US Eastern Standard Time on the date we receive your application and payment (if application and payment is made by mail)
The moment you depart for your home country, or
12:01am US Eastern Standard Time on the date you request on your application

When does my coverage end?

Your coverage will end on the earliest of:

12:01am US Eastern Standard Time on the last day of the period for which you have paid a premium,
12:01am US Eastern Standard Time on the date requested on your Application, or
The moment of your arrival upon return to your home country (unless you have started a benefit period or are eligible for home country coverage).

Will I get my documents immediately?

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. If you are still not able to locate your policy documents after purchase, you can contact us for further assistance.

Will I get my ID card and documents in the mail?

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.

How do I get a visa letter?

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.

What forms of payment do you accept?

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.

What is a beneficiary?

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 this were to happen, and so on the application, you will need to indicate 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 would like, even if they are located outside of your host country.

Can I extend or renew my coverage?

If your Atlas plan includes the US or if you are a US citizen — you can purchase coverage and extend up to a total of 364 days.
If your Atlas plan excludes the US and you are not a US citizen – you can purchase and extend coverage up to 365 days. Once you have a full 365 days of coverage, you can renew your coverage for up to two additional years.

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.

My plan has expired, how can I reinstate it?

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.

Please keep in mind that if you purchase coverage to start the same day, any illness that begins by occurrence of symptoms and/or receipt of treatment within the first two days of coverage would not be eligible for coverage.

Can I cancel my Atlas Travel 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:

a $25 cancellation fee; and
only the unused portion of the plan cost will be refunded; and
only members who have no claims are eligible for premium refund.

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.

Does this plan have vision or dental coverage?

Accidental dental is covered if you suffer an accident to your teeth and need to have dental surgery or have an onset of unexpected dental pain. The plan will cover a maximum of $300. The plan also offers an emergency eye exam for a covered loss for up to $150.

The Atlas Travel plan does not cover routine vision or dental services, including regular dental check-ups or eyeglasses. If you require a more comprehensive dental or vision insurance plan, please see our dental discount plans.

What does Usual, Reasonable and Customary (URC) mean?

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.

What is a deductible?

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.

What is coinsurance?

Coinsurance is the percentage that the insurance will pay toward your medical bill after you have already paid your deductible.

Outside the USA: After your deductible, the insurance plan will cover 100% of your eligible expenses up to the policy maximum.
Inside the USA: After your deductible, the insurance plan will cover 100% of your eligible expenses up to the policy maximum. In the United States, the Atlas plan uses an optional (Preferred Provider Organization) Network. By going in-network, the provider will typically be able to direct bill the insurance company, so you don’t have to pay for the services up front the time of treatment.

Does the Atlas Travel Plan provide any home country coverage?

Yes, the plan provides the following home country coverage options:

Incidental home country Coverage

If you have a U.S. home country: For every three-month period during which you are covered, eligible medical expenses incurred in the U.S. are covered up to a maximum of 15 days.

If you have a Non-U.S. home country: For every three-month period during which you are covered, eligible medical expenses incurred in your home country are covered up to a maximum of 30 days.

Should you make a change to the location of your home country during the certificate period, you must notify us of such change within fifteen (15) days. Your new home country will govern the terms of any home country or incidental home country coverage.

Any benefit accrued under a single three-month period does not accumulate to another period. Failure to continue your international trip or your return to your home country for the sole purpose of obtaining treatment for an illness or injury that began while traveling shall void any incidental home country coverage.

Benefit Period Medical Coverage

While the certificate is in effect, the benefit period does not apply. Upon termination of the certificate, including when you return to your home country, the benefit period applies for up to 90 days only to eligible medical expenses directly related to an injury or illness that was diagnosed or treated while the certificate was in effect. The benefit period begins on the first day of diagnosis or treatment of a covered injury or illness made while you are outside your home country. The benefit period applies whether or not you return to your home country.

What is the VantageAmerica Discount Card?

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:

Card NOT Valid in AK, MA, MN, MT, VT, and Canada.
Pharmacy discounts are NOT insurance and are NOT intended as a substitute for insurance.
The discount is only available at participating pharmacies.

Does my plan cover telemedicine?

Yes, the Atlas Travel plan covers virtual visits to your doctor for any new, eligible conditions. To find providers in your area, please visit our online provider search tool.

What doctors or hospitals (providers) can I go to?

You are free to visit any provider you wish with the Atlas Travel plan; however, the plan does have an optional Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) in the USA. In-network providers will typically be able to directly 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.

Does my plan cover pre-existing conditions?

The Atlas Travel plan does not include coverage for Pre-Existing Conditions, except for charges resulting directly from an Acute Onset of a Pre-Existing Condition.

Pre-Existing Condition means the following, and anything related to this would not be covered: any injury, illness, sickness, disease, or other physical, medical, mental, or nervous disorder, condition, or ailment that, with reasonable medical certainty, existed at the time of application or at any time during the 2 years prior to the effective date of this insurance, whether or not previously manifested, symptomatic or known, diagnosed, treated, or disclosed to us prior to the effective date, and including any and all subsequent, chronic or recurring complications or consequences related thereto or resulting or arising therefrom.

Acute Onset of Pre-Existing Conditions are eligible for coverage under the plan, up to the overall policy maximum selected. For Emergency Medical Evacuation related to an Acute Onset of a Pre-Existing Condition, coverage is up to a $25,000 lifetime maximum limit.

Acute Onset of Pre-existing Condition means the following: a sudden and unexpected outbreak or recurrence that is of short duration, is rapidly progressive, and requires urgent care. A pre-existing condition that is a chronic or congenital, or that gradually becomes worse over time is not acute onset of a pre-existing condition. An Acute Onset of Pre-existing Condition does not include any condition for which, as of the Effective date, the Insured Person (i) knew or reasonably foresaw he/she would receive, (ii) knew he/she should receive, (iii) had scheduled, or (iv) was told that he/she must or should receive, any medical care, drugs or treatment.

Chronic means any condition that usually persists three months or longer. Congenital means any medical condition, disorder, abnormality, deformity, illness, injury present at birthregardless of cause or manifestation, and whether or not previously diagnosed.

Please view the full policy wording for more information on how pre-existing conditions are covered under the Atlas Travel plan.

How do I know which network my plan uses?

The Atlas Travel plan works with a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) called the UnitedHealthcare Network. We strongly recommend visiting a provider within this network, as you will potentially benefit from lower out-of-pocket expenses, and generally, the provider will be able to directly bill the insurance company, so you won’t need to pay for the full amount of the services upfront, at the time of treatment.

To find providers in the UnitedHealthcare Network in your area, please visit the network pgae or if you need help finding a provider, please contact us.

How are claims paid?

Claims are paid depending on where you are located and where you seek treatment:

In-network while inside the USA: When you visit a provider that is part of the Preferred Provider Organization, your insurance bill is typically paid directly. You will need to complete a claim form and email this to WorldTrips for processing.
Out-of-network while inside the USA: When you visit a provider that is outside the network, you will need to pay for all services up front and then submit your bills and receipts, along with a claim form for reimbursement to WorldTrips.
Outside the USA: When visiting a provider around the world, please pay for the services up front and then submit your bills and receipts, along with a claim form, for reimbursement to WorldTrips.
You can access the claims form through your online Student Zone, and email this to service@worldtrips.com for processing.

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 WorldTrips will assist you further with settling the hospital bills.