HR Home | Employee Self Service | UI Search A-Z

International Travel Insurance

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL INSURANCE PLAN
FAQ for UI Faculty and Staff


What does the CISI plan cover?

The CISI Plan is designed specifically for students traveling abroad. This coverage is also available for faculty and staff traveling internationally on University business. In addition to providing health insurance, the CISI plan will cover medical evacuation and repatriation as well as security evacuations should they become necessary. And unlike many domestic insurance plans, the CISI plan will pay 100% of covered expenses without requiring a deductible.

In addition to the above, the Team Assist Plan was designed by CISI in conjunction with the Assistance Company to provide travelers with a worldwide, 24-hour emergency telephone assistance service. Multilingual help and advice may be furnished for the insured in the event of any emergency during the term of coverage. This plan complements the insurance benefits provided by the medical plan.*


The Team Assist Plan offers the following services:

MEDICAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES

Medical Referral: Referrals will be provided for physicians, hospitals, clinics or any other medical service provider requested by the Insured. Service is available 24 hours a day, worldwide.
Medical Monitoring: In the event the Insured is admitted to a US or foreign hospital, the Assistance Provider will coordinate communication between the Insured's own physician and the attending medical doctor or doctors. The Assistance Provider will monitor the Insured's progress and update the family or the insurance company accordingly.
Prescription Drug Replacement/Shipment: Assistance will be provided in replacing lost, misplaced, or forgotten medication by locating a supplier of the same medication or by arranging for shipment of the medication as soon as possible.
Emergency Message Transmittal: The Assistance Provider will forward an emergency message to and from a family member, friend or medical provider.
Coverage Verification/Payment Assistance for Medical Expenses: The Assistance Provider will provide verification of the Insured's medical insurance coverage when necessary to gain admittance to foreign hospitals, and if requested, and approved by the insurance company, provide a guarantee of payment to the treating facility

TRAVEL ASSISTANCE SERVICES

Assistance in Obtaining Emergency Cash: The Assistance Provider will advise how to obtain or to send emergency funds world-wide.
Traveler Check Replacement Assistance: The Assistance Provider will assist in obtaining replacements for lost or stolen traveler checks from any company, i.e.. Visa, Master Card, Cooks, American Express, etc.., worldwide.
Lost/Delayed Luggage Tracing: The Assistance Provider will assist the Insured whose baggage is lost, stolen or delayed while traveling on a common carrier,
Replacement of Lost or Stolen Airline Ticket: One telephone call to the provided 800 number will activate the Assistance Provider's staff in obtaining a replacement ticket.

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES

Credit Card - Passport - Important Document Replacement: The Assistance Provider will assist in the replacement of any lost or stolen important document such as a credit card, passport, visa, medical record, etc, and have the documents delivered or picked up at the nearest embassy or consulate.
Locating Legal Services: The Assistance Provider will help the Insured contact a local attorney or the appropriate consular officer when an Insured is arrested or detained, is in an automobile accident, or otherwise needs legal help. The Assistance provider will maintain communications with the Insured, family, and business associates until legal counsel has been retained by or for the Insured.
Assistance in Posting Bond/Bail: Assist by providing a referral to a bail bondsman. The Assistance Provider will arrange for the bail bondsman to contact the Insured or to visit at the jail if incarcerated.
Worldwide Inoculation Information: Information will be provided if requested by an Insured for all required inoculations relative to the area of the world being visited as well as any other pertinent medical information.

* A detailed description of benefits and exclusions is provided in the CISI plan brochure.

Do I have to buy CISI Insurance?

This plan is intended to cover all faculty & staff traveling abroad on University business for overseas travel registered in the ProTrav system. The cost for the international travel insurance coverage for University of Iowa faculty or staff member traveling outside of the US on a University sponsored trip is being paid by the University Benefits Office.

The enrollment in the international travel insurance coverage will be automatically processed for the dates of the trip as shown in the ProTrav system. The enrollment will be processed 21 days before the trip’s departure to reduce the number of enrollment changes required due to changes in dates of travel.

Why can’t I just use my current insurance?

Domestic insurance plans can be very difficult to use overseas and often require up-front payment prior to service with no guarantee of reimbursement. Also, they typically do not cover other travel risks.

What happens if I don’t end up traveling overseas?

If your trip is cancelled or your dates of travel change, please have these dates corrected in the ProTrav system and contact the Benefits Office.

Will the insurance cover my personal travel beyond the dates of enrollment?

While you are traveling, if you decide to change your return date to extend your international trip for personal travel, you can enroll in an individual travel insurance plan though CISI or other international travel insurance provider.

Can my Spouse/Partner and/or dependents be covered if they will be accompanying me on my trip?

The traveler can elect to purchase coverage at the group rate for spouse/partner and/or eligible dependents who will be accompanying them on the trip.

After the UI-sponsored traveller's coverage is confimed by CISI, you can then apply for this additional coverage.

I am a U of I Faculty/staff member and I am traveling abroad on a personal vacation. Can I enroll?

The CISI Group Insurance Plan is only available to faculty and staff members traveling abroad on University of Iowa sponsored travel. The trip must be approved in the ProTrav system to be eligible for enrollment. Faculty and staff members traveling for personal reasons are encouraged to purchase independent travel insurance for their trips. CISI’s sister company, Caremed Insurance, offers this type of individual coverage. Please see www.caremed-travelinsurance.com for more information.

How do I know when I am enrolled?

Enrollment will occur automatically approximately 21 days prior to departure based on your trip information in ProTrav. You will receive an enrollment confirmation email from the University Benefits Office. You will also receive an email directly from CISI containing your enrollment information. This email will contain your CISI insurance ID card that contains valuable information including the group policy number and the number to call if emergency services are needed. Participants should sign their ID cards after printing and take this with them on the trip. There is nothing further that you need to do.

Can I access plan information on-line?

The myCISI Participant Portal is your one-stop shop for information pertaining to your plan, if you need information. To access the portal, go to www.culturalinsurance.com, click on the green “Login to MyCISI” button and then Select “click here to create an account” under the “Create an Account” section. You will then be prompted to enter your name and birth date. Please note: Your name must be entered here exactly as it is shown in the ProTrav system. When you access the site, you will be able to create the password of your choice. Please make sure you add the page to your list of Trusted Sites.

The Participant Portal allows you to:

What do I need to do prior to departure?

Participants with pre-existing conditions should make sure their conditions are under control prior to departure. Those taking prescriptions should arrange to bring the appropriate supply of medication with them before they leave, provided it is allowed into the country they are traveling to. Participants should check with their doctor and the appropriate embassy/consulate prior to departure to ensure that alternative arrangements can be made if needed. They can also reach out to Team Assist prior to departure for additional support if needed. Medication should be in its original container and accompanied by a doctor's note that lists any generic equivalents and explains the need for the medication. It should also always be packed in carry-on luggage for easy access by customs officials.

Prior to departure, participants will receive an insurance ID card that contains valuable information including the group policy number and emergency contact details. Participants should sign their ID cards after printing and keep in a safe place.

What if I need assistance while abroad?

The CISI Team Assist plan was designed by CISI in conjunction with the assistance company to provide travelers with worldwide, 24-hour emergency telephone assistance service. Multilingual help and advice can be furnished for the insured person in the event of an emergency.

For all emergency situations, seek help without delay. It is important to then contact Team Assist as soon as possible so that a case can be opened and additional arrangements can be made in a timely manner if necessary. Team Assist will then work with the insured and CISI to make sure that the appropriate measures are in place for proper case management. Anyone can open up a case on behalf of an insured (overseas staff members, program administrators, parents, or friends of the insured are all acceptable options).

Once the call is made, Team Assist will:

• Gather contact info for patient and nature of problem
• Establish contact with a treating MD (may require translator)
• Determine adequacy of care in overseas location as well as the short/long-
   term needs of patient
• Determine stability for travel if applicable
• Make all recommendations and arrangements

How do I reach Team Assist?

If a participant requires Team Assist assistance, their ID number is the policy number. That policy number, along with important contact information, can be found on the front of all CISI insurance ID cards, under “Emergency Contact Info” on the “myCISI” Participant Portal, and on the claim form (which is part of the CISI insurance coverage brochure).

To follow is Team Assist's contact information for your reference:

Team Assist Phone: (240) 330-1520 (calling from outside of the US, collect calls accepted)
(877) 577-9504 (calling toll-free from within the US)
Team Assist E-mail: ops@europassistance-usa.com

Front of ID Card:                                             Back of ID Card:

Picture of front and back of ID card

Team assist contact information is at the bottom of the front of the card.

Can I get advice on making calls from abroad?


On your insurance ID card, you will see an 800 number and a standard phone number listed. The 800 number is for calls originating from the US. As a general rule, US-based 800 numbers can't be accessed from abroad because they are toll-free and typically blocked (these include any numbers beginning with 800, 866, 877, or 888). If you need to reach Team Assist from outside the US and have an international calling plan or Skype, you can dial the standard US phone number listed using the appropriate country code for placing an outbound international call. You can also place a collect call to Team Assist.

One of the easiest ways to call collect is to use the international AT&T directory service. The number you will need to dial will depend on the country you are in. The below link is an excellent guide (with the ability to select the country you are calling from via a drop-down menu). Please note that some countries have multiple numbers based on region.

Visit: http://www.usa.att.com/traveler/access_numbers/view.jsp?group=language

You can find additional advice and resources here: http://www.cisi.ekit.com/ekit/home

TIP: It is a good idea to practice placing a call to Team Assist from abroad once you arrive at your destination to ensure there will be no problems should an emergency occur.

What if I just have a pre-departure question or want to visit a doctor for a situation that is not an emergency? Do I need to call Team Assist?

The myCISI Participant Portal contains valuable country-specific information that may help you in your pre-departure planning. Still need assistance? Team Assist can help with your pre-departure questions.

When it comes to seeking treatment for common ailments, many travelers do not open up cases with Team Assist prior to visiting the doctor. Unless CISI has already pre-arranged for direct billing at a clinic in your city of study, you may be required to pay for visits out-of-pocket. This can often be avoided by opening up a case with Team Assist ahead of any visits. Team Assist can direct you to the appropriate facility based on your specific needs and can also arrange for direct billing whenever possible and at the discretion of the treating facility.

How do I submit claims?

If you do pay a claim out-of-pocket, you can e-mail all itemized bills and receipts along with a completed claim form to: claimhelp@culturalinsurance.com (indicating that you are a CISI insured and referencing your policy number). The form is available through the MyCISI Participant Portal. Once received, CISI then reviews it and as long as it is payable, will send reimbursement as a US dollar check to the your US address so that it can be deposited into a bank account for quick access from overseas via a credit or debit card. If you do not have a US-based address please include instructions as to where the reimbursement can be sent.

Am I required to go to certain “in-network” doctors?

CISI does not have network restrictions. CISI endeavors to pay claims directly to all foreign providers whenever possible and will cover all eligible claims at 100%. CISI does provide support for travelers seeking qualified doctors. CISI maintains lists of recommended doctors on their website and the assistance line is reachable 24 hours a day with comprehensive lists of doctors and hospitals all over the world.

Still have questions?

Please contact the University Benefits Office at 319-335-2676 if you require any additional information.