Frequently Asked Questions

The Atlas Travel Series is designed for individuals who will be traveling outside of their home country.  Coverage under the Atlas Travel Series is available for as little as five days and may be extended up to a total of 12 months or 4 years, depending on the plan's provisions.  The plan provides coverage for unforeseen accidents and illnesses that occur during international travel.

You must meet the following criteria to be eligible for the Atlas Travel Series:

• Be at least 14 days of age
• Purchase at least 5 days of coverage
• Be traveling outside of home country

Yes; if you will be traveling for a short period of time, out Atlas Travel Series would be highly recommended.  It will allow you to receive coverage for as little as 5 days as well as an option to extend your coverage for as long as you need.

Yes; to be eligible for StudentSecure^SM you must be a full-time student at a college or university excluding online colleges and universities, within 31 days of becoming a full-time student, or a full-time scholar affiliated with an education institution performing work or research for at least 30 hours per week.

You must meet the following criteria to be eligible for StudentSecure^SM:

• Be a Full-time Student at a college or university, excluding online colleges and universities, or within 31 days of being a Full-time Student at a college or university; or be a Full-time Scholar affiliated with an educational institution and performing work or research for at least 30 hours per week. The Full-time Student/Scholar status requirement is waived for Participants within the US holding a valid F-1 visa. Full-time status requirements remain in force for individuals holding M-1, J-1, or other category visas.
• Be residing outside Home Country for the purpose of pursuing international educational activities.
• Not have obtained residency status in the Host Country.

HCC Life Short Term Medical (STM) is temporary medical insurance for individuals legally residing in the US.  An effective solution for those seeking temporary insurance, HCC Life STM protects against unforeseen accidents and sicknesses.  The plan is appropriate for people between jobs, recent college graduates, new employees waiting for coverage to begin, or any eligible person who is temporarily without health insurance.

You must meet the following criteria to purchase HCC Life Short Term Medical:

• Be 2 to 64 years of age.
• Not be pregnant or, if requesting dependent coverage, not be an expectant father or planning on adopting;
• Will not be covered under other medical insurance at time of requested effective date;
• Not be a member of the armed forces of any country, state or international organization, other than on reserve duty for 30 days or less; and
• Be able to answer “no” to the medical questions on the application.

Coverage is available for up to 6 or 11 months, depending on the state in which coverage is purchased.

Atlas/StudentSecure^SM: If you apply online, the application process generally takes about 10 minutes.  If you submit an application by e-mail, fax or mail, it will be processed by the second business day that the completed application and correct premium are received.

CitizenSecure^SM/CitizenSecure^SM Economy: Whether completing an online or paper application, Underwriting will provide a response within 5 business days.  The response could be a confirmation of coverage, declination of coverage, or a request for additional information.

Atlas/StudentSecure^SM: Your fulfillment is your policy information.  When you apply online for your policy, your fulfillment will be available online via Client Zone upon approval of the application.  A copy of the fulfillment will also be sent to the e-mail address provided on the application.  Your fulfillment will include: a summary of benefits, name(s) of policy member(s), ID cards, receipt, and the description of coverage.

CitizenSecure^SM/CitizenSecure^SM Economy:  Your fulfillment is your policy information.  When you apply online for your policy, your fulfillment will be available online via Client Zone upon approval of the application.  A copy of the fulfillment will also be sent to the mailing address provided on the application.  Your fulfillment will include: a summary of benefits, name(s) of policy member(s), ID cards, receipt, and the description of coverage.

No; if you are being treated multiple times for the same injury or illness, only one claim form is needed.  If you have more than one injury or illness, you must complete a claim form each time.

Currently, members are not able to check the status of a claim online.  Please look for this feature to be available through Client Zone and Student Zone coming soon.

HCC Medical Insurance Services, LLC (HCCMIS) was established in 1998. It quickly became a recognized leader in the field of international health insurance, offering a complete portfolio of health and life insurance products to customers in over 130 countries.

Lloyd’s of London is the largest and oldest insurance market in the world and the insurer of our international plans.

HCC Life, a division of HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc. is the underwriter and administrator of our domestic plan, HCC Life Short Term Medical.

Due to economic and/or trade sanctions imposed by the US government, HCC Medical Insurance Services is unable to provide coverage to individuals coming from or traveling to certain countries.  To find out if your destination or home country is currently restricted, please contact HCCMIS's World Service Center at insurance@hccmis.com or (800) 605-2282.

HCCMIS is always a secondary form of insurance.  If a Member does have coverage under a different plan, that plan will have to review your claim first before submitting it to us.

Atlas: Policy/Coverage cancellation requests must be submitted in writing.  If the request is received prior to the effective date, a full refund is granted.  If the request is received after the effective date and no claims have been filed, a refund of the unused portion will be given at a fee of $25. (Depending on the reason for early return, the Trip Interruption benefit may be available.)

When you return home, your coverage will expire.  However, if you received treatment for a covered injury or illness while abroad, Atlas coverage will continue to pay eligible medical expenses related to that injury or illness for up to 180 days beginning on the first day of diagnosis or treatment received when you were abroad.  Also, for each 3-month period of continuous coverage, you are eligible for up to 15 days of home country coverage, provided y ou return abroad before the end of the 15-day period of allocated home country coverage.  Allocated days of home country coverage are not required to be taken consecutively.

Depending on the reason for early return, the Trip Interruption benefit may be available.  Please see product information below for details:

Atlas: A cancellation of coverage must be requested in writing.  If the request is received prior to the effective date, a full refund is granted.  If the request is received after the effective date and no claims have been filed, a refund of the unused portion will be given at a fee of $25.

StudentSecure^SM: A cancellation of coverage must by requested in writing.  Members must not have any claims on file and a $25 fee will be assessed for return of the unused portion.  Refunds will no longer be available after 60 days.

CitizenSecure^SM/CitizenSecure^SM Economy: A cancellation of coverage must be requested in writing.  A premium refund will be calculated by the Underwriting Department.

Atlas/StudentSercure^SM: Renewals must be completed within 30 days prior to the scheduled expiration date.  Extensions may be transacted at any time after the initial effective date.  Extensions are available up to 12 months at a time and the deductible and coinsurance must be re-satisfied every 12 months unless there is a break in coverage. 

CS/CSE: Renewals are annual and must be completed on or before the member's renewal date for coverage to continue.  There is a 15-day grace period for renewals and an increase in rates may occur.  This policy is not extendable. 

HCC Life Short Term Medical (STM): Renewals are not available, but if your temporary insurance need continues beyond the coverage period purchased, you may apply for a new policy as long as you have not had more than two HCC Life STM policies within the past 12 months. Additional purchase may not be available in some states.

If you are going to be out your home country for less than 30 day each trip, you may want to consider Atlas Professional.  It offers coverage for multiple trips of no longer than 30 days each.  For more information on all of the products we offer please visit www.hccmis.com/health-insurance-plans.

Yes; if not purchased at the time of application, optional dental riders may be purchased when renewing  medical coverage.

We have services available to assist you in replacing your medication; however, any costs associated with the replacement of lost, stolen, damaged, expired, or otherwise compromised drugs will not be covered.

Atlas/CS/CSE: Prescription drugs are covered as an Eligible Expense as long as it they are medically necessary and prescribed in connection with a covered injury or illness.  Other restrictions may apply.  This benefit is offered by reimbursement only; therefore, the member must pay the entire cost of the medication out-of-pocket and then submit a claim to HCCMIS.  HCCMIS will reimburse all eligible expenses at 100% outside of the US/Canada or 80% inside the US/Canada.

StudentSecure^SM: Prescription drugs are covered at 50% of the actual charge. 

No; the deductible is what you pay before the coinsurance is calculated.  Coinsurance is a percentage of the eligible expenses are incurred at a PPO provider and HCCMIS is remitting payment directly to the provider.

No; the Lost Checked Baggage benefit is not subject to the deductible and coinsurance.  In the event that your checked baggage is permanently lost by the transportation provider, HCCMIS will provide the benefit of $250 for replacement of clothes and personal hygiene items, not to exceed $50 for any one item.  A written claim must be filed with the transportation provider, and all resulting documentation must be submitted to HCC Medical Insurance Services.

No; a member cannot increase the overall maximum limit after purchasing their policy.  If an increase in the overall maximum limit is desired, the member must cancel the current policy and purchase a new one.  Cancellation fees may apply.

Atlas: Must be paid in full at the time of purchase.

StudentSecure^SM: Full and monthly payment options are available, but must be made by credit card; bill notice is not to member unless card is declined.

CitizenSecure^SM/CitizenSecure^SM Economy: Checks, money orders and wire transfers are accepted for annual payments only.  Payment by credit card is accepted for annual, semi-annual, quarterly, or monthly payments.  A small fee is assessed when paying in installments.  Installments are automatically charged to the credit card on file on the due dates indicated on the declaration page.  Notices are not sent to member unless the credit card on file is declined.

HCC Life Short Term Medical: When you enroll/purchase online, your initial payment must be made by credit card (Visa, American Express, Discover or MasterCard). If your enrollment/purchase is requested by mail, you may use a personal check (Single Up-front payments only) or a credit card.  A small fee is assessed to each payment transacted. 

No; your co-pay will always be $50 if treatment is received at an urgent care center regardless of the amount of your deductible.

No; the deductible is what is paid by the member before the coinsurance is factored into the cost of the expenses.  Then, once the deductible has been met, the coinsurance percentage is applied to the claim. (Coinsurance is a percentage of the eligible expenses that HCCMIS will pay after the deductible has been paid by the member.  Coinsurance outside of the US/Canada is 100% while within the US/Canada, an 80%* coinsurance percentage would apply.

* This 80% coinsurance percentage would be waived if treatment is sought using one of our PPO's and a direct pay to HCCMIS has been established.   

Pre-certification means the plan administrator must be notified prior to hospitalization (within 48 hours if emergency) as well as prior to certain medical procedures and conditions.

• Member must comply with the instructions of HCCMIS, as well as notify the physician of the Pre-certification outlined in the member's policy.
• If emergency hospitalization is required, the member has 48 hours after the admission or as soon as reasonably possible to notify HCCMIS of the hospitalization.

Inpatient care, durable medical equipment, home nursing care, and surgery are among some of the expenses that must be pre-certified.  For a full list of procedures subject to pre-certification requirements, please refer to the product's description of coverage or contact our World Service Center for additional information.

Physical therapy is covered under our Atlas, CitizenSecure^SM/CitizenSecure^SM Economy and StudentSecure^SM policies at $50 per visit.  Each visit must be prescribed by a medical doctor not affiliated with the initial practice and be medically necessary in conjunction with a covered condition.  Under our StudentSecure^SM policy, the member must not receive treatment at a student health center. 

Charges for physical therapy that is prescribed in advance by a physician in relation to a covered injury or sickness are covered under HCC Life Short Term Medical .

CitizenSecure^SM/CitizenSecure^SM Economy: There is a 15-day grace period for payment of premium. 

GroupSecure^SM: There is a 30-day grace period for payment of each premium except for the initial payment.