Travel Assistance - Services
Subject to the
definitions, general provisions, exclusions and limitations
stated herein Lifeguard Emergency Travel, Inc. will provide
services to each participant while traveling more than one
hundred miles (100) from his or her permanent residence. All
services in connection with this agreement must be
pre-approved and arranged by Lifeguard's Assistance Provider.
|
SECTION I. SERVICES
|
| 1a.
|
Emergency Medical
Evacuation. In the event a Participant suffers
from a Certified Illness or Injury that requires medical
transportation of that sick or injured Participant,
Lifeguard's Assistance Provider will provide medical
transportation from the attending Hospital to the nearest
appropriate Hospital capable of providing such treatment.
Such transportation will be provided upon certification
by Lifeguard's Assistance Provider's Program Medical
Director, liaising with the attending Physician, that the
Participant's severity of Illness or Injury Necessitates
medical transportation to the nearest appropriate
Hospital. |
| 1b.
|
Medically Necessary
Repatriation. In the event Lifeguard's
Assistance Provider's Program Medical Director, liaising
with the attending Physician, determine it is Medically
Necessary to bring the Participant from the attending
Hospital to a Hospital or nursing home nearer his/her
Permanent Residence, subsequent to receiving Emergency
Medical Evacuation Services provided under this
Agreement, Lifeguard's Assistance Provider will provide
flight by common carrier or air ambulance, and ground
ambulance, if necessary, by the most direct and
economical route. All Services in connection with an
Emergency Medical Evacuation or Medically Necessary
Repatriation must be pre-approved and arranged by
Lifeguard's Assistance Provider.
[Eligible Emergency
Medical Evacuation/Medically Necessary Repatriation -
Limit of US$100,000 per Participant per Agreement
Period.] |
| 2.
|
Transportation of Mortal
Remains. In the event of death of a
Participant, caused by a Certified Illness or Injury,
Lifeguard's Assistance Provider will arrange to have the
Participant's remains returned to a location nearest the
Participant's Permanent Residence, including but not
limited to, preparation, transportation and container for
transportation. All Services in connection with a
Return of Mortal Remains must be pre-approved and
arranged by Lifeguard's Assistance Provider.
[Eligible Return of
Mortal Remains - Limit of US$20,000 per Participant per
Agreement Period.] |
| 3.
|
Transportation of Escort
. In the event a Participant requires Emergency
Medical Evacuation by air ambulance or Repatriation by
commercial airline provided in this Agreement, air
transport of the Participant's Spouse or other Family
Member or traveling companion will be provided so that
person may accompany the Participant in flight, subject
to space availability, giving priority to medical
equipment and medical personnel aboard and for the
welfare and safety of the Participant receiving Services
in this Agreement. All Services in connection with
Transportation of Escort must be pre-approved and
arranged by Lifeguard's Assistance Provider.
|
| 4.
|
Family Visitation.
In the event a Participant, who is traveling
alone, is expected to be Hospitalized for more than seven
(7) days, round trip economy transportation on a
regularly scheduled airline or equivalent will be
provided for one Family Member or relative from the
commercial airport nearest the Family Member's Permanent
Residence to the Hospital where the Participant is
confined so that Family Member may attend the Participant
during the Hospitalization. All Services in
connection with Family Visitation must be pre-approved
and arranged by Lifeguard's Assistance Provider.
[Eligible Family
Visitation - Limit of $ 5,000 to include Round Trip
Economy Airfare and Food and Lodging $100 per Day/10 day
maximum per Participant per Agreement Period.]
|
| 5.
|
Minor Child(ren) Return/
Escort. In the event a Participant's Minor
Child(ren) are left unattended as a result of a
Participant's Emergency Medical Evacuation, being
Hospitalized for more than 24 hours due to Illness or
Injury, or in the event of death, one way economy
transportation on a regularly scheduled airline, or the
equivalent, will be provided to return the Minor
Child(ren) to the Participant's Permanent Residence. A
qualified attendant will also be provided by Lifeguard's
Assistance Provider to accompany the Minor Child(ren)
under the age of 16 when necessary. All Services in
connection with Minor Child(ren) Return/Escort must be
pre-approved and arranged by Lifeguard's Assistance
Provider. [Eligible
Return of Minor Child(ren) - Limit of one, One Way
Economy Airfare to a Maximum Limit of $5,000 per
Participant per Agreement Period.] |
| 6.
|
Vehicle Return.
In the event a Participant should suffer from a
Certified Illness, Injury or death which requires
Emergency Medical Evacuation/ Medically Necessary
Repatriation or Transportation of Mortal Remains and the
Participant is thereby unable to drive his/her vehicle,
Lifeguard's Assistance Provider will provide vehicle
return service for ground vehicles such as cars, trucks,
vans, travel trailers or motor homes, operated by the
Participant, to the Participant's Permanent Residence.
This benefit will pay the cost, up to $1,000 for fuel,
oil, driver and tolls to affect such vehicle return. The
Participant will bear the cost of any repair due to
mechanical breakdown en route, as well as, costs for food
and accommodations during the trip. The vehicle must be
in a condition capable of being safely operated on the
highway. All Services in connection with Vehicle
Return must be pre-approved and arranged by Lifeguard's
Assistance Provider.
[Eligible Return of
Vehicle - Limit of $1,000 per Participant per Agreement
Period] |
| 7.
|
24-Hour Information
Service. Should the Participant need
information before and/or during travel he/she may call
Lifeguard's Assistance Provider 24 hours a day to obtain
help. The multilingual staff is prepared to assist and
coordinate the management of a wide variety of travel
related situations. Services include but are not limited
to information on required documents, immunization
requirements; State Department Travel Advisory warnings
on travel to certain locations; weather and hazard
information about foreign locations; suggested medical
exams or treatment before departure and medical care en
route. |
| 8.
|
Medical Monitoring.
Should the Participant need to be medically
monitored, Lifeguard's Assistance Provider's duty
Physician will monitor the case while liaising with the
Participant, the local attending Physician, the family
Physician and the medical director of Lifeguard's
Assistance Provider. |
| 9.
|
Medical Referral.
Should the Participant need help locating a
Physician or Hospital, Lifeguard's Assistance Provider
will provide referrals to a local pre-qualified Physician
and/or Hospital. |
| 10.
|
Guarantee of Medical
Expenses. Should the Participant need help for
overseas medical payments, Lifeguard's Assistance
Provider will arrange for payment or guarantee of payment
to medical providers. |
| 11.
|
Insurance Coordination.
Should the Participant need help for overseas
medical claims, Lifeguard's Assistance Provider will
assist him/her in coordinating the claims procedure with
the Participant's insurance program. |
| 12.
|
Lost Document Service.
Should the Participant need help to replace
lost or stolen travel documents (i.e. passport, baggage,
tickets, credit cards, etc...), Lifeguard's Assistance
Provider will advise and assist where possible regarding
their replacement. |
| 13.
|
Legal Assistance.
Should the Participant need help arranging
local attorneys, embassies and consulates, arranging
bail, or coordination of payment for legal Services,
Lifeguard's Assistance Provider will provide referrals
and payments, from available resources of the
Participant. |
| 14.
|
Emergency Delivery of
Prescription Items. Should the Participant need
prescription medication or lenses not available locally,
Lifeguard's Assistance Provider will organize the
delivery of the prescribed item to the Participant upon
written authorization from the prescribing Physician when
possible and legally permissible. |
| 15.
|
Emergency Cash Transfers
and Advances. Should the Participant need cash
as a result of loss or theft, Lifeguard's Assistance
Provider will arrange for emergency cash transfers and
advances through additional sources, including hotels,
banks, Consulates and Western Union, up to a limit of
$500 per transaction. All transactions are subject to any
government regulation and to the availability of the
Participant's confirmed personal credit. |
| 16.
|
Language Assistance.
Should the Participant need help communicating
in a foreign country, Lifeguard's Assistance Provider
will provide telephone interpretation. |
|
SECTION II. DEFINITIONS
|
|
1. |
Accident or
Accidental
shall mean an event, independent of Illness or
self-inflicted means, which is the direct cause of bodily
Injury to the Participant. |
| 2.
|
Administrator
shall mean Lifeguard Emergency Travel, Inc. |
| 3.
|
AIDS shall
mean Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, as that term is
defined by the United States Centers for Disease Control.
|
| 4.
|
Lifeguard's Assistance
Provider shall mean the contracted service
organization that provides 24-hour availability to
Services in this Agreement for Lifeguard Emergency
Travel, Inc. |
| 5.
|
Services shall
mean Services and expenses provided on behalf of the
Participant which are for Medically Necessary Services,
supplies, care or treatment; due to Illness or Injury;
prescribed, performed or ordered by a Physician; incurred
while provided under this Agreement; and which do not
exceed the maximum limits shown. |
| 6.
|
Agreement
shall mean the description of Services provided herein.
|
| 7.
|
Complications of
Pregnancy shall mean any or all of the following
conditions which are made worse by, occur during, or are
caused by pregnancy; acute nephritis, nephritis, cardiac
decompensation, missed abortion, hyperemensis gravidarum,
ectopic pregnancy that is ended, non-elective cesarean
section, pre eclampsia, gestational diabetes, spontaneous
end of pregnancy which occurs when a viable birth is not
possible, and other medical problems of similar severity.
|
| 8.
|
Certified Illness
shall mean sickness or disease of any kind
contracted and commencing after the Effective Date of
this Agreement and causing loss provided by this
Agreement. |
| 9.
|
Dependent
shall mean the spouse who is legally married to the
Primary Participant; the Primary Participant's unmarried
Child(ren) from birth until his/her 18th birthday; or the
Primary Participant's unmarried Child(ren) who is over 18
years old but not older than 25 years old and is enrolled
as a full-time student at an accredited school or college
and/or is not employed on a full-time basis. |
| 10.
|
Effective Date
shall mean the date the Primary Participant became the
recipient of Services, which made him/her eligible for
the Services provided in this Agreement. |
| 11.
|
Emergency
shall mean a medical condition manifesting itself by
acute signs or symptoms, which could reasonably result in
placing the Participant's life or limb in danger if
medical attention is not provided within 24 hours.
|
| 12.
|
Family Member
shall mean a spouse, parent, sibling or Child(ren) of
the Participant. |
| 13.
|
HIV Positive
shall mean laboratory evidence defined by the United
States Center for Disease Control as being positive for
human immunodeficiency virus infection. |
| 14.
|
Home Country
shall mean the country where the Participant has his or
her true, fixed and Permanent Residence and principal
establishment. |
| 15.
|
Hospital shall
mean except as may otherwise be provided, a Hospital
(other than an institution for the aged, chronically ill
or convalescent, resting or nursing homes) operated
pursuant to law for the care and treatment of sick or
Injured persons with organized facilities for diagnosis
and surgery and having 24-hour nursing service and
medical supervision. |
| 16.
|
Host Country
shall mean any country other than the country where a
Participant has his or her true, fixed and Permanent
Residence and principal establishment. |
| 17.
|
Injury shall
mean bodily Injury caused solely and directly by violent,
Accidental, external and visible means occurring while
this Agreement is in force and resulting directly and
independently of all other causes in Loss provided by
this Agreement. |
| 18.
|
Lifeguard shall
mean Lifeguard Emergency Travel, Inc. |
| 19.
|
Medically Necessary
or Medical
Necessity shall mean Services or supplies
received while the Participant is eligible that are
determined by Lifeguard's Assistance Provider and
Lifeguard's Assistance Provider's program medical
director to be 1.) appropriate and necessary for the
symptoms, diagnosis, or direct care and treatment of the
Participant's medical conditions, 2.) within the
standards the organized medical community deems good
medical practice for the Participant's condition; 3.) not
primarily for the convenience of the Participant, the
Participant's Physician or another Service Provider or
person; 4.) not Experimental/Investigational or unproven,
as recognized by the organized medical community, or
which are used for any type of research program or
protocol; and 5.) not excessive in scope, duration, or
intensity to provide safe and adequate, and appropriate
treatment. For Hospital stays, this means that acute care
as an Inpatient is necessary due to the kinds of Services
the Participant is receiving or the severity of the
Participant's condition, in that safe and adequate care
cannot be received as an Outpatient or in a less
intensified medical setting. The fact that any particular
Physician may prescribe, order, recommend, or approve a
service, supply, or level of care does not, of itself,
make such treatment Medically Necessary or make the
charge of a Benefit or Service provided under this
Agreement. |
| 20.
|
Medicine or
Medication
shall mean the drugs prescribed or dispensed to the
Participant, by a licensed Physician, as a result of a
Benefits and Services provided under this Agreement.
Medicine or Medication shall mean the generic equivalent
of a drug, or if the generic equivalent is not available,
the brand name drug. |
| 21.
|
Mental Illness
shall mean any condition or disease listed in the most
recent edition of the International Classification of
Diseases as a mental disorder, which clinically
significant behavioral or psychological disorder marked
by a pronounced deviation from a normal healthy state and
associated with a present painful symptom or impairment
in one or more important areas of functioning. This
disease must not be merely an expectable response to a
particular stimulus. Mental Illness does not mean
learning disabilities, attitudinal disorders or
disciplinary problems. |
| 22.
|
Minor Child(ren)
shall mean the Primary Participant's step-Child(ren)
or Child(ren) under the Primary Participant's legal
guardianship, but only if such Child(ren) depends on the
Primary Participant's support and maintenance and lives
with the Primary Participant in a parent-Child(ren)
relationship. The term Minor Child(ren) does not include
a foster Child(ren) who is eligible for benefits provided
by a governmental program or law, unless required by the
law of the State. The age limits that apply to Dependent
Child(ren) will not apply to any Participating Child(ren)
of the Primary Participant who remains dependent on the
Primary Participant for support and maintenance because
he or she becomes incapable of working due to a physical
handicap or retardation which occurs: before reaching the
age limit and while being a Participant under this
Agreement or any prior plan, provided such Child(ren) was
Participating on the date of termination of the prior
plan. |
| 23.
|
Participant
shall mean a person who is eligible for Services
provided in this Agreement. |
| 24.
|
Permanent Residence
shall mean the country where a Participant has his or her
true, fixed and permanent home and principal
establishment, and to which he or she has the intention
of returning. |
| 25.
|
Physician
shall mean a licensed practitioner of the healing arts
acting within the scope of his or her license. The
attending Physician may not be (a) the Participant; (b)
the Participant's Spouse; (c) a person booked to
accompany the Participant on the trip; or (d) a person
who is related to the Participant, or a person booked to
accompany the Participant on the trip in any of the
following ways: child, parent, or sibling. Such
definition will exclude chiropractors and
physiotherapists. |
| 26.
|
Preexisting Condition
shall mean:
| a)
|
a condition that
would have caused an ordinarily prudent person to
seek medical advise, diagnosis, care or treatment
during the 90 days prior to the Effective Date of
this Agreement, |
| b)
|
a condition for
which medical advise, diagnosis, care or treatment
was recommended or received during the 90 days prior
to the Effective Date of this Agreement; |
| c)
|
Conditions or
complications of pregnancy in the third trimester.
|
|
| 27.
|
Pregnancy shall mean
the physical condition of being pregnant, including
Complications of Pregnancy. |
| 28.
|
Primary Participant
shall mean the person who is the recipient of
benefits which made him/her eligible for the Services
provided in this Agreement, and whom may have Dependents
who are Participants. |
| 29.
|
Registered Nurse
shall mean a graduate nurse who has been
registered or licensed to practice by a State Board of
Nurse Examiners or other jurisdictional authority, and
who is legally entitled to place the letters "R.N." after
his or her name. |
| 30.
|
Relative shall
mean spouse, parent, sibling, Child(ren), grandparent,
grandchild, step-parent, step-child, step-sibling,
in-laws (parent, son, daughter, brother, or sister),
aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, legal guardian, ward, or
cousin of the Participant. |
| 31.
|
Repatriation
shall mean the transportation of the Participant to
his/her Home Country |
| 32.
|
Service Provider
shall mean a Hospital, convalescent/skilled
nursing facility, ambulatory surgical center, psychiatric
Hospital, community mental health center, residential
treatment facility, psychiatric treatment facility,
alcohol or drug dependency treatment center, birthing
center, Physician, dentist, chiropractor, licensed
medical practitioner, nurse, medical laboratory,
assistance service company, air/ground ambulance firm, or
any other such facility that Lifeguard's Assistance
Provider approves. |
| 33.
|
Substance Abuse
shall mean alcohol, drug, or chemical abuse, overuse or
dependency. |
|
SECTION III. GENERAL
PROVISIONS |
| 1.
|
Access of Services.
All arrangements for transportation or Services
under this Agreement must be made by Lifeguard's
Assistance Provider. The Participant agrees to notify
Lifeguard's Assistance Provider promptly of the need for
Emergency Medical Evacuation specifying the nature of the
Injury or Illness requiring air transportation.
Lifeguard's Assistance Provider will require a reasonable
period of time to confirm Participant's benefits and to
initiate the Participant's Medically Necessary
transportation. The Participant must recognize that
diligence is necessary to properly accommodate a medical
emergency; therefore, Lifeguard's Assistance Provider
requires notice at the earliest possible moment to secure
Lifeguard's Assistance Provider's Program Medical
Director's consent and to allow proper time to prepare
the Participant's transportation. |
| 2.
|
Authorization.
The Participant does hereby authorize any Physician,
Hospital, medical attendant or others to furnish to
Lifeguard's Assistance Provider any and all information
regarding the Participant's physical condition including
x-rays acquired in the course of examinations and
treatment. The Participant hereby further agrees to
authorize Lifeguard's Assistance Provider's medical team
or Lifeguard's Assistance Provider's Agreementor's
medical team authority to perform those procedures deemed
necessary. |
| 3.
|
Assignment.
The Services provided in this Agreement cannot be
assigned by the Participant |
| 4.
|
Death, Disability and
Injury. Lifeguard's Assistance Provider and/or
Administrator shall not be liable to any person for the
death, disability or Injury of the Participant, the
Patient, or any other person accompanying the patient
unless such Injury is caused by the sole negligence of
Lifeguard's Assistance Provider and/or the Administrator,
its agents, servants and employees. It is understood and
agreed that Lifeguard's Assistance Provider and/or the
Administrator may enter into Agreements with regional air
ambulance carriers and that Lifeguard's Assistance
Provider and/or the Administrator shall not be liable
under any circumstances in the event of any Injury or
death to the Participant which might occur during the
course of transport by such Agreement carrier.
|
| 5.
|
Eligibility.
Guarantee issue to all eligible Primary Participants and
dependents over the age of 14 days and under the age of
80 years old and as described in the Participant's
membership plan. |
| 6.
|
Entire Agreement.
All provisions of this Agreement, Participant's
identification card, or other Agreements to provide
Services, constitute the entire Agreement between the
Administrator and the Participant. If any provision is
declared void under the law, that provisions severable
and the remainder of this Agreement shall remain in full
force and effect. |
| 7.
|
Excess Benefits
All Services shall be in excess of all other valid and
collectible Insurance Indemnity and shall apply only when
such benefits are exhausted. Other valid and collectible
Insurance Indemnity for which benefits may be payable are
Insurance programs provided by:
|
a. |
Individual, group or blanket Insurance or coverage;
|
|
b. |
Other
prepayment coverage provided on a group or individual
basis; |
|
c. |
any
coverage under labor management trusteed plans, union
welfare plans, employer organizational plans,
employee benefit organization plans, or other
arrangement of benefits for individuals of a group;
|
|
d. |
Any
coverage required or provided by any statute,
socialized Insurance program; |
|
e. |
Any
no-fault automobile Insurance; or |
|
f. |
Any
third party liability Insurance. |
|
| 8.
|
Impossibility of
Performance. Lifeguard's Assistance Provider
and/or the Administrator shall not be liable for failure
to perform under this Agreement if such failure is caused
by rebellion riot, military uprising, war, terrorism,
labor disturbance, strikes, nuclear accidents, acts of
God, fire, flood, war or any other cause beyond the
control of Lifeguard's Assistance Provider and/or the
Administrator. Nothing herein contained shall require
Lifeguard's Assistance Provider and/or the Administrator
to take any action contrary to law or to any order or
regulation of any governmental agency or officer or
contrary to any authorization granted to Lifeguard's
Assistance Provider and/or the Administrator by any
governmental agency. |
| 9.
|
Liability.
Lifeguard's Assistance Provider and/or the Administrator
shall use all reasonable diligence in selecting persons,
companies and equipment to provide the described
Services. If companies outside of those contracted
through Lifeguard are used to provide any Services,
Lifeguard and Lifeguard's Assistance Provider and/or the
Administrator shall not be liable for any negligence or
tortuous acts resulting from such Services. Lifeguard's
Assistance Provider and/or the Administrator are not
liable for departures or arrivals delayed in transport
when deemed unsafe by airport authorities or by pilot due
to operational conditions, Acts of God, or mechanical
failure. |
| 10.
|
Monetary Limits
The monetary limits stated in this Agreement shall be in
US dollars. For Services outside of the territorial
limits of the United States, the exchange rate date used
to determine the amount of US dollars to be paid is the
date the Services in this Agreement were provided to the
eligible Participant. |
| 11.
|
Not in Lieu of Worker's
Compensation This Agreement is not in lieu of
and does not affect any requirements for coverage by
Worker's Compensation Insurance. |
| 12.
|
Service Agreement.
The Participant shall not make Agreement,
authorize or engage any service or expense in the name of
or on behalf of Lifeguard's Assistance Provider and/or
the Administrator. The obligations of Lifeguard's
Assistance Provider and/or the Administrator in this
Agreement are limited to providing the various Services
described herein. Lifeguard's Assistance Provider and/or
Administrator are under no obligation to reimburse the
Participant should the Participant independently
authorize, Agreement, or make payment for any service.
|
| 13.
|
Trip Duration.
The benefits provided by this Agreement cover trips up
to ninety (90) consecutive days or less. |
SECTION IV. EXCLUSIONS
Benefits will not be provided for any loss, cost or
expense resulting, in whole or in part from:
|
| 1. |
Any Injury or
Illness, which meets the following criteria:
| a) |
a condition that
would have caused an ordinarily prudent person to
seek medical advice, diagnosis, care or treatment
during the 90 days prior to the Effective Date this
Agreement; |
| b) |
a condition for
which medical advice, diagnosis, care or treatment
as recommended or received during the 90 days prior
to the Effective Date this Agreement; |
| c) |
conditions or
complications of pregnancy in the third trimester;
|
|
| 2. |
Charges for
treatment, which is not Medically Necessary or exceeds
Reasonable and Customary charges. |
| 3. |
Charges provided at
no cost to the Participant; |
| 4. |
Charges incurred
during any period of Hospital confinement; |
| 5. |
Services, supplies or
treatment, which were not recommended, approved and
certified as Medically Necessary and reasonable by a
Physician; |
| 6. |
Suicide or any
attempt there at, while sane or self destruction or any
attempt there at, while insane; |
| 7. |
War, declared or
undeclared, or any act thereof; |
| 8. |
Injury Sustained
while participating in professional, amateur or
interscholastic athletics; |
| 9. |
Services or supplies
performed or provided by a Relative of the Participant;
|
| 10. |
Elective Surgery
which can be postponed until the Participant returns to
his/her Home Country; |
| 11. |
Treatment in
connection with alcoholism and drug addiction, or use
of any drug or narcotic agent, or Injury sustained
while under the influence of or disablement due to
alcohol or drugs; |
| 12. |
Congenital anomalies
and conditions arising out of or resulting there from;
|
| 13. |
Expenses which are
non-medical in nature; |
| 14. |
Expenses as a result
or in connection with intentionally self-inflicted
Injury or Illness; |
| 15. |
Expenses as a result
or in connection with the commission of a felony
offense; |
| 16. |
Injury sustained
while taking part in mountaineering where ropes or
guides are normally used, hang gliding and parachuting,
racing by horse, motor or motorcycle, and scuba diving
involving underwater breathing apparatus (unless PADI
certified); |
| 17. |
Treatment paid for or furnished under any other
individual or group policy or other service or medical
pre-payment plan arranged through the Participant's
employer to the extent so furnished or paid, or under
any mandatory government program or facility set up for
treatment without cost to any individual; |
| 18. |
Injuries for which
benefits are payable under any no-fault automobile
Insurance Agreement; |
| 19. |
Charges for treatment
which is incurred by Participants who were HIV Positive
or afflicted with Venereal disease at the time of
application for this Agreement and Testing for the
following: HIV, seropositivity to the AIDS virus, AIDS
related Illnesses, ARC Syndrome, AIDS. AIDS virus, AIDS
related Illness, ARC Syndrome, AIDS, and/or any Illness
arising as complications from these conditions;
|
| 20. |
Any Mental or nervous
disorders or rest cures. |
|