Frequently Asked Questions

How much will it cost?
This will depend on your age, plan type, selected excess and area of cover needed. To review the options go to our on-line quotation section.

Is there an age limit?
The maximum age at first joining the Global Health Plans is 69. Once joined you may continue to renew your cover throughout your lifetime.

Can you refuse to renew my cover because I have made a claim?
No, we will never refuse cover because you have made a claim.

Do you limit the amount I can claim for hospital accommodation charges and surgery?
No, provided the charges are reasonable and customary, Global Health gives a full refund of all private hospital charges including hospital accommodation, surgeons' and anaesthetists' fees and all treatment costs incurred whilst hospitalised.

Do you cover out-patient treatment and consultations?
There is an excess of £25, or $40 or €37.50 on each complete out-patient claim.

What is the excess?
The excess is the amount of each claim you have to pay yourself. The excess is applied per claim (i.e. per condition) per period of cover. The standard excess of £25 or $40 or €37.50 relates to out-patient treatment only (and dental treatment on Premier Plus). You can reduce your premiums by increasing your excess, there a number of options available please click here for details. If you choose an increased excess, your chosen excess will be applied to the whole claim. (i.e.not just the out-patient expenses). When you renew your policy the excess will be applied again.

Will my insurance be effective world-wide?
Yes, all our plans offer world-wide cover:

Area one will restrict your cover in the USA and Canada to 45 days for accident and emergency treatment only. This means essential treatment required if you have an accident or a sudden illness whilst on a temporary trip to the USA or Canada. In these circumstances, cover is only provided if, in our opinion, the treatment was essential and could not have reasonably been delayed until your return to your country of residence.

Area two cover allows you to travel to the USA and Canada for treatment but restricts the time you can spend there to 30 days during any one annual period of cover.

If you intend to spend more than 30 days in North America during any year, you must choose Area three, the "World-wide" cover option.

I am an American/Canadian. Can I take the "World-wide" cover option?
Provided you do not actually live in the USA/Canada you can take the world-wide cover option. However, if you spend more than 90 days in the USA/Canada during any period of cover, your US/Canadian cover will automatically cease with effect from day 91. In other words your cover in the USA/Canada will be restricted to 90 days during any period of cover.

What happens if I have a sudden illness or an accident in a location where the medical facilities are limited?
Emergency medical evacuations are covered by all our plans. If you have a life-threatening medical condition which cannot be treated locally and which requires immediate hospitalisation, our Assistance Service will arrange to have you evacuated to the nearest country where the treatment you require is available. The plan will also pay for another insured person to accompany you. Once your treatment is complete, the plan will pay for your return flights to your country of residence.

Who provides the assistance service?
This service is provided by International SOS the world's largest independent medical assistance company.

As a Global Health client you will be issued with an insurance membership card which gives you the International SOS medical help-line telephone number. You can call this number if you require medical assistance or if you need to be admitted to hospital. International SOS are multi-lingual medical professionals on call 24-hours a day.

Is pregnancy covered?
Yes, the Premier Plus Plan includes routine maternity care after 12 months continuous cover. After 12 months, all plans provide cover for in-patient treatment required as a result of complications of pregnancy.

Is dental treatment covered?
Yes, the Premier Plus Plan covers routine dental treatment when you have been insured for more than six months. Emergency dental treatment following an accident is covered by all the plans.

Do you cover routine, preventive health checks?
Yes. After you have been covered by the Premier Care or Premier Plus plans for a minimum period of 12 months you can claim for the cost of a general medical examination and women can claim for an annual cervical smear test and mammogram, and men for an annual prostate cancer test. Cover is limited to £150/$240/€225 under the Premier Care plan and to £250/$400/€375 under the Premier Plus plan, after your excess has been applied.There is no cover for preventive health checks under our Select Care plan.

Are sporting activities covered?
Yes, provided you are not a professional sportsman there are no exclusions relating to sporting activities under the Global Health Plan. However, hazardous sports and activities are not covered by the Travel Plan or the Personal Accident Plan unless you have declared that you participate in a particular activity and we have agreed in writing to cover you for that activity.

Can I choose where I have my medical treatment?
Yes, you are free to choose which doctor or hospital you use.

How do you settle claims?
Our preferred method of payment is by bank transfer direct to your bank account, or direct to the hospital's account. Alternatively we can use a draft, or, if settlement is to be made to a UK account in sterling, a cheque.

How quickly will you settle my claims?
We aim to settle your claims within a maximum of ten working days from receipt of the fully completed claim form and the original bills. Claims can be settled in any currency and hospital bills can be settled direct so you will not be out of pocket.

How does the no claims incentive work?
If you do not make a claim you will remain in the same premium age band you were in when you first joined or, if you joined the plan prior to 1st January 1999, the premium age band you were in at the time of your renewal in 1999. As soon as you submit a claim, your entitlement to the no claims incentive will cease from the renewal date following the date on which you first suffered symptoms giving rise to the claim.

What isn't covered by the Global Health plan?
We do not pay for the treatment of psychiatric illness, drug and alcohol addiction/dependancy, or HIV/AIDS. Please refer to the Global Health plan agreement for a complete list of excluded treatments.

Do you cover pre-existing medical conditions?
It is important to note that we do not pay for the treatment of Pre-existing conditions. The definition of a pre-existing condition is a medical condition that has required medical treatment (including prescribed drugs), or for which medical advice has been sought (including check-ups) or for which symptoms have occurred (whether investigated or not but where the insured person would reasonably have been aware of such symptoms) prior to joining the Global Health plan.

How do I apply for cover?
Simply click on the Apply Now button at the top of this page and run off an application form. Complete and sign it and fax it through to William Russell Limited on 01483 799855 (if you are within the UK) or + 44 1483 799855 from outside the UK.

As soon as we accept your application we will issue you with an invoice which will detail the cover you have requested. Upon payment of the invoice, your cover can start. If you supply us with your credit card details on the application form, we can start your cover once we have authorisation from your credit card company.

How can I pay my premiums?
You may pay annually, semi-annually, quarterly or monthly by credit card. We accept VISA, Mastercard, American Express, Switch, Visa Delta and Solo. You may pay annually by cheque, bankers draft, credit card or bank transfer. Our bank details are as follows:

Sterling Transfers
National Westminster Bank plc.,
P O Box 358,
1, High Street,
Woking, Surrey GU21 1BE
Sort Code: 60-24-20
Account Name: William Russell Limited IBA
Account No: 16213378
Swift Code: NWBKGB2L

US Dollar Transfers
National Westminster Bank plc.,
P O Box 358,
1, High Street,
Woking, Surrey GU21 1BE
Account Name: William Russell Limited IBA
Account No: 140/08782555
Swift Code: NWBKGB2L

Euro Transfers
National Westminster Bank plc.,
P O Box 358,
1, High Street,
Woking, Surrey GU21 1BE
Sort Code: 60-24-20
Account Name: William Russell Limited IBA
Account No: 550/00/11500085
Swift Code: NWBKGB2L

What documentation will you send me?
Once your cover is in force, you will receive immediate confirmation from us of your policy number and the 24-hour emergency assistance number. Your insurance documents, including a certificate of insurance, a detailed guide to your plan with instructions on how to claim and how to use the assistance service, will be sent to you within seven days.

Do you have a money back guarantee?
Yes. If you are not entirely satisfied with your insurance documents, you can cancel your cover within the first 30 days and provided you have not made a claim, we will cancel your cover from inception and make a full refund of the premium you have paid.

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