If you have a medical emergency, always call 911.

If you have a medical problem that is not an emergency:

• Call the 1-800 number on the back of your health insurance card.
• Inform the insurance company what problem(s) you are having.
• The insurance company will let you know if you are insured for the medical problem(s).
• Once the health insurance company confirms that you are covered for the medical problem, then you may choose your provider (doctor/hospital). Please see the instructions below on how to find a provider.
• Once at the doctor or hospital: You will share your health insurance plan information and you will be required to make a co-payment of either $50 or $250 for a hospital.
• If the doctor has any questions about your health insurance plan, they should call the number on the back of your health insurance card. 

If you need to purchase medications:

• If the doctor prescribes a medication: You will have to pay the pharmacy first for the medication, and then you must mail a claim form with your receipt to the insurance company. (The insurance company will mail you a reimbursement check for the medication.)

***You can access the claim form from the insurance company’s website, VIU’s website, or you may ask Ms. Shaneta Lee for a claim form ***

If you need surgery or need to have a medical procedure:

• Call the insurance to inform them of the surgery or medical procedure your doctor would like to perform.
• The insurance will inform you if the surgery or medical procedure will be covered under the plan.
• If the insurance informs you that they will not cover the surgery or medical procedure, then you will have to pay for the surgery or medical procedure out of your pocket.

How to find a Provider (Doctor/Hospital):

When you are covered under the International Student Health Insurance plan through VIU, please follow these steps to finding a provider for your healthcare.

It is important that you always call the medical service center for pre-certification when you visit a doctor or a hospital. To make sure that your medical bill will be settled directly with the physician so that you don’t have to pay on-site, please visit a provider who is part of the First Health Network.

Finding a provider in the US & Canada:
Your insurance plan is contracted to the independent U.S. Preferred Provider Organization (PPO). This PPO network is organized and administered by The First Health Network and includes hundreds of thousands of established, highly qualified health care physicians and many well-recognized hospitals in the U.S. 

To search for a medical care provider within the independent Preferred Provider Organization network, please contact the Service Center toll-free at: 1.800.628.4664  

Or use the Online PPO directory at: www.imglobal.com to access a list of providers and facilities within the PPO network.

The Online PPO directory is updated on a routine basis; however, changes may be made between updates. To ensure that the physician you have selected is in the network, please contact the physician's office to confirm his/her participation.

Finding a provider outside the US & Canada:
If you are seeking treatment outside the U.S., you have access to the International Provider AccessSM (IPA) (www.imglobal.com), a database that includes more than 16,000 highly qualified physicians and facilities that encompass a comprehensive array of specialties to handle any health care emergency.

In case you need help or cannot find a physician next to your location, please contact the Service Center at: +44 (0) 1444 465555 or + 1.317. 655.4500 (Worldwide Collect)