Health Insurance Articles
Health Insurance Coverage For United States Citizens Living In Guam
2010-02-19
Guam is an island territory of the United States, located in the Pacific. In addition to the Guamanian-born population, there are a number of natural-born Americans citizens living on the island, both active military and civilians. At some point, most Americans living in Guam will need some form of health care, either preventative, emergency or long-term care. To address these needs, there is a military hospital and a civilian hospital (Guam Memorial Hospital, in Tamuning) for the rest of the population. Since the U.S. military covers health care costs for active duty military and their families, what types of health insurance coverage are available to American civilians living and receiving treatment in Guam?
Many insurance carriers in the continental United States provide coverage for American citizens who have moved to, and receive health care in, Guam. People who pay for private insurance policies who are considering this move should contact their carrier directly to find out the issues that may result from using their policy at treatment centers like Guam Memorial or private physician offices. Alternately, residents of the island may elect to buy a private health insurance policy from any of the local insurance companies located on the island. No matter what option is exercised, it is advisable that policy holders know whether they need to have their care preauthorized, if coverage on Guam is considered in-network or out of network, or if their claims should be submitted by the hospital or the individual. This information can help a policy holder make the proper financial decisions prior to moving.
People who move to Guam as the result of an employment transfer should contact their Human Resources Department regarding the status of their health insurance. Employers who transfer personnel to U.S. territories or to international job sites usually have a health care plan in place for their employees and their families. However, it would be prudent to initiate a conversation about coverage for the employee and, if applicable, the employee's spouse and dependants. The same concerns regarding claim submission, network coverage, and preauthorization should be asked of both a Human Resources and an insurance company representative.
Knowledge is power, and it is always best to be armed with information about your insurance policies, particularly with regard to treatment while traveling. This will put a person's mind at ease while behaving in a financially responsible fashion. Regardless of the reason, anyone considering a move to Guam, whether as private policy owners or part of a group, should contact their insurance company to double-check their level of coverage in this U.S. territory.
