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Moving Forward
 Hello again! I’m excited to share our latest edition of The Global Advisor with you. It is hard to believe we’re already well into the second half of 2021. While the pandemic is not behind us entirely, it has been encouraging to witness the optimism and resiliency I've seen from our valued brokers, partners, and clients as well as my GeoBlue® colleagues this past year.
The last several months have brought about some positive changes. With an increasing number of the population vaccinated against COVID-19, global travel has opened for people eager to move beyond their borders. I don’t know if you’ve traveled in recent months, but I was grateful to be able to do it again. Now is a particularly good time for students to understand all they need to know before they travel abroad. Download this customizable guide you can provide to students that helps them prepare to travel internationally.
Please enjoy this edition of The Global Advisor, and as always, I value your feedback. For more information about how GeoBlue can support you, don’t hesitate to contact your GeoBlue Sales representative or Account Manager.
Warm regards,
 Ready for Takeoff?
Restrictions on travel have eased and more people, worldwide, are on the move. Globally mobile students should be prepared for what’s in front of them. It is important to note that the global pandemic has changed the travel landscape significantly. For more information and guidance visit our COVID-19 FAQ page.
Worst-Case Scenarios, Best-Case Solutions: Coordinating Successful Medical Evacuations With Care
Join us for a webinar hosted in conjunction with our corporate group segment on September 22, 2021 at 2:00pm ET.
Covering the risk for global travel, whether for work, study or leisure, must include the possibility for a medically necessary evacuation. While evacuations don’t occur often, when they do, they can be costly and traumatic. You’re invited to join our next webinar for an inside look into medical evacuations. From the decision-making process to communication needs and logistics, you’ll learn how we manage the complexities of medical evacuations with care, and what you can do to prepare for and support those experiencing a medical evacuation.
Recap: The Global Advisor Live Webinar
Understanding Your Options: International Student Health Plans and the ACA
 GeoBlue's Will Sanchez, John Shanley and Alison Abbott recently convened for a panel discussion to review the basics of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and its relevance to international student plans.
ACA-compliant plans are not always a fit for international students. In most cases, international (inbound) students are exempt from provisions that are outlined in the Affordable Care Act (ACA), including the tax penalties for individuals who don’t maintain a healthcare plan, commonly referred to as the “individual mandate.”
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Featured at NAFSA
Hindsight is 2020: Lessons Learned From a Global Pandemic
 Hear GeoBlue speakers Dr. Damian Cornacchia and Elliott Gougeon, PhD, discuss the pandemic's impact on vulnerable student populations and offer perspectives on how institutions can more nimbly support the needs of their students amidst a crisis.
Watch the presentation
Presentation highlights:
- How virtual health services, such as GeoBlue's Global TeleMD™, can serve as valuable resources when physical access to care can be a challenge for students
- Case studies on recent medical evacuations for students dealing with a mental health crisis
- How institutions can plan for contingencies not previously considered prior to the pandemic
Contact your GeoBlue representative for more information about our solutions, including Global TeleMD, and our global assistance program, Global Wellness Assist. Both are available to students 24/7/365.
Study Abroad: Important Information About Differing Interpretations of Health Insurance Requirements
When it comes to visa health insurance requirements, it’s important to remember that consulate and embassy staff may differ on their interpretation of local regulations. For example, the Spanish consulate in Chicago has denied visas to students planning to study abroad in Spain on trips over 90 days who have health insurance plans that do not provide unlimited medical coverage. Other Spanish consulates, as well as the Spanish embassy in Washington, D.C., interpret the regulations differently, and only require the plan to have 100% coverage, meaning no member cost share.
Tips to ensure Spanish visa approval in Chicago
If your students will be applying for a Spanish visa at the Chicago Consulate, here are two options to consider:
- Contact the sponsoring Spanish university for a compliant plan that will meet the consulate’s requirement.
- Have the student contact their primary insurance and request a visa letter showing an unlimited medical maximum. GeoBlue also has a specialized Spanish visa letter that can be requested from your account manager if needed. The student can then provide both letters to the Chicago consulate.
If you have any additional questions, please contact your GeoBlue account manager.
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Catch the Headlines: Be among the first to hear about news and issues impacting the globally mobile
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Grab a Seat: Register for upcoming events and webinars featuring relevant topics and industry experts
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Get to Know Us: Catch snippets of who we are and how we’re simplifying the international healthcare experience
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Telemedicine services are provided by Teladoc Health, directly to members. GeoBlue assumes no liability and accepts no responsibility for information provided by Teladoc Health and the performance of the services by Teladoc Health. Support and information provided through this service does not confirm that any related treatment or additional support is covered under a member’s health plan. This service is not intended to be used for emergency or urgent treatment medical questions.
GeoBlue is the trade name of Worldwide Insurance Services, LLC (Worldwide Services Insurance Agency, LLC in California and New York), an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. GeoBlue is the administrator of coverage provided under insurance policies issued in the District of Columbia by 4 Ever Life International Limited, Bermuda, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.
SCHL2107-BRK-9/21
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