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In Conversation With Chiranth Nataraj

Nirmala Garimella
06/22/2011

Chiranth Nataraj is the President & CEO of International Services, Inc. an insurance agency based in Virginia, USA. The company focuses in providing its clients the best value protection in      several niche market segments like  (http://www.ivisitorinsurance.com), and immigrant health insurance (http://www.nriol.net/immigrant-health-insurance).   

      Chiranth has been in pursuit of developing and implementing decision making technologies and processes both in his corporate and entrepreneurial careers. Some of these pursuits can be accessed      on the company's websites. These sites are good examples of the use of IT to compare and identify the best value (both in terms of benefits and premium costs) product in complex insurance  markets. 

      Prior to launching his entrepreneurial efforts in specialty insurance Chiranth was the eBusiness Director at Southern Graphic Systems, a business unit of Alcoa, Inc.   

      Chiranth holds Masters Degrees from University of Virginia (Information Systems) and Clemson University (Graphic Communications); and an undergraduate Degree from Bangalore University  (Mechanical Engineering).   

Why is it essential to take insurance in the US and not in India? 
It is indeed possible for US visitors to purchase insurance from Indian Insurance companies or US Insurance companies. Some of the big reasons to purchase a US administered insurance plan      include - access to US court of law for disputes, claims settlement/communication/customer-service provided in the US, and direct cash-less claims settlement feature of the US PPO network      plans.   
   
Who are the underwriters for your company?   
Visitor Insurance Plans are underwritten by various companies - Nationwide, Chartis, Lloyds, Sirius, AIG. Some underwriters provide a wide choice, offering several products/plans for visitors to USA.           Also, we have Aetna, Anthem-Blue Cross, UnitedHealthOne, Assurant etc for US Residents seeking full-time health coverage in the US.   

Some tips for travelers coming here?   
It is commonly believed that non-US plans are cheaper than the US plans - this is a myth. When premiums of similarly structured US vs. non-US plans are compared there is usually no significant      difference; so do your home-work; focus on the price/benefits ratio.   
      There are two types of plans in the market - a limited benefits type (cheaper plan) and a comprehensive coverage (more expensive) plan. You can compare these differences easily on the internet.      Pick a plan that fits your risk profile.   
      The cost of insurance is insignificant to the cost of getting medical help in the US. So, include insurance costs during your travel budget planning.   
        
Any past experience that you can share about your clients?   
In a pool of 100 visitors there is always some who are unfortunate and seek medical help during their US visit. So, it is very hard to predict the size of the medical bill or who is going to be      sick and injured. It is prudent not leave healthcare of visiting parents to chance; help them travel protected.     
       We have seen a wide range of claim settlements - ranging from over $125,000 to a couple of hundred of dollars. As long as the medical bills are not due to pre-existing conditions of visitors we      have seen claims being settled expediently here in the US.   



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