Short Term Crew
Insurance FAQ for Short Term Crew
When does coverage begin and end?
Coverage begins when the member starts traveling by air to the Ship and ends once they arrive home.
If a crew member takes a side trip on the way to or from the ship, are they covered?
No, a side trip would not be covered by this policy. It would start when the crewmember traveled from this secondary destination to the ship or from the ship to this secondary destination.
Does this policy cover crew when they go on vacation?
The policy will cover crew members when they go on vacation as long as they are still with Mercy Ships.
Does the standard policy cover pre-existing conditions?
The Mercy Ships policy will cover new incidences of a pre-existing condition. It will not provide cover for ongoing medical treatment for a condition that you may be currently seeking treatment for.
What determines if a crew member needs to be evacuated and where they will be evacuated to?
In the case of evacuations, the evacuation will be done for emergency situations where appropriate medical care can not be found at the member’s location. This will be done in consultation with medical services on the ground/ship and with the emergency evacuation providers. The definition of an emergency does require that the treatment is necessary on an in-patient basis.
If it was determined that sufficient medical coverage can be received in country (verses being evacuated), who would cover those costs? For example, if a crew member had a compound fracture in Benin and it was determined that the hospital in Benin could provide sufficient coverage, would the insurance cover these expenses?
Regarding the medical benefits, these are only available in the event of an evacuation. If the crew member was not required to be evacuated, then the costs would not be covered.
How much medical/health coverage is included?
In the event that the crewmember needs to be evacuated from the ship, US$250,000 is the standard coverage. This is further limited to US$150,000 for emergency cover in the event of an evacuation or repatriation to the member's home country.
Does a crew member need to buy additional coverage for non-emergency evacuation medical benefits, lost luggage, cancellation fees, etc. If so, what is the cost?
This is not required by Mercy Ships for short-term crew, but a crew member can purchase this for their own piece of mind at a reduced rate from TTc. This program is called the Mercy Ships Top Up. To add this additional coverage, go to the TTc and apply for the standard Outreach program. As long as you mention that you are with the Africa Mercy and Mercy Ships, you will automatically be given the special Top Up rates.
