Travel Services and Benefits
Following is a brief description of the services and benefits provided by the Colleges for persons traveling on College related business or activities. This wording does not change any contractual relationship between the Colleges and the benefit providers; in case of any discrepancy the contracts will prevail.
Medical Services – note, fees and charges may apply to some services
Security Services
- Security evacuation assistance
- Online travel security information
- Access to security crisis center
Travel Services
- Legal referrals
- Emergency message transmission
- Translations and interpreters
- Lost document advice
- Ground transportation and accommodations for accompanying family members
- Emergency personal cash advances
International SOS Clinics
Fees
Medical Services - note, fees and charges may apply to some services
- Emergency evacuation
Emergency evacuation for medical reasons must be coordinated through Five Colleges, Inc. and your home institution. Coverage for this service is provided by AIG Assist, NOT International SOS. Only medical evacuation to the closest facility that can provide appropriate treatment is covered by insurance; all other expenses will be charged to the traveler. If expenses are incurred for medical evacuation by the traveler without coordinating with AIG and Five Colleges, such expenses will not be reimbursed.
- Medically-supervised repatriation
This is considered a medical evacuation expense and is covered as a medical evacuation.
- Companion ticket
If a plane ticket is needed for a parent, spouse or friend to join an ill or injured traveler, I-SOS can help make the arrangements without charge. If the traveler needs to have International SOS pay for the ticket, the traveler will have to reimburse the cost of the ticket and the Service Fee (which may be as much as $750) to his or her home institution.
- Additional travel and accommodation arrangements after medical evacuation
These must be coordinated through Five Colleges. Medically necessary travel will be covered; all other expenses are to be covered by the traveler.
- Repatriation of mortal remains
Coverage for this service is provided by AIG Assist, NOT International SOS. International SOS will coordinate this service with other insurance available. There is no cost to the traveler or his/her family for this service, as long as the service is coordinated through AIG Assist and Five Colleges Inc. If expenses are incurred for repatriation by the traveler’s family without coordinating with AIG and Five Colleges, such expenses will not be reimbursed.
- Return home of minor children
International SOS will coordinate this service free of charge using the traveler’s own financial resources. If International SOS has to advance funds for the service, then the traveler will have to reimburse his or her home institution for the service and pay any service fees (which may be as much as $750).
- Medical monitoring
International SOS will medically monitor the traveler’s condition and report to a designated person at the home institution evaluations of the traveler’s condition. If the College requests this service, the College will be responsible for all charges. If the traveler requests this service, the traveler will be required to reimburse his or home institution for all fees, which are billed on a sliding scale from $230 to $4,050 depending on the total medical expenses.
- Inpatient admission and identification of receiving physician
This service is free of charge if the admission can be made without a guarantee of payment or if the hospital will accept the traveler’s credit card for guarantee of payment. If International SOS has to guarantee payment of inpatient medical expenses in order to facilitate admission to the hospital, then medical monitoring fees will apply. If medical monitoring fees are charged, no other service fees will be charged.
- Emergency and routine medical advice
This service is provided free of charge. Call an International SOS Alarm Center.
- Pre-trip information on travel health issues (Country Guide)
This service is provided free of charge. For additional information call an International SOS Alarm Center.
- Medical and dental referrals
This service is provided free of charge. Call an International SOS Alarm Center for assistance.
- Outpatient referrals
This service is provided free of charge. Call an International SOS Alarm Center for assistance.
- Outpatient case management
International SOS will assist travelers with the arrangement and confirmation of appointments with medical service providers, assistance with arranging ground transportation or accommodations, post-appointment communications and follow up with the traveler. All expenses are the traveler’s responsibility.
- Claims assistance
International SOS will assist travelers in obtaining the necessary documentation for medical insurance claims for care involving International SOS services.
- Inpatient or Outpatient medical expense guarantee and payment
International SOS will guarantee and pay as agent for Five Colleges Inc. and your home institution all costs associated with a traveler’s in-patient or out-patient medical care. International SOS will also medically monitor the Traveler’s condition and provide Five Colleges Inc. or your home institution with reports of the Traveler’s condition and ongoing expenses. If International SOS has to guarantee payment of inpatient or outpatient medical expenses in order to facilitate medical treatment, then medical monitoring fees will apply. If medical monitoring fees are charged, no other service fees will be charged.
- Dispatch of medication and medical supplies
International SOS will, when and where practical and legally permissible, arrange for delivery of medicines, drugs and medical supplies that are medically necessary for a Traveler’s care and/or treatment but which are not available at or near the Traveler’s location. All costs associated with the delivery of such medications or medical supplies, including an I-SOS fee which may exceed $1,000, will be the responsibility of the Traveler.
Security Services
- Security evacuation assistance
If travelers need to be evacuated from a location, whether because of political unrest, natural catastrophe or other emergency, all evacuation will be coordinated through International SOS, Five Colleges Inc. and your home institution. There is no guarantee that travelers will be evacuated if conditions are too dangerous or hostile, and travelers are encouraged to be alert to safety warnings and to manage their itineraries accordingly. If International SOS has to evacuate travelers, the costs for such evacuation may be charged to the traveler by the home institution, including any I-SOS fees.
- Online travel security information
Travelers have telephone access to security personnel from International SOS regional security centers for up-to-date security and safety information. International SOS will provide travelers with travel briefs in standard written format or via a password protected Internet Web Site.
- Access to security crisis center
In the event of a developing emergency situation, International SOS will determine, in its sole discretion, the need for establishing a Crisis Center, its duration and location, based upon the severity of the situation and resources at its disposal in the country or region of concern or elsewhere. International SOS Crisis Center personnel will use their best efforts to provide a 24-hour telephone hot-line to monitor the situation, establish contact with Travelers in the area in order to provide practical advice and review of the security situation, and to keep Five Colleges and the home institution informed of developments, plans and recommendations.
Travel Services
- Legal referrals
International SOS will provide travelers with names, addresses, telephone numbers and if requested by a traveler and if available, office hours for lawyers or legal practitioners within the area where the traveler is located. These recommendations are based upon the best judgment of International SOS and its knowledge of the local conditions and availability of legal services at the geographic location involved. International SOS does not guarantee the quality of the legal advice nor shall International SOS or Five Colleges Inc. or the home institution be liable for any consequences arising out of the services provided by the lawyer or legal practitioner. The final selection of the lawyer or the legal practitioner shall be the responsibility of the traveler.
The home institution will not pay for any legal services of any student or act as the legal representative of any student. Travelers are responsible to know and obey the laws of all countries they visit. If an employee needs legal services in relation to his or her work, he or she should call the Director of Human Resources or the Dean of the Faculty at his or her home institution as soon as possible.
- Emergency message transmission
International SOS will use its best efforts to receive and transmit emergency messages between travelers and their families.
- Translations and interpreters
In the event of an emergency situation, International SOS will provide personal telephone translation services and referrals to interpreter services through its alarm center network.
- Lost document advice
International SOS will assist travelers who have lost important travel documents (e.g., passport, credit cards) by providing instructions for recovery or replacement.
- Ground transportation and accommodations for accompanying family members
International SOS will coordinate emergency travel arrangements for family members who accompany a hospitalized traveler using the traveler’s or the family’s financial resources. If International SOS has to pay for services, then the traveler will be charged for all expenses and the I-SOS coordinating fee.
- Emergency personal cash advances
International SOS will provide travelers with a cash advance subject to the written approval of the Five College Risk Manager or an Authorized Person at the traveler’s home institution. Travelers will be responsible to repay any funds advanced plus the International SOS fee, which may be as much as $750.
International SOS Clinics
- Access to International SOS Clinics
International SOS provides travelers with access to services available at International SOS Clinics, subject to the fees, procedures and requirements then in force at each clinic. All charges for medical care will be the responsibility of the traveler.
Fees
The only services that the colleges insure are medical evacuation and repatriation, through AIG Assist. All other services that require payment for services, such as medical treatment, shipping a prescription to a traveler, or purchasing travel accommodations, are the financial responsibility of the traveler. If International SOS has to guarantee funds on behalf of a traveler, or advance funds to a traveler, additional fees will be charged to the traveler. If you need any fee-based services, you should call the local Alarm Center and speak with an operations coordinator for assistance and ask what, if any, fees apply. Fees may range from a couple hundred dollars to over one thousand dollars, depending on the type of service and location of the service provided. Since the college is the guarantor for International SOS, any transaction that would incur a fee or require reimbursement to International SOS, including medical evacuation or repatriation, MUST be approved by an Authorized Person at the college or by the Five College Risk Manager. Your home institution will bill you for all charges incurred.
