Michele & David Chazen

Every Cultural Care au pair arrives to the U.S. with basic insurance coverage through Erika Travel Insurance. For an additional cost, au pairs can purchase optional extended coverage. Erika is affiliated with the Aetna Network, therefore au pairs will get the best coverage when they go to a doctor or hospital in the Aetna Network. Below, we have outlined basic information about both types of coverage. If you have specific questions please you can cntact directly to our claims agents at Aetna Student Health, 1-800-783-7447 or e-mail mailto:erikasvc@chickering.com

Basic Insurance
All au pairs are covered under Erika Travel Insurance. Before departure, each au pair receives a policy booklet, a few claim forms and an ID card with their Cultural Care Au Pair reference number. The policy number on the au pair’s ID card will indicate what type of insurance the au pair carries. For current policy information, a full description of coverage and exclusions and claim forms, you can visit the Erika Insurance Website. Below are the primary features of the basic insurance as of April 2007. Prices and coverage subject to change.
• $95 deductible for non-Aetna providers and $65 deductible for Aetna providers
• $150 deductible for emergency room visits, in addition to the standard deductible (this deductible applies to au pairs who began their program or extension program after January 1, 2008)
• Medical expenses covered up to $50,000
• Home repatriation up to $7,500
• Please note there is no dental coverage with basic insurance

Extended Insurance
Extended Insurance is an optional insurance plan offered through Erika Travel Insurance for all au pair participants. Each au pair who purchases this plan is given 12 months of comprehensive coverage, from the date s/he arrives to the U.S. until her/his last legal date of work. Au pairs are able to purchase this insurance plan before they depart for the U.S. Below are the primary features of the extended insurance:
• $95 deductible for non-Aetna providers and $35 deductible for Aetna providers
• $50 deductible for emergency room visits, in addition to the standard deductible (This deductible applies to au pairs who began their program or extension program after January 1, 2008)
• Unlimited medical coverage
• Coverage for baggage or property loss
• Coverage for delays and program interruption
• Coverage for legal costs
• Dental expenses covered up to $200

Additional Month Insurance
We highly recommend to all au pairs remaining in the U.S. during the 30 day grace period that follows the completion of their program that they purchase the additional month insurance. An au pair who does not purchase the additional month insurance may not be insured for illness, accidents or losses incurred during the 30 day grace period. To purchase this insurance, an au pair should send in a check or a money order for $125 to the Cultural Care Au Pair Operations department, including a note with their name stating that the check is for the additional month. The additional month insurance can be purchased until up to two weeks prior to the end of the au pair’s program.
Extension Year Insurance
All extension au pairs have basic insurance coverage. For an additional cost, au pairs can purchase optional extended coverage. This coverage needs to be purchased before the extension year starts. The price when buying the extended insurance in the USA is:
• 12 month extension $475
• 9 month extension $370
• 6 month extension $250
To purchase this insurance, an au pair should call the Operations department at 1-800-448-5753 with debit or credit card information, or send in a check or a money order made payable to Cultural Care Au Pair to:
Cultural Care Au Pair
Attn: Operations
One Education Street
Cambridge, MA 02141

Using the Erika Travel Insurance

Eleven Tips for Cultural Care Au Pairs

1. Find a Doctor:  Look up an Aetna provider on www.aetna.com\docfind\erika - this will save you money if you use a participating provider.
2. Aetna vs. Erika Insurance:  Call the doctor’s office and say you have “Aetna” (not Erika insurance because they will not recognize the Erika name).
3. Insurance Card:  Bring your Insurance Certificate Card with you to the doctor’s office
   1. ID number:  Give the doctor’s office your CCAP booking number - this is your insurance ID number (do not give them the policy number 10462 or 11190 as your id number because all au pairs have the same policy number). 
   2. Your name:  Provide the doctor’s office with your FULL name (as it appears in your passport or visa) - Including all of your family names.
   3. Billing address:  If the doctor does not send Aetna the bill, they will bill YOU instead. Tell your doctor to send bills to Aetna Student Health P.O. Box 15719  Boston, MA 02215                                                                                                                    
   4.  Deductibles:  Do not pay the Aetna provider’s office for the visit except for your  deductible:    $65 for Basic and $35 for Extended.
4. Call Aetna if the doctor’s office can’t find your name:  Be sure to have the doctor’s office call Aetna at 800-783-7447 to confirm your insurance benefits and coverage dates.  Have them call while you are there in the office so you can have the insurance pay for the visit.  If they cannot reach someone or give you difficulties, be sure to take down the name of the person in the doctor’s office and we can contact them during the next business day. Call Aetna yourself and ask them to contact the doctor’s office on your behalf.
5. If Aetna does not have your name: Call Cultural Care at 800-448-5753 and they will confirm your eligibility with Aetna. All au pairs have insurance coverage while participating on the program, so do not panic! It is usually just a clerical mistake that can be easily fixed.
6. Emergency Room:  Remember that you have an extra Emergency Room deductible if you go to the ER:  $150 for Basic and $50 for Extended, plus your normal deductible of $65 or $35. 
7. Routine Care:  Remember that routine care is NOT covered - if you go for a doctor’s visit because you do not feel well, or something is wrong, remind the doctor’s office that routine visits are not covered and they must send Aetna a bill explaining why you needed treatment.
8. Hospitalizations or Accidents while driving:  Be sure to contact the Assistance Company in the event that you have to go to the hospital or are in an accident with your car.  The Assistance Companies are open 24/7 and the phone numbers are on your insurance certificate and in the policy booklet. 
9. If you get a bill at home:  if you receive a doctor’s bill at home, please contact the insurance at 800-783-7447 to be sure the insurance has also received the bill to pay it.  Otherwise, the doctor will expect payment from you and you may begin to receive Collection Notices.  To prevent this from happening, contact Aetna immediately after you get a bill.
10. Prescriptions:  If you have a prescription, you must first pay for it and then send in a claim form with the receipt from the pharmacy (both the cash register receipt and the medication information label attached to the prescription.)  You will be reimbursed for all medications except for acne, birth control or medication that you take for a pre-existing condition.

         11. Claim forms:  go to www.erikainsurance.com and you can download claim forms.