Emergency Direct Billing Above 2,500 USD and Follow-Up Treatment in Vietnam Under Flexi

Hospital bills abroad can rise quickly, especially during long inpatient stays. The Flexi travel insurance rules include a hospital direct billing mechanism (bảo lãnh viện phí) when the total estimated treatment cost exceeds 2,500 USD per person per case — but only after the insurance company’s approval and authorization. This article breaks down the triggering conditions and the limits on follow-up treatment in Vietnam.

🏥 When is hospital direct billing arranged?

Under the rules, the medical expenses benefit compensates actual medical costs incurred outside the territory of Vietnam during the insurance period, when the insured suffers an accidental injury or an illness covered under the trip. When the total estimated treatment cost exceeds 2,500 USD per person per case, and after approval and authorization by the insurance company, the assistance company will help arrange hospital direct billing for the insured, while ensuring compliance with confidentiality obligations and acting within its permitted authority.

Keep in mind: direct billing is not a guaranteed promise of payment. The arrangement depends on prior approval and the scope of the assistance company’s authority. To know the exact liability for each plan, check your benefit limits by chosen plan and the 6 medical expense benefit groups in Flexi.

📋 Process for requesting inpatient direct billing

• ☐ Notify the insurance company or assistance company immediately upon admission, providing details of your condition and the estimated treatment cost.
• ☐ Wait for approval and authorization before the assistance company arranges the direct billing; do not incur costs beyond the approved scope on your own.
• ☐ Keep complete records: discharge papers, medical documents, and original invoices/receipts bearing the insured’s name.
• ☐ Prepare documents in Vietnamese or English; if documents are in another language, certified translation is required — translation fees are usually paid by the requester.

💊 Follow-up treatment in Vietnam: 10% cap within 30 days

The rules allow compensation for necessary and eligible treatment costs incurred within the territory of Vietnam within 30 days immediately after the insured returns to Vietnam from the trip, provided that:

• The costs must be a consequence of an accidental injury, or of an illness that occurred abroad during the trip period and falls within coverage.
• Treatment costs in Vietnam are capped at a maximum of 10% of the liability limit of the medical expenses benefit.
• In all cases, the total payout must not exceed the medical expenses benefit limit of the chosen insurance plan.

In other words, the in-country follow-up portion is a limited top-up, not a separate benefit. If costs in Vietnam exceed the 10% threshold, the excess is generally not paid under this benefit.

⚠️ Cases that are not payable

The rules list items outside the scope of compensation related to medical expenses, including:

• Medical treatment costs within the territory of Vietnam, except the continued treatment case above.
• Treatment that, per a doctor’s opinion, the insured could postpone until the end of the trip or until returning to Vietnam.
• Costs incurred when treated in a room other than the lowest recommended standard room at the hospital (single room, private room, guarded room), or costs related to special services, private medical care, private car, or upgrades.
• Body parts and medical devices supporting mobility (crutches, braces, wheelchairs, hearing aids, eyeglasses, pacemakers), orthopedic devices, prosthetics; cosmetic and plastic surgery.
• Costs related to pregnancy, congenital disease, congenital disability, mental illness, psychiatric disorders, maternity, and dental care.
• Treatment or medical services without a doctor’s instruction; health check-ups and periodic health examinations.
• Risks or consequences from events outside the insurance period, and risks excluded under the general exclusions.

👶 Children and people aged 70+: separate payout limits

The rules apply limits to certain groups: if the insured is a child at the time of the accident or illness treatment, the maximum payout equals 20% of the liability limit; if the insured is aged 70 or older, the limit is 30% of the liability for that benefit. For details on how age is calculated and who can join, see the benefit limit rules for children and people aged 70+.

📞 Final notes before using the benefit

The insurance period lasts up to 365 days per trip, and the trip must depart from Vietnam, so notifying the insurer early when hospitalized is crucial to arrange the billing in time. Every claim is assessed on its specific documents, so do not assume payment is certain. Read the Insurance Certificate carefully, confirm your limits and exclusions, and contact the insurer or an advisor for guidance on your specific case.