Travel Insurance Claims & Direct Billing Support
Every Thamel Clinic consultation includes a stamped English medical report with ICD-10 codes, an itemized invoice, and a receipt your travel insurer can verify. We work daily with World Nomads, SafetyWing, Allianz, AXA, IMG, GeoBlue and assistance companies, and we support direct billing when a Guarantee of Payment (GOP) is issued.
How Your Claim Documentation Works
- 1 Before your visit
Tell reception your insurer and policy number (a photo of your policy card is enough). We flag your file for claim documentation — there is no extra fee.
- 2 During your visit
The physician documents symptoms, examination findings, and ICD-10 diagnosis codes in English — the exact format international insurers require.
- 3 Same-day paperwork
You leave with a stamped medical report, itemized invoice, receipt, and lab results — printed and emailed as PDF within the visit.
- 4 Direct billing (where pre-authorized)
For assistance companies that issue a Guarantee of Payment (GOP), we bill them directly so you pay nothing or only the policy excess.
- 5 If the insurer queries later
Email us — we issue supplementary physician letters and duplicate receipts for claim follow-up at no charge.
Insurers & Assistance Companies We Work With Daily
- World Nomads
- SafetyWing
- Allianz Global Assistance
- AXA Assistance
- IMG Global / Patriot Travel
- Cigna Global
- Bupa Global
- GeoBlue / BlueCross
- SOS International
- ADAC / DKV (Germany)
- Europ Assistance
- Cover-More / Zurich
Your insurer isn't listed? That's fine — our ICD-10 documentation meets the standards of virtually every international travel insurer. Assistance companies can send GOP requests to info@thamelclinic.org.
Insurer-Specific Claim Guides
- World Nomads claim from Nepal — document checklist
- SafetyWing doctor visit & reimbursement in Kathmandu
- Allianz medical claim requirements for Nepal
- Helicopter rescue insurance & altitude riders
- How direct billing works at Kathmandu clinics
- All 60+ insurance claim guides →
- Printable "For Your Insurer" documentation sheet
The Policy That Matches the Trip
The insurance that covers a beach vacation does not cover altitude trekking. The exclusion is specific — the altitude limit, the activity list, the evacuation coverage. The traveler who reads the policy after the accident discovers the coverage that does not apply. The policy selection is the preparation that determines whether the rescue costs you $10,000 or is covered.
Insurance checklist for Nepal
- Altitude coverage — matches your maximum planned elevation
- Activity coverage — trekking, mountaineering, adventure sports
- Evacuation — helicopter rescue included
- Repatriation — medical transport home
- Claims process — documentation requirements you can meet
The Claim That Works
The successful claim requires documentation — the itemized receipt, the diagnosis notes, the treatment records formatted for insurer review. We provide the 4-in-1 claim PDF that contains what insurers need; the claim that has the documentation succeeds where the incomplete claim fails. The insurance is only as good as the claim you can file.
The Verification
Insurance verification — the coverage that is confirmed before the service, the provider that is accepted, and the benefit that is understood. For the insured patient, the verification that precedes the treatment.
The Direct Billing
Insurance direct billing — the arrangement that the insurer pays the clinic directly. For the direct-billing arrangement, the insurer's approval that is required.
The Verification
Insurance verification — the coverage that is confirmed (the altitude, the activity, the benefit that is checked). For the trek, the verification that is done.
The Direct Billing
Insurance direct billing — the arrangement (the clinic that bills the insurer directly). For the cashless, the direct that is preferred.
The Premium
Travel insurance premium — the ~$40-150 for the typical trip (the age, the duration, the coverage that determines). For the Nepal trek, the premium that is modest.
The Excess
Insurance excess/deductible — the out-of-pocket that applies (the per- claim that is specified). For the claim, the excess that is understood.
GOP vs. Reimbursement
GOP vs reimbursement — the direct-billed (the insurer-pays that needs the pre-auth) vs the pay-then-claim (the documentation that recovers). For the big bill, the GOP that is preferred.
The Excess
Policy excess — the deductible that determines the claim threshold (the small-bill that may not be worth claiming). For the under-excess visit, the self-pay that is simpler.
The GOP Mechanics
GOP payment — the insurer-billed (the pre-authorized that is the direct). For the covered, the zero- out-of-pocket that is the goal.
The Excess
Insurance excess — the deductible-paid (the ~$0-250 that is the policy). For the claimant, the known that is the expected.
What travel insurance do I need for Nepal?
Coverage that includes: emergency medical treatment, medical evacuation (helicopter rescue), repatriation, trip cancellation/interruption, and coverage for planned activities (trekking, mountaineering, adventure sports). The standard policy that covers "up to 2,000m" does not cover trekking above that.
Does standard travel insurance cover trekking?
Usually not at altitude — most basic policies exclude coverage above 2,000–3,000m or for trekking as an activity. Read the altitude limit and activity exclusions. Specialized adventure insurers (World Nomads, SafetyWing) cover trekking but verify the altitude ceiling and any technical climbing exclusions.
What about helicopter evacuation coverage?
Critical for trekking — helicopter rescue costs $3,000–$10,000+. Verify your policy covers evacuation at your planned altitude. Some policies cap evacuation coverage or require specific altitude confirmations. The policy that excludes evacuation above 5,000m is not useful for EBC.
How do insurance claims work for medical care?
Pay upfront at the clinic, submit claim for reimbursement. We provide the documentation insurers require — itemized receipts, diagnosis notes, treatment records, and the insurer-ready format that expedites claims. Pre-authorization may be required for expensive procedures; contact your insurer before treatment when possible.
What should I check in a policy?
Altitude limits for trekking (match your planned maximum elevation), activity exclusions (trekking, adventure sports), evacuation coverage (helicopter rescue specifically), pre-existing condition coverage (if applicable), and the claims process (documentation requirements, timelines). The policy details determine whether coverage actually applies.
