MIAMI, February 5, 2019 – Visa (NYSE: V) today announced the launch of Visa Online Medic1 throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, which includes an innovative teleconsultation service that provides Visa cardholders traveling abroad unprecedented ease in obtaining non-emergency medical care, online and in their own language2. The benefit is now available to Latin America and Caribbean Platinum, Signature and Infinite Visa cardholders, when paying for their travel using a valid Visa card.3
“Quality medical services while traveling overseas is a highly-valued service for our consumers, and we saw an important opportunity to enhance their experience and be closer to our Visa cardholders through innovation and technology,” said Ricardo Tafur, Vice President of Consumer Products for Visa Latin America and Caribbean. “International travel is a constant for Visa’s premium cardholders, we have seen a 9.6% year-over-year growth in this segment according to Visa data, and we are confident this new program will be a huge benefit for consumers that helps provide convenience and peace of mind when traveling abroad.”
Online Medic – One stop for medical care abroad
Visa Online Medic allows Latin American and Caribbean customers to be evaluated by a U.S. licensed practitioner in their own language: Spanish, English or Portuguese, while traveling abroad – essentially obtaining a medical visit in the palm of their hand via mobile teleconference, avoiding costly and time-consuming emergency room visits for non-life threatening concerns. The virtual consultations are conducted as videoconferences by a mobile phone or computer. This new service can save consumers approximately $5,000, which is the average cost of an emergency room visit abroad, according to AXA.
Once diagnosed, access to new prescriptions and refills is streamlined. For customers traveling in the United States, practitioners are able to send prescriptions directly to the nearest pharmacy; elsewhere, prescriptions are sent via email for the customer to fulfill at any pharmacy in their location. The service is accessible worldwide, 24 hours a day.
Since launch, 10% of the total cases managed were done via Online Medic, quickly making this a popular service among cardholders given its convenience and seamless user experience.
Pre-travel medical benefits certificates
In addition, now cardholders can obtain a medical benefits certificate or Schengen certificate before traveling abroad from the comfort of their home or via their mobile device. The Schengen certificate is required for most Latin American and Caribbean travelers to European countries. In addition, cardholders can get medical certificates for anyone whose travel is paid for using the Visa Platinum, Signature or Infinite card.
Through the Visa Benefits Portal, (www.visa.com/benefitsportal) cardholders can simply log in, download and generate medical certificates for themselves - free of charge (a market value of US$150 per certificate). Visa Platinum cardholders have a medical benefit of USD $150,000, while Visa Signature and Visa Infinite have $USD 200,000 per incident.
Furthermore, the following travel benefits are now available to friends and family provided the travel arrangements are paid using a Visa Platinum, Signature or Infinite card: Trip Delay, Trip Cancellation, Baggage Delay, Baggage Loss and Missed Connection.
Visa Medic Online is being launched in partnership with AXA, a leading provider of travel assistance and disruptive solutions that combine medical assistance and other value added benefits while travelling. AXA has been the official travel assistance provider for Visa Latin American and Caribbean cardholders since 2004, providing call center services, administration of claims for Visa, and emergency medical services for international travelers, and they are administering this new platform.
