Eligibility and Effective Dates:

All completed membership applications received and processed on or before the 25th of any month will be effective on the first day of the following month. Membership applications received and processed after the 25th of any month will be effective 30 days from the 1st of the following month. Coverage for eligible dependents you acquire after your coverage will be effective on that date that your application for the additional dependent is approved except that coverage for adopted children, newborn children, foster children and children in your custody by a court order is effective for 31 days from the date of birth, date of adoption or placement. To continue coverage beyond 31 days for these children, you must provide notice of such children. For purposes of this benefit: an otherwise eligible dependent child must also reside in your home for more than 6 months a year and chiefly rely on you for support and maintenance to be covered; and eligible dependent includes a child past the age of 19 (25 if a full time student) who has a handicapped condition which renders the child incapable of self-sustaining employment and who is chiefly dependent on you or other care providers for lifetime care and supervision because of a handicapped condition that occurred before such age.

Pre-Existing Conditions Limitation:

Benefits are not provided for any loss caused by, or resulting from, a Pre-existing Condition, as defined, unless the loss is incurred at least 12-months after the Effective Date of coverage for a Covered Persons.

Benefits are not provided for any loss caused by, or resulting from, a Pre-existing Condition, as defined.

This provision does not apply to newborn or newly adopted children.  The definition of a Pre-Existing Condition means a medical condition, Injury or Sickness, not excluded by name or specific description, for which:

1)   Medical advice, Consultation, care or treatment was recommended by, or received from, a Doctor within 12-months immediately prior to the Effective Date of coverage for a Covered Person; or

2)   Symptoms existed within 12-months immediately prior to the Effective Date of coverage for a Covered Person that would cause a reasonable person to seek Consultation, care, or treatment from a Doctor.

“Consultation” means evaluation, diagnosis, or medical advice given without the necessity of a personal examination or visit.

Limitations and Exclusions:

Benefits will not be paid for charges or loss caused by, or resulting from, any of the following:

1)   Suicide or any intentionally self-inflicted injury;

2)   Any drug, narcotic, gas or fumes, or chemical substance voluntarily taken, administered, absorbed or inhaled unless prescribed by, and taken according to the directions of, a doctor (accidental ingestion of a poisonous substance is not excluded.);

3)   Commission, or attempt to commit, a felony;

4)   Participation in a riot or insurrection;

5)   Driving under the influence of a controlled substance, unless administered on the advice of a doctor;

6)   Driving while Intoxicated. "Intoxicated" will have the meaning determined by the laws in the jurisdiction of the geographical area where the loss occurs;

7)   Declared or undeclared war or act of war;

8)   Nuclear reaction or the release of nuclear energy. However, this exclusion will not apply if the loss is sustained within 180-days of the initial incident and:
       (1) The loss was caused by fire, heat, explosion or other physical trauma which was a result of the release of nuclear energy; and
       (2) The covered person was within a 25-mile radius of the site of the release either:
            (a) At the time of the release; or
            (b) Within 24-hours of the start of the release; or
            (c) Occurs while he is in the state where this certificate was issued;

9)   Routine health checkups or immunizations for Covered Person aged 6 and older; expenses for allergies, allergy serum or allergy testing, unless specifically provided for in this Certificate;

10) Surgery to correct vision or hearing; eyeglasses, contact lenses and hearing aids, braces, appliances, or examinations or prescriptions therefore;

11) Dental care, x-rays, or treatment other than Injury to sound, natural teeth and gums resulting from an accidental injury and rendered within 6-months of the injury;

12) Spinal manipulations and manual manipulative treatment or therapy;

13) Weight loss or modification and complications arising there from, including surgery and any other form of treatment for the purpose of weight loss or modification;

14) Rest cures or custodial care, or treatment of sleep disorders;

15) Treatment, services or supplies received outside of the U.S. except for acute sickness or injury sustained during the first 30-days of travel outside the U.S.;

16) Normal pregnancy or childbirth, except for Complications of Pregnancy;

17) Any drug, treatment, or procedure that either promotes or prevents conception or childbirth regardless of what the drug, treatment, or procedure was originally prescribed or intended for;

18) Blood or blood plasma, except for charges by a hospital for the processing or administration of blood;

19) Treatment of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders involving the installation of crowns, pontics, bridges or abutments, or the installation, maintenance or removal of  orthodontic or occlusal appliances or equilibration therapy;

20) Cosmetic surgery. This exclusion does not apply to reconstructive surgery:

a)   On an injured part of the body following trauma, infection or other disease of the involved part,

b)   Of a congenital disease or anomaly of a covered dependent newborn or adopted infant, or

c)   On a non-diseased breast to restore and achieve symmetry between two breasts following a covered Mastectomy.

21) The repair or replacement of existing artificial limbs, orthopedic braces, or orthotic devices; dentures, partial dentures, braces or fixed or removable bridges;

22) Treatment or removal of warts, moles, boils, skin blemishes or birthmarks, bunions, acne, corns, calluses, the cutting and trimming of toenails, care for flat feet, fallen  arches or chronic foot strain;

23) Personal items such as television, telephone, lotions, shampoos, extra beds, meals for guests, take home items, or other items for comfort and convenience;

24) Treatment of mental or nervous disorders, or alcohol or substance abuse, unless specifically provided for under this certificate;

25) Prescription medicines, unless specifically provided for under this certificate;

26) Any Injury that is caused by flight or travel in, or upon:

a)   An aircraft or other, craft designed for navigation above or beyond the earth’s atmosphere except as a fare-paying passenger;

b)   An ultra light, hang-gliding, parachuting or bungi-cord jumping;

c)   A snowmobile;

d)   Any two or three wheeled motor vehicle;

e)   Any off-road motorized vehicle not requiring licensing as a motor vehicle;

f)    Any watercraft or other craft designed for water use above or beneath the water, except as a fare paying passenger;

27) Any accidental injury where the covered person is the operator of a motor vehicle and does not possess a current and valid motor vehicle operator's license (except in a  

 driver's education program);

28) Services, treatment or loss:

a)   Rendered in any Veterans Administration or Federal Hospital, except if there is a legal obligation to pay;

b)   Payable by any automobile insurance policy without regard to fault. (does not apply in any state where prohibited);

c)   Which a covered person would not have to pay if he did not have insurance;

d)   Provided by a doctor, nurse or any other person who is employed or retained by a covered person or who is a member of a covered person’s immediate family;

e)   Covered by state or federal worker's compensation, employers liability, occupational disease law, or similar laws;

f)    Injury or sickness sustained while on active duty in the armed forces of any country. This does not include Reserve or National Guard duty for training. Upon receipt of proof of service, we will refund, any unearned premium paid on a pro rata basis;

29) Hemorrhoids, tonsils, adenoids, middle ear disorders, any disease or disorder of the reproductive organs unless the loss is incurred at least 6-months after the covered person becomes insured under this certificate.

30) Elective treatment or surgery and treatment, procedures, products or services that are experimental or investigative.  “Experimental or Investigative” means a drug, device or medical treatment or procedure that:

a)   Cannot lawfully be marketed without approval of the United States Food and Drug Administration and approval for marketing has not been given at the time of being furnished;

b)   Has Reliable Evidence indicating it is the subject of ongoing clinical trials or is under study to determine its maximum tolerated dose, toxicity, safety, efficacy, or its efficacy as compared with the standard means of treatments or diagnosis; or

c)   Has Reliable Evidence indicating that the consensus of opinion among experts is that further studies or clinical trials are necessary to determine its maximum tolerated odes, toxicity, efficacy, or its efficacy as compared with the standard means of treatment or diagnosis.

“Reliable Evidence” means (i) published reports and articles in authoritative medical and scientific literature; (ii) the written protocol(s) of the treating facility or the protocols of another facility studying substantially the same drub, device, medical treatment or procedure; or (iii) the written informed consent used by the treating facility or by another facility studying substantially the same drug, device, or medical treatment or procedure.

“Note from US Fire Insurance Company:  As a member of IAB, you acknowledge that at any one time you and each covered person may have access to only one (1) certificate providing limited medical indemnity insurance coverage by United States Fire Insurance Company ("USF").  If it is determined that an insured has duplicate or multiple USF coverage, coverage will only be provided under the USF plan that has been in force for the longer period of time.  USF will refund premiums paid for all other USF plans in effect during the same period of time.”

Some exclusions may not be applicable or wording may differ in your state of residence. Full details are available upon request in the master policy/certificate that is on file at the association’s administrative office.