Emergencies
As a Host Family, you should handle your Au Pair’s illnesses, accidents, or medical emergencies in the same way you would for other family members. If your Au Pair has a legal or serious medical problem, notify your Community Counselor. If your Community Counselor is not available and you cannot wait for their return, call the 24-hour emergency service at 1-800-928-7247.
If your au pair is feeling ill, please err on the side of caution and encourage her not to wait to see a doctor. She has insurance and depending on her insurance plan, can request reimbursement from your insurance company to help defray the costs. Below is a list of medical facilities in our area that take First Health Network Insurance. The centers listed below do not require an appointment, so you can simply walk-in and wait to be seen. Please advise her take her CISI First Network Health insurance card and her DC Driver’s License or ID. After she has been treated she MUST ask for discharge papers explaining what she was seen for and a receipt showing what you/she paid (for instance a co-pay). If the doctor prescribed medication, she MUST ask the doctor to give you/her a copy of the order he/she will submit to the pharmacy even if they say they will send it “through the system” you/she always want to have a copy for yourself. Keep the receipt of any medication from the pharmacy so you can fill out a form to request a reimbursement of the expenses. If you as the host family paid for the visit “out of pocket” your au pair can fill out the reimbursement claim form and add a note that the reimbursement check should be paid out to you and include your full name and address.
Medical Reimbursement Form
Click here for the CISI Claim Form. If you have questions, please contact the insurance team at (800) 303-8120, prompt 5 or 203-399-5130 or email claimhelp@culturalinsurance.com
For more detailed information on her insurance plan, procedures and claims see http://www.aupairinamerica.com/resources/aupairs.asp
To find a list of Urgent Care Centers, preferred physicians, hospitals and medical centers in your neighborhood that accept your insurance, click on http://www.culturalinsurance.com/usprovidersearch/ and enter your zip code. If your au pair shows her insurance card to the provider and they say they do not take your insurance, immediately have her call her Insurance company at 203 399 5130 to verify.
As of October 2016, this urgent care center accepted her insurance:
- MedStar PromptCare Adams Morgan: 1805 Columbia Road, NW Washington, DC 20009. For other locations go to: http://www.medstarhealth.org/mpc-adams-morgan/
As of October 2016, this pharmacy accepts her insurance BUT the CVS Minute Clinics do not accept it:
- CVS Pharmacy Glover Park: 2226 Wisconsin Ave, NW Washington, DC 20007; Foggy Bottom: 2240 M Street, NW Washington, DC 20037; Palisades: 4859 MacArthur Blvd NW, Washington, DC; Tenleytown 4555 Wisconsin Ave, NW Washington, DC 20016.
Dental Care
If your Au Pair has the Basic Medical Insurance Plan she does not have dental coverage. If she has the Medical Upgrade or the Travel/Sports and Medical Upgrade she has $500 of emergency dental care for a sound natural tooth (a tooth that a dentist has never worked on before). For low-cost dental care in our area your Au Pair can contact:
- Howard University Department of Dentistry For Appointments call 202 806 0008
- Dental Clinic at the Spanish Center of Catholic Charities For Appointments call 202 798 5546
Eye Exams for Glasses and Contacts
If your Au Pair needs to have her eyes checked in order to get new eye glasses or contacts, consider this local provider but note that they DO NOT take any insurance:
Premier Optometric Services, P.C./COSTCO, 1200 S. Fern Street, Arlington, VA 22202 (behind COSTCO in Arlington-walking distance from Pentagon City Metro) phone 703 413-4494; after hours 703 413-1701. Please call to make sure prices have not changed.
Eye Glass exam $65; Contact Lens Exam $109-$129
APIA’s Resources for Current Host Families includes:
FAQs
- My Au Pair’s Education Requirements
- My Au Pair’s Health Insurance Coverage
- My Au Pair’s Driver License
- My Au Pair wants to travel outside of the US
- How does my Au Pair request her flight home?
Searching for Your Au Pair
- Application process
- US Arrival Dates (Au Pairs will arrive to your home three days later)
- Au Pair Visa information
- World Clock
- Culture Quest by Country
Preparing for Your Au Pair
- Host Family Guidelines Handbook (pdf file)
- Tips for Host Families
- ABCs of a Successful Year
- Welcoming Your Au Pair
- Travel from Orientation
- Orienting in Your Home
- Preparing for an Emergency
- Safety Tips
Having a Successful Year
- Host Family Guidelines Handbook (pdf file)
- Tips for Host Families
- ABCs of a Successful Year
- Vacations
- Culture Shock
- Tips for Encouraging Cultural Exchange
- Who’s in Charge?
- Kids in Care Daily Log