How does international health insurance work?
Global health insurance plans provide protection for you and your family, even when you’re living away from your home country. They are designed especially for expatriates and other long-term foreign residents. As such, they can be considered as truly global health insurance policies, as opposed to regular insurance plans that only work in one country. Now Health International’s global medical plans are effective in 194 countries and territories. This means you and your family can have access to high-quality healthcare almost anywhere in the world.
How is it different from travel insurance?
An international plan is focused on medical cover associated with the living conditions of expatriates and other foreign residents living in their host country for 12 months or more. Travel insurance, on the other hand, focuses on short-term coverage for transient travelers. Because they are intended for different sets of people, they tend to cover different contingencies. They cover in-patient and outpatient check-ups and treatments, among other things, while travel insurance tends to focus on short-term travel contingencies, such as booking cancellations, the loss of personal items, and emergency medical care.
There’s often some confusion between the two as some travel medical insurance plans offer some limited cover for medical expenses, including medical evacuation in some cases. However, they generally will not cover dental work or the treatment of chronic medical conditions. Travel insurance also does not cover maternity care or conditions related to the policyholder’s age and other preexisting medical conditions. Global medical insurance, on the other hand, can cover both those situations and more, giving you peace of mind. If you’re planning on staying overseas for extended periods of time for work, higher education, or retirement, this is always the better choice.
Level of cover
Coverage depends on the policy and level of customization you choose. Now Health International’s WorldCare Essential plan includes in-patient and day-patient care, which is just right for single expatriates. Those who desire even more coverage or plan to raise a family overseas can opt for the WorldCare Apex plan which includes maternity care, complex and continuing dental care, as well as out-patient care. Please contact us to learn more about your options.
Do I need an international health insurance plan?
It all depends on your destination. Many countries do not require any form of insurance. However, some key expat destinations, such as the Schengen Area, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar require all visitors to have some form of insurance before they issue a visa. Other countries may also require you to purchase insurance locally or buy insurance from their government. Make sure to do some research to learn more about the medical insurance requirements of your desired destination. For more information, please contact us.
