With technology and business ever developing international mobility over the past decade has increased exponentially. With this global mobility has come a need for expat health insurance.
What does expat health insurance cover?
An expatriate or an expat is defined as any person staying temporarily or permanently in a country, other than that of his/her upbringing or legal residence. There are many insurers that provide expatriate health insurance policies with a wide range of options to choose from depending on your needs. Expat health insurance tend to be very comprehensive and you can expect the following cover in a Worldwide plan.
- Worldwide cover with choice of hospitals and specialists
- Full cover regardless of occupation, sports activities and hobbies.
- Cover of accidents due to any act of terrorism.
- Regardless of your age and state of health, guaranteed renewal of the policy for life.
- 24-hour multilingual Emergency Service
Change is always difficult and moving to a new country is especially so. It always seems more difficult dealing with everyday problems in a foreign country, including medical and health issues we all face. Expatriate health insurance is designed to cover you should you have a medical issue in a foreign country providing you with the peace of mind knowing you and your family will be taken care of.
Expat health insurance policies tend to provide high cover limits; this allows you to select treatment anywhere in the world in the knowledge that you are likely to be fully covered for your treatment. The limits generally range between USD $1 million and USD $2 million per year and are often defined as either per year, per condition or a lifetime limit.
Where does it cover me?
Expat health insurance allows you to select where you need to be covered in the event of needing treatment. Insurers typically provide you with the option of two geographical areas, either Worldwide Cover or Worldwide Cover excluding North America.
The reason for this option is that medical costs in North America are typically higher than in the rest of the world and thus selecting the Worldwide cover will result in higher premiums. However, with this a policy excluding North America may well still provide a level of cover for emergency treatment in this region say for a limited number of days per year.
The treatment costs relating to an inpatient stay for surgery can be eye watering. All global insurance plans cover in-patient healthcare treatment that requires a hospital stay. Most surgery, even as an out-patient is also included in a global health plan, but as with any insurance it is important to read the policy details to understand the cover provided as it does vary from insurer to insurer.
The most basic expat health insurance like any other medical plan is built around inpatient treatment only with options to increase the level of cover depending on your requirements, including outpatient, dental and maternity benefits.
Typical expat health insurance inpatient cover
- Semi-private/private hospital room
- In-patient medication
- Out-patient surgery
- Surgery, Anaesthetist and Operating theatre charges
- Surgical appliances and prostheses
- Intensive care room
- Ambulance costs
- In-patient X-rays, Diagnostic tests, MRI scans etc.
While expat health insurance is designed around inpatient cover many opt to cover outpatient treatment as well. Out-patient cover includes consultations, diagnostic tests and treatments provided by a specialist or medical practitioner when monitoring of condition and treatment does not require an overnight stay.
Typical outpatient cover
- Medical practitioner and specialist fees
- Routine health checks
- Prescription medicines
- Alternative medicines and therapies
- Diagnostic tests, including X-rays
- Home nursing
- Vaccinations
Please note not all treatments are covered and some may be excluded due to you medical history, it is important to read the policy terms when identifying the right plan for your needs. When you take out an insurance plan the insurer will underwrite your policy which involves you answering questions regarding your medical history. Based on the information you provide they will make a decision regarding the coverage of your pre-existing conditions and list any exclusions that apply to your policy.
Next steps
If you are looking for expat health insurance and would like some guidance, some more information or health insurance quotes from the leading insurers then let us know. With our expertise we can ensure you get the policy that best fits your needs at the most competitive price.
There are a number of useful sites for the global traveller when considering their protection. The World Health Organisation provides a guide to health risks for travellers while the Telegraph has a range of useful articles.
