Top 5 Benefits Of International Health Insurance Plans
When you are moving abroad for the long haul, it can be quite difficult to make all the necessary arrangements that are necessary for an overseas adventure. You must consider so many things that it can definitely be easy to throw your hands up in frustration. This is very much the case when considering global health insurance coverage for yourself and any dependents who are moving abroad with you.
International health insurance plans for global citizens and expats offer several benefits to ensure that individuals living and working abroad have access to high-quality healthcare. We have tried to list the top five benefits typically offered by such plans:
One: Global Medical Coverage
Expat health plans will typically cover you globally, excluding the USA or excluding the USA, but there are a few policies that can allow expats to limit access to medical care in a region or the destination country you have moved to. Sure you can get a local health plan assuming you are eligible, but more than likely the visa that you are obtaining for your long-term stay will want to make sure you are covered by a global health plan.
You should also consider that you may want to have that global health coverage because you may want to seek treatment back home or regionally. You may even move to a new destination country and you won’t want to have to secure a brand new plan, especially if you have developed a new medical condition.
Two: Medical Evacuation Coverage
A lot of global nomads are moving abroad to countries where the local health system will be barely operational, and access to up-to-date and secure medical services may be unavailable. Many countries that are great to move to, especially in the developing world, have terrible medical services for expats and locals alike. This is why expats should consider getting the medical evacuation and repatriation option that most health plans will offer or include as standard. An unfunded medical evacuation can often cost fifty thousand dollars or more depending on where you live and where you have to be evacuated to. This can often include a doctor, nurse, and a private jet specially kitted out for such evacuations to the nearest center of medical excellence.
Note that you don’t get to choose where you are medically evacuated to and the evacuations have to be coordinated and approved by your global health plan 24/7 support line.
Read Also: Injured On Vacation: Protecting Your Health & Rights
Three: Access To Private Medical Providers And Networks
It is a given that these policies will allow you to access private medical care, which is important these days, given that many public health programs are stressed and often provide more basic healthcare options. This is the case in many developed countries, such as UK’s NHS system. Even if you are enrolled in the government-run system, you may still want to have access to global private care.
Most global expat insurance companies will give you access to their medical network in your destination country, but also a worldwide network as well that can allow you to show your card and not have to pay out of pocket for immediate care, or at least allow you to submit the smaller out-patient claims via a smartphone app or computer.
The medical network from various insurers varies from insurer to insurer, so make sure you check it out before buying or ask the expat insurance expert, such as the independent agents from Expat Financial, who offer advocacy services at no cost after you buy and are compensated by the insurance company at no cost to you.
Finally, these networks give you access to international clinics and facilities that cater to expatriates. This ensures that they receive care from experienced and reputable professionals.
Four: Out-Patient Coverage
Some ex-pats will get hospital-only plans, otherwise referred to as in-patient care. This can be the case where you live in a country with very inexpensive outpatient care, which covers services outside a hospital setting, such as:
- Diagnostic imaging
- Lab testing
- Primary care visits
- Specialist consultations and procedures
- Medication
- Infusion
- Wellness visits
- Physical therapy
- Mental health care
- And much more.
While many expats may think the above services can’t add up, they really can. Prescription medications can be very expensive depending on the condition that is being treated and where you live. Of course, medications in the USA will be very expensive, but also in some Asian countries. One should also consider some designer and biological medications can run into the tens of thousands, so you may want to consider out-patient benefits when you apply online.
Five: Comprehensive Medical Care
Most of these international health policies will give expats three or four levels of coverage as they want to give you a policy that can meet just about every need and budget. Most policies will offer comprehensive medical coverage, including hospitalization, outpatient care, specialist consultations, prescription medications, preventive care, and maternity services. Some plans also cover dental and vision care.
You should try not to go for the cheapest policy in the market and remember that the more you pay, the better the coverage you are probably getting. Most policies also offer telehealth or virtual care, which has become very popular for expats in more remote areas who simply don’t want to see a doctor for a small condition, such as a rash.
Some Final Thoughts
Remember that there are many additional benefits that we can’t include in this article, but it is crucial for expatriates to carefully review the terms and conditions of their international health insurance plan to understand the full scope of coverage, any exclusions, and the process for filing claims.
We should also remind you that individual coverage is subject to medical questions and underwriting, so you may have a premium loading, exclusion or worse, decline outright.
You should also consider factors such as the cost of premiums, deductibles, and the insurer’s reputation for customer service and claims processing when selecting a plan that best suits your unique requirements.
We hope that the above will give you some insight into your health insurance requirements, whether you are an expat now or planning to go abroad shortly. Do your research and talk to an expert.
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