What is International Medical Insurance?
It is a common misconception that if a country has a public healthcare system then it’s fine for expats to utilise the public healthcare. In some situations, yes, expats are allowed to use the local healthcare, but most of the time this is not the situation. However, even if there is a public healthcare system, there may be long waiting lists or inadequate facilities to meet your personal medical needs.
It is also a common misconception that your domestic health insurance in your home country will also cover you abroad. Most domestic health insurance plans, especially if you are based in the US, will not cover you abroad.
Expat Health insurance is the international healthcare solution for expatriates living abroad. Different people have different needs and those needs will also vary depending on your location. For example, the international medical insurance needs of a family with children could be vastly different to those of a single person. XactExpat provides tailored solutions for your international healthcare needs and personal budget.
The primary goal of expatriate health insurance is to provide you with comparable, or even better, coverage and access to medical facilities that you would have been use to in your home country.
For example if you are an expat in a big modern city then you will likely have access to the medical facilities and treatment you need and your expat health insurance will primarily serve to keep your international healthcare costs minimized. But if you are working in a jungle somewhere with minimal medical options your expat health insurance will make sure if you break your leg and need surgery your plan will cover airlifting you to a hospital for proper treatment.
Expat Medical Insurance Benefits:
Although each international medical insurance provider has different plans, with all of them you can choose from a range of benefit options and levels, such as:
Inpatient Care (Compulsory and the most important!)
Outpatient Care
Maternity Care
Dental Care
It is also a common misconception that your domestic health insurance in your home country will also cover you abroad. Most domestic health insurance plans, especially if you are based in the US, will not cover you abroad.
Expat Health insurance is the international healthcare solution for expatriates living abroad. Different people have different needs and those needs will also vary depending on your location. For example, the international medical insurance needs of a family with children could be vastly different to those of a single person. XactExpat provides tailored solutions for your international healthcare needs and personal budget.
The primary goal of expatriate health insurance is to provide you with comparable, or even better, coverage and access to medical facilities that you would have been use to in your home country.
For example if you are an expat in a big modern city then you will likely have access to the medical facilities and treatment you need and your expat health insurance will primarily serve to keep your international healthcare costs minimized. But if you are working in a jungle somewhere with minimal medical options your expat health insurance will make sure if you break your leg and need surgery your plan will cover airlifting you to a hospital for proper treatment.
Expat Medical Insurance Benefits:
Although each international medical insurance provider has different plans, with all of them you can choose from a range of benefit options and levels, such as:
Inpatient Care (Compulsory and the most important!)
Outpatient Care
Maternity Care
Dental Care
Why do you need International Health Insurance?
International Variations in Healthcare
Healthcare across the globe can vary greatly from what you and your family are used too. Depending on your relocation destination there could be a vast difference in the type of facilities available, the type of treatment available, types of drugs available, and more. On top of that there will be a wide variation in healthcare costs as well. Expats need insurance to protect their health and wallet, but also to help bridge the gap between what they are use to and what is available to them in their new location.
Expat Health Insurance Gives You Choice
Expatriate health insurance allows you to select from a variety of cover options to tailor fit a plan that suits your personal circumstances. Not only does this ensure that you have the best level of international medical insurance in place while living abroad, but also allows you to have treatment wherever you want it in the medical facility of your choice.
So What Do You Really Get From Expat Health Insurance?
Peace of Mind
Quality Care
Reduced Financial Risk
Choice
Healthcare across the globe can vary greatly from what you and your family are used too. Depending on your relocation destination there could be a vast difference in the type of facilities available, the type of treatment available, types of drugs available, and more. On top of that there will be a wide variation in healthcare costs as well. Expats need insurance to protect their health and wallet, but also to help bridge the gap between what they are use to and what is available to them in their new location.
Expat Health Insurance Gives You Choice
Expatriate health insurance allows you to select from a variety of cover options to tailor fit a plan that suits your personal circumstances. Not only does this ensure that you have the best level of international medical insurance in place while living abroad, but also allows you to have treatment wherever you want it in the medical facility of your choice.
So What Do You Really Get From Expat Health Insurance?
Peace of Mind
Quality Care
Reduced Financial Risk
Choice
Choosing The Right Expat Health Insurance Policy
Questions Regarding International Expatriate Health Insurance:
Expat Location:
Expat Health Insurance Benefits:
Length of Expat Medical Cover:
Expat Health Insurance Budget:
Expat Location:
- Are you covered by any cross-border reciprocal agreement on healthcare?
- What is the quality of healthcare like in your foreign location? Will you need to have the option of treatment in a different country?
- Are quality healthcare facilities and treatment available locally?
- Will you need cover across a number of countries or just one or two? [Your geographic area of expat health insurance cover can make a substantial price difference.]
Expat Health Insurance Benefits:
- How much do out-patient treatments and doctor visits cost? Would you be willing to pay for this yourself and leave your expat health insurance for the “big” costs?
- Do you have children and therefore need more out-patient cover?
- Are you planning on having children? [Maternity services can be very expensive!]
- Are you happy to pay for your own trips to the dentist and dental treatment, or do you want coverage for dental treatment?
- Do you have any pre-existing medical conditions and are you happy to pay for their treatment, or do you want to try and obtain some coverage for these?
Length of Expat Medical Cover:
- The shorter the length of time you need cover, the lesser the risk of something happening to you.
- Conversely, if you are planning on living abroad for a long period of time, or even permanently then it may be worth thinking of covering a wider variety of more long term illnesses and conditions.
- If you are on a medium term expat assignment, consider if you want cover to continue when you return back to your home country.
Expat Health Insurance Budget:
- Obviously a very important consideration!
- Discussing your international expatriate health insurance needs and budget with XactExpat enables us to tailor a solution for your situation.
- Would you be willing to utilise a higher excess or deductible to lower the cost of your premiums?
- Are you able to pay for your expat health insurance annually upfront and get a discount compared to paying by instalments?
- Don’t pay for stuff you don’t need! International Expat health insurance policies can be customised and tailor suited to your needs and budget so you don’t need to pay for things you don’t need. Exclude areas/locations you don’t need or benefits you don’t need – for example, if you are a single male there is no need for maternity cover!