Do I really need expat health insurance?
If you are planning on moving abroad there are a lot of things to consider. You will have to find somewhere to live and possibly a good school if you have kids moving with you. You will have to sort your tax, pension and other financial affairs and all this means that certain aspects can get overlooked.
One thing that you definitely should not overlook is making sure your health is taken care of. Expatriate medical insurance can help ensure you and your family are well looked after – in terms of both emergency and routine healthcare.
Why do I need international medical insurance?
The quality of healthcare can vary widely around the world and might not match the standards you are used to back home. Depending on where you are moving to and your individual circumstances, you might not be entitled to any free or subsidised healthcare.
If you become ill, suffer an illness or otherwise require healthcare, paying for it can be hugely expensive. Good quality expat health insurance will not only give you access to the best medical care available, it will also provide great peace of mind.
The difference between travel insurance and expat insurance
Regular travel insurance is designed to cover you for trips of limited duration. Single-trip policies will generally have a stated maximum time limit and multi-trip or annual insurance will also generally cover you for individual trips of a maximum duration.
Extended travel insurance (often known as ‘backpacker insurance’) is available but most travel insurance policies will only cover you for what is deemed ’emergency treatment’. The aim is generally to get you well enough to return home if further treatment is required.
Expatriate medical insurance is ongoing, meaning you will usually have the choice of whether to remain where you are or returning home for any extended treatment. It will provide all the same emergency medical cover as regular travel insurance but will also cover other non-emergency costs such as inpatient treatment check-ups and continuing treatment of chronic conditions.
It may also cover conditions and circumstances that are often excluded from regular travel insurance, such as non-emergency maternity and dental treatments.
