Types of International Health Insurance

Most international health insurance plans consist of compulsory cover and a few options. These are known as Package Policies. This differs to expatriate health insurance, where there are many policies to choose from. Some offer a basic core level of cover and a wide range of options as to what else can be added or removed, depending on the needs of the individual.

Basic International Policy

A basic policy will usually provide cover for in-patient and day-patient treatment. This includes medical and treatment fees, accommodation, diagnosis fees, operating theatre costs, nursing, medication, rehabilitation, chronic conditions, oncology, organ transplant, physiotherapy, air/land private ambulance costs, and other services.

Choice of cover

These are known as ‘Choice of Cover’ policies.A more extensive international health insurance policy will also cover out-patient treatment. This includes medical and treatment fees, diagnosis fees, operating theatre costs, aftercare, surgical treatment, medication, private ambulance costs, chronic conditions, oncology, physiotherapy, and sometimes also psychiatric illness.

Options

Other options that can be added include cover for routine and emergency dental treatment, optical care, routine maternity care, complications of pregnancy and evacuation.

An increasing number of international health plans also include cover for preventive health checks such as general medical tests and prostate and cervical cancer checks.

Family and children

Most international health insurance policies have an option for including partners and children of the insurance policyholder.

Travel Insurance

A number of international health insurance policies now include/come with the option of travel insurance.

Most people make the mistake of assuming that their travel insurance policy includes international health cover. The fact is most travel insurance policies only cover medical expenses after you have paid the hospital, and the level of protection provided usually only covers emergency treatment and not routine medical treatment for longer term conditions and needs.

Travel Contingency

Another option is travel contingency cover, which can be very useful in the event that you have to rush back to the UK to be with a loved one or close friend/family member who has suffered an accident or become very ill.

Travel contingency insurance will cover the cost of travel and accommodation, including transfers and taxi fares to and from the hospital, and also handle the bookings involved.

Dangerous sports & activities cover

Some policies automatically cover hazardous sports and activities, but most do not. If you are planning to undertake any dangerous sport or activity such as bungee jumping, rock climbing, ski diving or any motor sports, you must remember to inform your international health insurance provider.

Student international health insurance

There are a number of international health insurance providers that cater to the individual needs of students who are studying overseas. If you are planning on studying abroad, make sure you check with your academic institution what type of cover is required and what is recommended.

What is top up insurance?

Britons living abroad full time in many European countries have the option of accepting local state health care and cover, while some countries force expatriates to buy cover like any local national. However, the care and treatment provided can be rather basic.

Top up policies cover the difference between what the hospital receives from the state for treatment and the real cost charged to the individual. These policies can also offer other benefits such as private rooms, outpatient treatment, medicine and dental costs.

Does international health insurance cover returning expatriates?

If you living overseas but decide to move back to the UK, either permanently or even temporarily, it is highly likely that your international health cover will not be valid.

Before you return, make sure you tell your insurance provider as they may be able to provide temporary cover or offer a replacement UK-resident health insurance policy.