Choosing the Best International Health Insurance Provider For You
If you are moving abroad, it is critical for you to choose the best international health insurance provider based on your requirements and budget. Whether you are planning to live overseas for work, travel or retirement, choosing the best international health insurance company should be a top priority for individual expatriates, including those already living overseas.
You may already have an existing policy with an insurance company that you are not satisfied with because of the service, premiums, or coverage that simply does not meet your needs. Premiums and coverage will vary widely among different insurance companies, and comparing them can be a difficult task, but we at
Expat Financial is here to provide you with a shortlist of some of the many global health insurers that we work with, as well as some resources to assist you in deciding on the best international health insurance company that works for you.
Choosing the best international health insurance provider requires careful consideration of several factors that we have compiled into the list below. We hope it can help ex-pats choose the right provider:
- Assess Your Requirement: Start early by determining your specific healthcare needs, including coverage requirements, budget, a preferred network of healthcare providers, and any unique considerations such as pre-existing conditions. Also, think if you may need dental care or maternity coverage.
- Research Expat Providers: This is where "doing your own research" is important for expats. Start by researching international health insurance providers online and compare their offerings, reputation, financial stability, and customer reviews. We recommend you look for providers with extensive experience in serving expatriates who will be there for the long run and who have a strong track record of providing quality service and reliable coverage.
- Examine Coverage Options: Your third step is to review the various coverage options offered by each provider. This can include in-patient and out-patient coverage, emergency medical evacuation, repatriation, maternity care, and dental and vision care; if you have previous medical conditions, ask if the plans can potentially cover them or not. and coverage for pre-existing conditions.
- Check the Medical Network: If you would like not to have to pay out of pocket for large medical expenses, you should consider the provider's network of healthcare providers and facilities, both domestically and globally. Ask us to check if your preferred doctors, hospitals, and medical facilities are included in the provider's network and whether they offer direct billing arrangements for convenience.
- Understand the Fine Print: We realize that it can be difficult, but try to carefully review the policy terms and conditions, including coverage limits, exclusions, waiting periods, deductibles, copayments, and renewal provisions. Check if the plan can cover you for life if you are retiring abroad. Also, pay attention to any limitations or restrictions related to pre-existing conditions, hazardous sports, or geographic regions.
- Talk to an Expat Expert: Like most things, it pays to talk to a specialist. Maybe consider seeking advice from an independent advisor such as us, as we specialize in international health insurance. The company can help you navigate the complexities of insurance policies, compare options, and select the best provider and plan based on your individual needs and circumstances. And there's no cost as the premiums are the same regardless of our involvement.
- Customer Service and Support: As expat experts with clients around the globe we always recommend that our clients work with a very capable global insurer. So evaluate the provider's customer service and support offerings, including accessibility, responsiveness, and availability of multilingual assistance. Finally, try to choose an insurance firm that offers reliable customer support and help, especially in case of emergencies or claims processing.
- Premiums Evaluation: Compare the premiums, deductibles, copayments, and other costs associated with each insurance plan. No two plans are the same so it can be difficult to compare them side by side. Also try to balance the cost of the premiums with the level of coverage and benefits provided to ensure that you get the best value for your money.
What International Health Insurance Resources Are Available?
There are a variety of resources online that can assist you in choosing the right plan and insurance company, but here are just a few web pages that may assist you:
- Expat Consumer Guide
- International Health Insurance Info
- Articles on International Health Insurance
- Check out Expat Directories
A-List of the Best Global Health Insurance Providers for Expatriates
Note that all insurance providers have strengths and weaknesses, and none of them are perfect. You might be happy with one plan or provider, while another may experience problems. It makes sense to talk to a specialist expat insurance specialist like Expat Financial and check out the individual plans that we offer online. Here are 5 excellent international insurance providers that expats should consider:
- Cigna International is perhaps the best international insurance plan provider for expatriates living overseas. Our firm uses Cigna for both individual and group expat health plans and we have become a priority broker for Cigna, which means faster underwriting, better service and an independent advocate for our Cigna clients. Cigna offers three main plans to expats - Silver, Gold and Platinum - with the ability to add out-patient care, wellness, evacuation and dental coverage. You can even expand your coverage to include treatment in the USA! Cigna Global provides excellent service and coverage along with a large direct medical network. It is the name to trust when it comes to international health insurance providers. We have offered their plans for many years and you can get a quote and purchase online with the same coverage and rates, but with our added support and advocacy. We strongly recommend you get a quote online today.
- MSH International is another great international health insurance provider with excellent health plan options for expats. This Canadian and French global health provider offers personal service and support along with a very good network.
- International Medical Group is a capable provider of international health coverage and travel insurance that we have also worked with for many years. IMG offers several plans to expatriates and even some local nationals in select countries. This company is based in Indianapolis, USA and has been in the global medical market for many years. Their plans are underwritten by Sirius International.
- Allianz is a very large global insurance company that we have offered to expatriates for many years. It is a well-known and capable insurer with many billions in assets. We offer their global health coverage online.
- GeoBlue is an American-based expat insurance provider based in the USA which we recommend to American expatriates. GeoBlue is owned by BUPA and offers a very wide medical network, especially in the United States.
The above is a partial list of the international health insurance firms that we work with. Each has its own unique advantages and disadvantages, so it makes sense to contact us to discuss your unique requirements. We can recommend a provider that would best suit you, and you can then obtain the coverage either online or offline.
We've worked with expats around most of the world and can even offer international mobility plans that can include global healthcare, dental, evacuation and life coverage for expat groups.
