Top 10 Questions to Ask Your International Health Insurance Provider

Important Questions to Ask Your Global Insurance Broker & Insurance Company

Choosing global health coverage can be very difficult and one of the many things you have to do if you are moving abroad or already living overseas. Obtaining excellent international health insurance is vital if you and your family are expatriates. A major illness or injury could put your health at risk if you can’t access adequate medical care, but also your finances. We have created the top 10 questions to ask your international health insurance provider in order to make your transition as easy as possible.

Most experts agree it makes sense to work with an expat insurance specialist firm like ours. To help you in your global journey, we have put together 10 questions to ask your international health insurance provider before relocating.

Question #1: Does your company cover expats for life?

Many people move abroad for long periods or when they are older, so getting a global health plan that covers them for life is vital. This is especially important for those planning to retire abroad. We often get requests from senior expats who want to retire in the Caribbean or in Asia. Many international health care plans will not cover you past a certain age or will restrict benefits once you reach 65. Therefore, ask whether the plan can keep you and your partner covered for life. Of course, premiums will increase with age, but no one wants to get kicked off a plan when they need coverage the most. Most global health insurance companies can’t cover expats who spend more than 180 days in their country of citizenship. If you move back permanently to your home country, you will most likely need to get a local health plan.

Question #2: Are there doctors in my city and country that I can access?

The size and quality of a global health insurance company’s medical network for direct reimbursement is critical, so it makes sense to ask your potential insurer or broker for a list of medical providers in your new country or region. Most expats want to be able to show a card and not pay out of pocket for medical expenses at a hospital or, if they are in the USA, at most clinics, hospitals, doctors, or pharmacies. Most quality insurers will be able to give you a list of doctors and hospitals that you can work with.

Question #3: Is there a free choice of hospitals and doctors in the plan?

When choosing a global health plan for you and your family, select one that lets you choose whichever doctor or hospital you want to use. That hospital may not be in the provider network mentioned above, but you can at least get treated there, pay out of pocket, and be reimbursed by the insurance company.

Note that in some countries and cities, you may not be able to find a hospital in the insurer’s network, and some facilities simply do not want to work with an international insurer. We also find that in some countries, facilities are often not experienced in working with a foreign-based insurer.

Question #4: Can the insurer provide a guarantee of payment to the hospital if outside of the network?

For large medical expenses incurred at a hospital overseas that is not in the medical network, it makes sense to deal with an insurance company that offers 24/7 claims support and can guarantee payment if required. This should allow you to receive medical treatment without paying out of pocket, as the hospital can call the insurer and confirm payment for approved medical procedures. You can also get a medical second opinion at the same time. Check out the article we wrote on this subject: How do expat patients obtain a guarantee of payment for treatment?

Question #5: Can the insurance company cover my pre-existing medical condition?

We often get this question for expats or those about to venture abroad. A previous illness or injury or ongoing pre-existing ailment has to be disclosed when you apply for international health insurance. All individual expat health plans are medically underwritten, and the insurer will either decline, accept, request an additional premium, or exclude the condition.

People often get angry when their condition is excluded, but they can ask us to advocate on their behalf and supply more information to the insurer, especially from the doctor. If the insurer still excludes the condition, we can give you a rough idea of how other insurers will view the condition. It usually makes sense to take the policy, especially if the condition would not cause too much financial harm if left uncovered.

If you are part of a global benefit plan that has international healthcare for a large number of expat employees, more than likely, the plan will cover pre-existing conditions.

Question #6: Should I add coverage for the USA, and how much will it cost?

Most global health plans will provide worldwide medical treatment, excluding the USA, or allow you to add treatment there for an extra fee. If you are an American expat, it almost always makes sense to add this coverage option, as you will likely want to return home for medical treatment to your regular doctors and family.

Adding a US coverage option can dramatically increase your premium, but not necessarily by much, for American expatriates with our online Cigna plan. If you are an expatriate living in the USA, it is often a good idea to arrange care in the USA, as your home country may not be able to provide adequate care there.

Question #7: How much will I save if I pay annually instead of monthly?

Most expat insurance partners we work with will offer a 7-10% discount if you pay your premiums annually rather than monthly. For my son, who recently moved abroad to study, I took this option because the savings were simply too large to ignore. If you can afford it, we definitely recommend paying annually.

Question #8: When can I apply for international medical?

We often get requests from people who are thinking about moving abroad in 6 to 12 months, but most insurers will not allow you to apply for coverage until you are 30 to 45 days out from leaving your country of residence. If you are already living abroad, you can usually request an effective date the very next day – assuming you are approved. Apply today for our most popular global health plan from Cigna. We do have other plans, but this one is a great start to a discussion.

Question #9: Does the global health plan cover maternity expenses?

If you are planning to add to your expat family or have children for the first time, it is a good idea to check whether your international health plan covers maternity and newborn expenses. Some plans will fully exclude maternity, while others will include it with a fee or as part of the insurer’s more deluxe coverage. All individual health plans have a 9– or 12-month waiting period before maternity expenses are reimbursed. Some group expat health plans will cover maternity expenses without a waiting period. It is critical to have your maternity coverage if you will be having a child abroad, as the costs can be quite enormous.

Why do insurers not want to cover an existing pregnancy? The answer is that the risk of a pregnancy that does not go well can run into the several hundreds of thousands or even over a million. They worry about people who did not obtain maternity coverage and only secure it when there is a medical issue. Most global benefit plans with international healthcare can cover an existing pregnancy. Talk to your HR director to ask if there is coverage for pregnancy.

Question  #10: How much will the premium cost for international health insurance?

Perhaps the most obvious and important question to ask your global insurance broker and insurance provider is how much a global health policy will cost. The cost of any international health plan depends on various factors, such as your age, occupation, gender, citizenship, where you reside, deductible level, the options you choose, and more. There are many options in the USA, including outpatient care, evacuation, maternity coverage, dental care, and medical care.

It makes sense to speak with our expat insurance expert advisors at Expat Financial to discuss your requirements. It is easy to review all the options and get a quote online from one of our many international health insurance providers, such as IMG and Cigna. Note that premiums will increase as you age, and also if you add your partner or dependent children to a policy. Please contact us today to discuss your global insurance requirements and answer your international health insurance questions today.

These top 10 questions to ask your international health insurance provider are just a starting point for choosing a plan. The above article primarily relates to individual policies but is also relevant to the group expat medical plans that we offer multinational employers.

We recommend that you call, email, or request a quote online for one of the premier international health plans we offer to expatriates worldwide.

Written by David Tompkins – An expert in global healthcare coverage for international citizens with over 30 years of experience in insurance matters.