Purchasing Global Health Plans can be a complicated and sometimes confusing task with numerous providers, different carriers, and many, many options available to you from insurance companies from all around the world. At International Citizens, we are specialized international insurance brokers operating as International Health and Travel insurance Group (AKA InternationalInsurance.com) who are here to take the guesswork out of your insurance purchase and provide you with a broad range of international health insurance plans available on the market.
In order to offer a more comprehensive resource for international insurance options, we are moving the majority of our content to www.InternationalInsurance.com where you can find comparisons of more products and companies in the travel and medical insurance business. For those of you living abroad, we have Expat Insurance Plans providing excellent benefits including worldwide coverage from the top global health providers.
Not only do we offer some of the very best health insurance plans for internationals and expatriates from all around the world, but our highly trained insurance agents are also on hand to assist you and provide you with all the information to purchase the right insurance plan for you. To get started, we have a range of expatriate health insurance plans that will offer a range of coverage options that should meet most requirements.
International Health Plan Comparison on InternationalInsurance.com
To make your insurance purchase easier, we have created a global medical comparison chart (review and compare) so you can quickly and easily see all the plans side-by-side, allowing you to evaluate the plans and see the benefits of each against the others. Our online comparison tool does not show you the full plan benefits, so please make sure to view the full policy benefits and exclusions before purchasing your insurance plan.
For Group Options: International Group Insurance plans
Our International Health Insurance Plans on InternationalInsurance.com Include:
Cigna Global Insurance Plan
- Access to Cigna Global’s network of trusted hospitals, clinics, and doctors
- The flexibility to tailor a plan to suit your individual needs
- The convenience and confidence of 24/7/365 customer service
IMG Global Medical Plan
- Five plan options and additional optional coverages.
- Choice of the coverage area to reflect your geographical area of need.
- Freedom to choose your health care provider wherever you are in the world.
Xplorer Worldwide Medical Coverage
- Customize your medical coverage to suit your needs
- Define your deductible and prescription benefits
- Choose providers either in or out of our elite network
Other Global Health Insurance Plans:
What is International Private Health Insurance
Citizens who are from countries where individuals do not typically have health insurance or do not usually shop for their own private coverage might wonder what is health insurance when they relocate to a country where health insurance is needed.
Health plans can be thought of as a safety net. Just as most individuals have a savings account or rainy day fund for life emergencies, a health insurance plan is a harness for your health. Medical expenses around the world can vary greatly, if visiting or relocating to a country where health care costs are high, health insurance can keep an individual from being drowned in debt.
However, not every health insurance plan is created equal. When shopping for health insurance you will want to review the benefits of each plan that is under consideration as well as the exclusions. This will give you good insight into what type of coverage the plan consists of. Do you want a plan that will cover mainly illness and injury or do you want one that also includes wellness? Decide on the benefits you want and make sure they are included in the plan you choose.
Also, a key consideration when it comes to purchasing health insurance is timing. If an individual waits until a condition that needs treatment occurs, they might not be able to find a plan that will provide them with the coverage they need or want. Insurance plans will often call these conditions “pre-existing conditions.” Although some plans exclude pre-existing conditions from being covered, there are also some that will still allow the individual to have coverage right away for that condition or after a waiting period. It is just as important to find out when to purchase health insurance as it is to discover what is health insurance.
Additional Health Insurance Resources on InternationalInsurance.com
We have consolidated the majority of our insurance resources on our International Travel Insurance Comparison Site: International Citizens Insurance where you can also: Compare and Review Travel Medical Plans. If you need cover for a year or less, consider a Short-Term Travel Medical Plan or visitors insurance.
Health Insurance Plans for US Citizens Abroad
If you are a US citizen trying to find international health insurance, unfortunately the process is not automatically easier because the coverage will be based outside of the US. You will still want to ensure that you find a plan that you can count on, has each of the benefits you need and can provide customer service in English when you need assistance. To make the process a bit easier, here are a few tips that you can follow when looking for international health insurance for US citizens.
Know the Eligibility Requirements
Some international insurance plans will require you to be outside of the US or within a certain time frame of your travel outside the US when you purchase your plan. Others will require you to purchase it before you leave. Looking beyond where you are when you purchase the plan- there might also be requirements when it comes to where you are going, many plans have certain countries where coverage is excluded. Before getting too deep into what benefits a plan offers, first check if you are even eligible.
Understand Your Benefits
It’s important to look at each benefit more than in a quick scan. Dive into the plan brochure and read the fine print. Some benefits like maternity, mental health and pre-existing conditions have a waiting period before they are covered. Some plans have coverage for common conditions but might exclude those over a certain age. Spend some time researching your insurance and make sure it has the coverage you need.
Don’t Skip the Time Restrictions
If you need your health insurance plan for a brief trip outside the US make sure you can purchase your plan for the amount of time needed. If you plan on relocating and becoming an expat in a new country- make sure you are able to renew the plan for years to come.
Related: US Medical Insurance for Immigrants and Expats in America
Why You Need an Expatriate Health Insurance Plan
Some health care systems may have limited resources; others may allow you to go to public facilities requiring an insurance plan to cover private facilities. Knowing about the country you are traveling to and the health care they provide is crucial. Questions to ask yourself, include :
- What will I do if I have an emergency situation in my host country?
- Will I be able to seek treatment in a non-emergency situation?
- What type of doctors and hospitals will I be able to go to?
- Are there doctors and hospitals that I want to go to – will I be able to seek treatment there?
- What happens if I return home and have developed a condition that requires continuous treatment?
You should investigate your options so that you are properly covered at home and abroad. For many, individuals who are relocating overseas choose to compare international health plan since this coverage will give you flexibility in choosing your doctor or hospital – including at private facilities. Some insurance plans will even cover you when you return home for short or long-term visits, including if you need continuous care at home.
Related: Expatriate Insurance
Popular Expatriate Health Insurance Plans
- Expat Insurance for Americans Abroad
- Health Insurance for Expats in China
- Canadian Expatriate Health Insurance
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