Foreign Visitors’ Health Insurance Guide
Visitors traveling to another country may be required to have health insurance coverage depending on their destination country. While health insurance may not be required in all countries, it is still highly recommended to help protect you and your loved ones abroad.
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Are you a foreigner who is planning on visiting a new country? Are you unsure if you’ll need health insurance coverage for your time abroad? The insurance experts at Pacific Prime have created this useful guide to answer all your questions.
We will share details on health insurance requirements dependent on the country, the difference between health insurance policies, and more. Keep reading to learn more, or visit our website and compare quotes from health insurance providers for free.
Health Insurance for Visitors Traveling Abroad
Visitors should purchase health insurance for their time abroad to protect themselves against unexpected costs. If you don’t have health insurance and you have a medical emergency, you will be forced to pay the entire cost of payment out of pocket.
Health insurance is essential for those visiting foreign countries not only because of medical coverage, but a variety of other benefits that insurance providers can offer. For example, many insurance providers offer 24/7 member service lines with language support.
With the help of these member support lines, you can find the closest medical facilities near you wherever you are. Health insurance can also help fulfill any visa requirements countries may have.
Health Insurance Requirements for Foreign Visitors
Some countries require foreigners visiting on visitor visas to have health insurance, such as the Schengen Area. Health insurance for a Schengen Visa must cover hospitalization, medical treatment, and repatriation coverage. The minimum coverage limit is €30,000 (USD $33,000).
With a Schengen Visa, visitors can move between 26 countries freely. US citizens with passports aren’t required to have a Schengen Visa to visit Schengen Area.
The countries included in the Schengen Area are:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- The Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
Additional requirements for health insurance for a Schengen Visa are valid coverage for the entire duration of your stay, and coverage that is valid in all 26 countries. International health insurance is a great choice for Schengen insurance, due to its global coverage.
International health insurance is usually longer-term than travel insurance, which offers more short-term coverage. We will explain more of the difference between the two in the following section.
Short-Term Coverage vs. Long-Term Health Insurance Coverage
Visitors traveling abroad can choose between short-term health insurance coverage, usually offered in travel medical insurance policies, or long-term coverage. International health insurance plans are typically longer-term with plans that start at a year and can go longer.
Short-Term Health Insurance for Foreign Visitors
Short-term health insurance coverage is available in most travel medical insurance policies, but it can also be available in international health insurance policies. For example, Allianz Care offers short-term health insurance plans in 3, 6, or 9-month durations.
Travel medical insurance is an insurance plan that offers medical and travel benefits designed to protect policyholders against financial risks associated with traveling. These risks can include baggage loss, flight delays, cancellations, and more.
Short-term health insurance plans will offer more comprehensive medical benefits, covering general practitioner visits, but they won’t offer the travel benefits of a travel insurance plan.
Long-Term Health Insurance for Foreign Visitors
Visitors looking for more long-term health insurance coverage can find what they’re looking for in international health insurance plans. International health insurance plans can last a year or more depending on the plan chosen, making it a great choice for those who plan on traveling long-term.
International health insurance plans come in wide varieties of coverage and annual limits, with some offering more basic coverage and others with more comprehensive benefits. They can also be purchased in individual policies or for families.
Popular international health insurance providers for visitors and expats are Cigna, AXA, and Bupa Global. To compare plans from these insurance companies and others, check out our free quote tool.
Key Features to Look for in Visitors’ Health Insurance
Visitors looking for health insurance for their travels should watch for key features like medical emergency coverage, medical evacuation and repatriation coverage, and more. Inpatient benefits like surgery and hospitalization coverage are also vital and can save you from costly medical bills.
We will go over these key features in further detail below:
- Medical Emergency Coverage: Medical emergency coverage can protect you against any unexpected medical emergencies you may face while traveling abroad. This can include cover against medical bills for expensive treatment.
- Medical Evacuation: Medical evacuation is when you need to be transported to the nearest adequately-equipped hospital for emergency treatment, and can include expensive helicopter rides. This is especially important for those who plan to travel to remote areas.
- Repatriation of Remains Coverage: In the tragic event of the policyholder dying while abroad, repatriation of remains coverage will cover the cost of sending the remains to their family in their home country.
- Hospitalization and Surgery Coverage: Coverage for hospitalization and surgery is a vital part of health insurance coverage, as these medical services are usually the most expensive. Without this coverage, you could be stuck paying extremely high medical bills.
Understanding the Cost of Health Insurance for Foreign Visitors
The cost of health insurance can vary across plans and is also affected by factors like age, destination, and the length of stay abroad. More comprehensive health insurance plans will cost more, while plans with basic coverage will be more affordable.
We will discuss the factors that affect cost below:
- Age: The older you are, the more expensive your health insurance plans generally will be. This is because health insurance companies will weigh the risk of insuring you and the chances of needing medical care rise with age.
- Destination: Countries like the US or Singapore with higher healthcare costs often will have more expensive health insurance policies. This price increase is to reflect the cost of medical services in these countries.
- Length of Stay: The cost of insurance premiums on health insurance policies will also be affected by the length of stay. Short-term health insurance policies generally are less expensive overall but may cost more per month than long-term health insurance policies.
To save on health insurance costs, you should take the time to assess your health insurance needs and choose a plan that fits your budget and lifestyle best.
How to Choose the Right Health Insurance Plan as a Foreign Visitor
Visitors can choose the right health insurance plan for their budget and lifestyle by following steps like assessing their health needs and risks, researching local health systems and costs, and more. By taking the time to do their research, visitors can choose a plan that works for them.
Step One: Assess Your Health Needs and Risks
The first step is assessing your health needs and risks as a visitor traveling to a foreign country. Do you have any pre-existing conditions that will need medical care while you are abroad? Are you going to a country with any disease outbreaks and will you be at risk of these illnesses?
By asking yourself these vital questions, you can determine what medical benefits you will need and what you might not need. This can help narrow your choices in health insurance plans.
Step Two: Research Local Health Systems and Costs
Take the time to research your destination country’s local health system and what it costs. You will want to know if they offer high-quality healthcare facilities, or if you will need to visit a neighboring country for any medical emergencies.
If you are visiting a country with expensive healthcare, such as the U.S., you will want to make sure you purchase a health insurance plan that can adequately cover the cost of receiving medical treatment in that country.
Step Three: Compare Plans Online
Once you are aware of the medical benefits and coverage limits you will need, you can begin comparing plans online. To save time, you can do this with the help of an insurance broker. They will have online tools and resources to help you quickly compare between many plans.
Take your time comparing the benefits and costs of each plan to choose the best plan for your budget and medical needs. You can also see if these plans are customizable, and if you will be able to tailor the benefits to your needs.
Step Four: Read the Fine Print
When shopping for health insurance, you should always read the fine print of each plan to understand any possible exclusions or limitations. You may find that not all plans cover pre-existing conditions, or protect you from accidents caused by extreme sports.
If you are confused by the insurance jargon included in the terms and conditions of health insurance plans, you can always ask an insurance expert from Pacific Prime for clarification. We are happy to help with any insurance questions you may have at no cost to you.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Is health insurance required for foreign visitors?
Health insurance may be required for visa applications depending on the country, such as the Schengen Area. While other countries do not outright require it, it is still highly recommended to protect you and your loved ones against unexpected high medical bills.
Will my foreign visitor health insurance cover pre-existing conditions?
Not all health insurance plans will cover pre-existing conditions, so it’s important to read the fine print and terms and conditions of health insurance plans before you apply. Some plans may offer coverage for pre-existing conditions under certain conditions.
Conclusion:
Even if the country you plan to visit doesn’t require health insurance, having a health insurance policy can protect your finances from unexpected illness or medical emergencies. Health insurance policies can also offer valuable resources to expats and visitors abroad.
Are you ready to begin shopping for health insurance? Whether you’re looking for travel insurance or international health insurance, Pacific Prime has you covered. As an insurance broker, we can give our clients free and unbiased advice and help compare a wide variety of plans.
You can contact us online, or call us toll-free at 1-800-868-1451. If you’d like to compare quotes from multiple insurance providers, use our free quote tool!
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Serena earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of British Columbia, Canada. As such, she is an avid advocate of mental health and is fascinated by all things psychology (especially if it’s cognitive psychology!).
Her previous work experience includes teaching toddlers to read, writing for a travel/wellness online magazine, and then a business news blog. These combined experiences give her the skills and insights she needs to explain complex ideas in a succinct way. Being the daughter of an immigrant and a traveler herself, she is passionate about educating expats and digital nomads on travel and international health insurance.
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