Finding the Best Worldwide Medical Insurance Coverage
Expats will want to find the best global medical insurance coverage for their time abroad to make sure they are healthy and protected from expensive medical bills. The best worldwide medical insurance plan will have customizable benefits, wide global coverage, and more.
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Are you thinking of traveling to or living in a different country? Do you travel a lot for work and want to keep your health protected while you’re abroad? Pacific Prime has all the information you need to understand what provider and plan will benefit you most during your journey.
In this article, we will share the best international health insurance providers for expats in today’s insurance market, as well as the key benefits to look out for in a plan. Keep reading to learn how you can find the best worldwide medical insurance coverage today!
Discovering Top Global Health Insurance Providers
Some of the top global health insurance providers include Cigna, GeoBlue, Bupa Global, and more. These international insurance providers provide expats with comprehensive health insurance plans with varying limits and deductibles, with options for every budget.
Here is a list of some of the top international health insurance providers:
For more information on these international health insurers, reach out to the insurance experts at Pacific Prime. We are partnered with these providers and can help you navigate their policies and even provide you with a free quote.
Best Worldwide Medical Insurance Key Benefits
The best global health insurance policy will have key features like wide geographical coverage, broad networks, flexible coverage, and medical evacuation and repatriation. Other important benefits also include language support and other expat services.
Wide Geographical Coverage
Covers the policyholder across multiple regions instead of one specific country like a local health insurance policy. This means that wherever expats travel across the globe, they can take their plans with them and are guaranteed coverage.
Expats, global citizens, students abroad, and business professionals who travel often and work abroad will benefit most from this.
More Accessible Networks
Covers a wider network of worldwide healthcare providers and hospitals, instead of one specific geographic area. This makes it easier for the policyholder to receive care for their medical needs.
Additionally, a lot of the top worldwide insurance providers have direct billing set up with many international hospitals. You won’t have to deal with the hassle of paying upfront and waiting for a refund, as direct billing will take care of the payment for you.
Flexible Coverage
Worldwide medical insurance coverage is more flexible than local health insurance policies and generally allows adjustments and customization to coverage depending on the policyholder’s needs. There is also room for customizable benefits, such as optical, dental, maternity, and newborn cover.
With the best worldwide medical insurance plan, you can customize your benefits so they work for you, and you don’t have to pay for coverage you will never use.
Emergency Medical Evacuation and Repatriation
The best worldwide medical health insurance plan will include coverage for emergency medical evacuation and repatriation, which can provide peace of mind to global travelers in case of any serious medical injuries or accidents.
Emergency medical evacuation will transport expats who have suffered a serious injury or accident to the nearest adequate health center or hospital for treatment. The repatriation benefit means the policyholder’s body will be returned to their home country if they pass away.
Language Support
Many of the best international health insurance providers offer multilingual support for their members, as well as other digital services, to help expats during their time abroad.
As expats travel across the world, they are likely going to be in hospitals and healthcare centers with workers who do not share the same native language. Language support can be a great help to expats who are having trouble communicating with their healthcare providers.
Why Expats and Travelers Need Worldwide Coverage
Worldwide coverage is essential for expats because of the coverage it offers regardless of location, as well as the protection it offers for unexpected health events. Local health insurance can only cover you within the border of one country, which isn’t as useful to those who travel often.
If you don’t have adequate coverage while traveling abroad, you could be forced to cover the total charge of some very high medical bills in the case of an accident or health emergency. With international health insurance, you’ll be protected against any health emergency.
Who Does Worldwide Medical Insurance Cover?
Worldwide medical insurance covers individuals, families, retirees, students, and groups. International medical insurance plans come in different variations to fit every age and lifestyle, with benefits and limits that make sense for every situation.
Regardless if you are looking for an individual policy or a family plan that will cover you and all your dependents, you can rest assured that there is a plan available for your needs.
Comparing the Best Worldwide Insurance Providers
When comparing international insurance providers, you should consider key factors like their coverage areas, benefits, premium prices, eligibility, and ratings. You can make choosing a provider easier as well by comparing quotes between insurers.
- Coverage Areas: Ensure the provider and plan you are looking at covers the country you will be residing in or visiting. Some providers also allow you to choose policies that exclude coverage in the U.S. so you can save on your premiums.
- Benefits: It is imperative to choose a plan with benefits that will cover all of your healthcare needs and priorities. If you are someone who will need regular dental care, make sure you choose a plan that has dental coverage options.
- Premium Prices: Insurance policy premiums can vary greatly, and it’s important to choose the right provider that fits your budget. If you’re looking to keep your premiums low, you can opt for higher deductible plans with in-patient-only coverage.
- Eligibility: Ensure you are eligible for the plan you are applying for by taking notice of any exclusions or age limits on the policy. Some plans may or may not cover pre-existing conditions as well.
- Ratings: Looking at the customer reviews and ratings of the international insurance company can help you choose a provider.
Tips for Choosing a Worldwide Medical Insurance Plan
Helpful tips for choosing a worldwide health insurance plan include understanding your own health needs, knowing your budget limits, and taking care to read the terms and conditions of the policy thoroughly.
Understand Your Health Needs and Budget
Take the time to understand what you are looking for in a policy. Do you want a plan with extensive medical benefits so all your healthcare needs are covered? Or are you more interested in in-patient-only coverage to save on your premiums?
Understanding your own needs can help you choose between providers and their plans, but it’s important not only to choose a plan because it is the cheapest option. You may end up paying more out of pocket if you do not have the coverage you need in a serious health event.
Read the Terms and Conditions Thoroughly
When choosing an international health insurance policy, it is important to carefully read the terms and conditions so you are not surprised by any exclusions or limits in your plan. No one wants to be left unaware of an important detail hidden in terms and conditions.
Insurance jargon can be confusing, so if you’re having trouble understanding any part of a policy, feel free to contact an insurance expert today for answers.
Travel Medical Insurance Coverage
Expats who aren’t planning on being abroad longer than 3 months can choose a travel insurance policy to protect their medical needs. Travel insurance can cover medical emergencies and inpatient costs, as well as other customizable healthcare services.
In addition to medical coverage, travel insurance can also provide coverage that will help prevent financial losses in regard to common travel issues.
Some of this coverage includes:
- Trip Cancellation and Delay Coverage
- Baggage Loss Coverage
- Travel Document Loss Coverage
- Personal Liability Coverage
Travel insurance differs from international health insurance as it is a short-term coverage option. Expats looking to spend longer periods of time traveling should invest in a long-term health insurance option so they are well protected during their time abroad.
Group Medical Insurance Coverage Options
Another option for medical insurance while living abroad is through group insurance policies, available for organized groups, non-profit agencies, and businesses. Group insurance can offer comprehensive and competitive employee benefit packages for your employees.
Expats living abroad with international employees and group members will benefit from group policies. Group policies have the benefit of lower premiums per individual and generally have minimal underwriting.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is the best worldwide medical insurance?
The best worldwide medical insurance policy will have extensive global coverage, customizable and comprehensive benefits, accessible networks, and language support. The best policy will also depend on your preferred level of coverage.
How can I pick the right worldwide medical insurance plan?
You can pick the right global health insurance plan for you by understanding your coverage needs and comparing providers and plans online. Make sure to read every policy thoroughly and not skim over the terms and conditions. Consult a broker for impartial advice.
How much does a global health insurance plan cost on average?
Annual costs vary across plans and providers, but the average cost is around USD$5000 per year. Limited benefit plans can go as low as USD $500 annually, while more comprehensive and extensive benefits plans can go up to nearly USD $8000 annually.
Which health insurance company is the largest globally?
Cigna Global is the biggest health insurance company to offer private medical insurance. Cigna Global has more than 180 million customers across the world and a global network of 1.7 million healthcare providers.
Conclusion
Expats can find the best worldwide medical insurance for themselves by understanding their needs and budgets and by comparing providers and policies. Pacific Prime makes comparing quotes from different insurance providers easy with our free online quote comparison tool.
For more answers to all your insurance-related questions, reach out to our experts directly. As brokers, we are not tied to any one particular insurance provider and can give you unbiased advice on which policy would fit your specific situation best.
Contact Pacific Prime today to get started on your health insurance journey!
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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