A Guide to Working Abroad Health Insurance
Working abroad health insurance can grant international employees, digital nomads, freelancers, and foreign seasonal workers health coverage for hospitalization, surgeries, general practitioner services, dental and vision care, maternity care, and much more.
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Are you working abroad and not sure what global health insurance is? Are you going to start working abroad soon and aren’t sure what the benefits are for working abroad health insurance or who to buy it from?
This Pacific Prime blog post will introduce you to international health insurance for employees abroad, 10 benefits for getting health insurance, what workers’ insurance usually covers, and the providers with the best working abroad medical insurance plans.
As you learn more, you’ll likely find you have questions. When this happens, please reach out to our insurance experts, and we will give you impartial advice from our wealth of experience in the global insurance industry.
That way, you can make a better-informed decision for your needs!
What is Global Health Insurance for Working Abroad?
International health insurance for working abroad is an insurance plan designed for the unique needs of expat individuals and families working and living overseas. This type of insurance typically covers a longer period of time and can cover inpatient and outpatient medical fees.
Global health insurance for working abroad is designed for:
- Employees who work in a foreign country for a year or more
- Digital nomads and freelancers who travel around the world
- Foreign seasonal workers
Benefits of Health Insurance for Expats Working Abroad
International health insurance benefits expats who are working abroad because it grants them healthcare coverage in their foreign country of residence, emergency healthcare coverage, repatriation back to their home country in an emergency, preventative care coverage for annual visits, and much more.
The following sections will detail 10 benefits of working abroad health insurance. You can explore quotes for actual insurance plans to get an idea of their benefits and prices when you’re ready.
1. Workers Abroad Get Healthcare Coverage
Individuals working abroad who have international health insurance get coverage for their healthcare needs. This can include benefits for annual doctor visits and vaccinations, daycare and inpatient hospitalization, surgeries, diagnostic testing, prescription medications, emergency care, and more.
Without healthcare coverage, workers abroad will be expected to pay the full price for all of their healthcare services received.
2. Emergency Coverage While Working Abroad
Workers abroad who have insurance get coverage for emergency services and treatments. This can include ambulance transportation, emergency medical services, inpatient hospitalization, medications administered, and lab testing ordered.
You can also have coverage to be transported to the nearest hospital with sufficient equipment and supplies for your unique injury or condition if you’re in a more rural area.
3. Repatriation for Global Workers
Sometimes workers around the globe need repatriation services to be transported back to their home country for additional medical care. This can cost more than USD $50,000! That’s why it’s so important to have international health insurance that includes coverage for repatriation.
4. Preventative Care is Covered for Worldwide Workers
Even healthy workers abroad still need their annual doctor visits, well-checks, health screenings, and vaccinations. Working abroad health insurance can include coverage for these outpatient preventative services and treatments.
5. Workers Abroad Get Access to a Provider Network
International health insurance providers usually have a well-established provider network that grants workers abroad access to many exceptional medical professionals who have agreed to receive insurance payments.
Benefits for workers abroad from participating in this network include:
- Recommendations for competent medical providers
- Higher access to local professionals who speak your native language
- Potential for direct billing processes already established between insurer and medical provider
6. Workers with Pre-Existing Conditions Need Coverage
If you’re working abroad and have a pre-existing medical condition, it is crucial to find a global health insurance plan that grants you coverage. Without coverage, your medical expenses could be astronomical.
7. Legal Requirement for Workers Abroad
Some countries legally require workers abroad to secure their own health insurance before they can enter the country. This is because not every country has a public health insurance scheme but medical insurance is required to legally reside in that region as an expat or local.
8. Having Peace of Mind Affects All of Life
When workers abroad have health insurance, it grants them peace of mind that if a medical need were to arise, they have insurance protection. When you feel calm for having prepared for the future, you’ll be better equipped to carry that calm into your workplace and your family life.
Ultimately, it can ease your anxiety and stress in all areas of your life.
9. Protecting Your Health Means Playing the Long Game
To keep your body and mind at their optimum functioning level, you need to continue investing in your health. Even when living abroad, it’s essential to keep up with your annual doctor visits and screenings and to have insurance coverage for when a catastrophe does come.
Playing the long game means investing in yourself even when working overseas and living abroad. Saving a little money now may not pay off when a freak accident or insurmountable medical condition pops up overseas that costs you more than you can afford on your own.
10. Workers Abroad Can Have Affordable Maternity Care
If you’re working abroad and hope to have a baby, some maternity expenses are much more affordable overseas than in the United States. For example, the average IVF cycle can cost up to USD $8,000 in the U.S., but one IVF cycle can be as low as USD $2,500 in the Czech Republic and Latvia.
By securing health insurance while working abroad, you can secure insurance coverage for your maternity expenses and fees abroad.
What Working Abroad Health Insurance Covers
Health insurance for working abroad covers doctor visits, prescriptions, general well-being and mental wellness, preventative care, hospitalization, emergency care, global access, and more! This section details each of these to give working expats an idea of what to look for in an insurance plan.
Doctor Visits
Health insurance for workers living globally can cover specialty consultations and annual well-checks with primary care providers. This includes testing, screenings, lab work, and treatments they order.
Prescriptions
Prescription medications and dressings ordered by your physician can be covered by international health insurance plans. If you have a pre-existing medical condition, be sure to verify that the plan covers your medications before selecting the plan.
Well-Being & Mental Wellness
It is becoming more and more popular for expat health insurance plans to cover mental health and wellness benefits. Some examples include inpatient and outpatient psychiatry services, several types of therapy, mental health wellness programs, and more.
Preventative Care
Outpatient preventative care and treatment are covered by comprehensive health insurance policies for overseas workers. These benefits can include annual primary care physician checkups, cancer screenings, dental and vision work, vaccinations, and more.
Hospitalization
If a foreign employee becomes hospitalized for an injury or illness, working abroad health insurance would cover your room and board fees, doctor and nurse fees, medications, surgeries, lab work, testing (such as MRIs and CAT SCANS), and more.
Emergency Care
Emergency medical treatments, transportation, and services are covered by health insurance for working expats. Many plans also include coverage for emergency repatriation and evacuation.
Global Access Through a Medical Network
Most international insurers have established medical networks in each region around the world. This means that insured workers abroad have access to their providers’ global network of top-tier medical practitioners, hospitals, and clinics.
Dental and Vision Care
It is common for insurers to design health plans for working global professionals that include optional add-on benefits for dental and vision care. These are not often included in a basic plan, so make sure to find a plan that includes these additional benefits.
Maternity Care
Depending on your provider, maternity and childbirth services can be included in generic health insurance plans. Prenatal outpatient services for the mother’s pregnancy may be an add-on through a more comprehensive coverage level. There are waiting periods for maternity benefits, so plan ahead.
Cancer Care
Cancer care is another common benefit included in health insurance plans. Some providers even pay for these benefits in full, such as Cigna.
Best Health Insurance Plans for Working Abroad
Among the top international health insurance providers are Bupa, Cigna, HOW Health, AXA, Allianz Care, Aetna International, GeoBlue, and IMG. Pacific Prime partners with each of these insurers and more, so we can help you compare their plans and negotiate to get you the best deal possible.
- Bupa: Bupa Global offers quality international health insurance plans for expats seeking medical coverage in certain regions with options for worldwide coverage.
- Cigna: Cigna Global has four core international health insurance plans for working expats: Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Close Care. Compare their benefits and exclusions.
- NOW Health International: Now Health International offers medical insurance plans for expatriates, families, global employees, international students, and groups/employers/corporations.
- AXA: AXA has five main international health insurance plans for working expats: Foundation, Standard, Comprehensive, Prestige, and Prestige Plus.
- Allianz Care: As the international health brand of the larger Allianz Partners, Allianz Care offers health, life, critical illness, and disability insurance for individuals, families, and employers around the globe.
- Aetna International: Aetna International operates in a much larger territory than its American counterpart (Aetna) and provides comprehensive health insurance and population healthcare management solutions all around the world.
- GeoBlue: GeoBlue offers expatriate health insurance, multinational corporate health insurance, and travel insurance plans for individuals and groups.
- IMG: IMG Global offers comprehensive international health and travel insurance plans for expat individuals, families, and international employees so they are covered worldwide.
Get an insurance quote here!
Travel Insurance for Workers on Short Trips Abroad
International workers who frequently travel on short trips should consider getting travel insurance that protects their traveling expenses and personal belongings and includes emergency medical coverage. Travel insurance can be purchased for single trips or for multiple trips in the same year.
Get quotes for travel insurance here, and read more about your travel insurance options on our website.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do working expats do for health insurance?
Many working expats get a health insurance plan through a global insurance provider such as Cigna, Bupa, AXA, NOW Health, or Allianz Care. Expats often prefer to purchase these plans through a broker, because the broker isn’t tied to a single provider and helps you find the best plan for your needs.
How much is health insurance for workers abroad?
The average worker abroad on an individual health insurance plan pays $7,810 a year if they live in Hong Kong, or as low as $3,594 a year if they live in Thailand. Workers in Singapore pay $7,028 annually, and workers in China pay $5,274 annually. Read more here.
Does health insurance work if I have a job worldwide?
Health insurance from your country of origin most likely does not cover you when you have a job on the other side of the world. You must purchase an international health insurance plan that is either designed to cover you in the country you are working in or to cover you in every country worldwide.
Conclusion
This guide has introduced workers who live outside of their native country to international health insurance, 10 benefits of getting health insurance as a worker abroad, 10 types of services often available for coverage, and who the best global providers are.
If you found this article meaningful, you’ll also want to read our pages Finding the Best Worldwide Medical Insurance Coverage and Living Abroad? Here’s What You Need to Know About Health Insurance.
Please reach out to us with any questions you have, and we are happy to assist you and explore insurance quotes online at your own speed.
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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