International health insurance

What is international health insurance?

If you’re planning a move abroad, getting international health insurance, also known as international private medical insurance (IPMI), will help cover you for the cost of medical treatment while you are away.

IPMI can cover you for emergency and routine healthcare wherever you are in the world, and you can choose the policy that works for you, based on your needs and budget.

Given that standards and medical services vary enormously from country to country, international health insurance is a simple way to make sure that you and your family get a good standard of healthcare.

You will also get support to help you navigate care abroad, expert advice and peace of mind.

Do I need international health insurance?

If you’re studying or working overseas, or part of the family of someone doing this, international health insurance often makes sense. It may even be a must-have.

In some countries, if you’re registered as a resident and are paying social security (national insurance), you’ll have access to state-run healthcare.

However, you may still need to contribute to the costs of any care you receive. Elsewhere, you may have to take out private health insurance or pay for treatments in full.

In countries with very limited medical facilities, international health insurance is essential.

There are some other reasons for taking out international health insurance, too:

• Permanent residency can take a long time to finalise – health cover can tide you over while you wait

• It can give you access to medical specialists that you wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford or get an appointment with

• Paying a fixed cost for healthcare makes it easier to budget and removes unpredictable costs, depending on the kind of cover you have.

To find out more about the country you’re heading to, take a look at the guide provided by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

There’s also advice on planning your healthcare abroad on the NHS website.

The GHIC and EHIC

There’s another way to get free or subsided healthcare while you’re travelling within the EU, and that’s with a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC).

The GHIC replaced the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) scheme in most cases – although if you’ve got one of the EHIC cards, it’s valid until the expiry date. After that, you’ll need to apply for the GHIC, which is free of charge.

With a GHIC, UK nationals who become ill or have an accident while travelling in the European Economic Area (EEA) have access to “medically necessary state-provided healthcare” in the country they’re in. This means medical care that can’t wait until you get back to the UK.

The treatments covered by the GHIC include:

• Emergency treatments in A&E

• Treatments for long-term or pre-existing conditions – although you may need to pre-arrange certain treatments, such as kidney dialysis or chemotherapy

• Routine medical care for pre-existing conditions that need monitoring

• Routine maternity care, although you can’t go abroad to give birth.

Do I need international health insurance if I have a GHIC?

The GHIC isn’t a substitute for international health insurance. For a start, it’s only usable in a small number of countries and it’s only for short-term stays – usually up to 90 days.

So if you’re emigrating, retiring or working abroad for a longer period, it won’t be suitable for your whole stay.

Although it covers you for some treatments in countries within the EEA, you may have to pay for others or make a contribution towards them.

The card isn’t accepted in most countries outside the EEA, and it won’t cover you for any treatment in a private facility.

What does international health insurance cover?

The level of cover you get from your international health insurance depends on the insurance provider and the plan you choose.

However, you can expect to see some, or all, of the following, either as part of the basic plan, as optional extras, or included as part of a more expensive policy:

• Inpatient/day-care treatments

• Out-patient treatments

• Hospital accommodation

• Oncology (cancer treatment)

• Diagnostic scans including CT, PET and MRI scans

• Annual check-ups

• Virtual care for minor health issues

• Emergency evacuation

• 24-hour assistance

• Cover for dependents

• Repatriation

• Chronic conditions

• Cover while you’re travelling

• Prescription drugs

• Maternity/pregnancy care

• Dental treatments

• Mental health care

• Opticians’ appointments and treatments

• Your choice of specialist/hospital

• Worldwide cover, including your home country – if the USA is included, it may increase the premium as healthcare is very expensive there.

Policies can vary significantly, so always check the terms of any international health plan you’re considering before you sign on the dotted line. That way you’ll know what you’re covered for and what you’re not.

What’s not included in international health insurance cover?

Once again, your insurance provider makes the call on this, but the following may be excluded or limited by your policy:

• Cover for pre-existing medical conditions

• Any treatments you have that are against medical advice

• The cost of arranging treatment – for example, any phone calls you make

• Cosmetic surgery

• Healthcare outside your area of cover

• Treatment to prevent, rather than treat, illness.

Before you take out any international health insurance policy, always read the small print to make sure it’s giving you the level of cover you need.

How much is international health insurance and how often do I pay it?

The cost of international health insurance can vary depending on:

• The number of people covered

• The age of those covered

• Their medical history

• The level of cover required

• Any benefits and extras included

• The insurance provider itself

• The country you’re moving to – or the countries you want to be covered in.

You may have the choice of paying monthly, annually or, depending on the insurance provider, quarterly. There may be a discount for paying annually.

With many comprehensive international health insurance policies, you also have the option to include an excess – the amount you’re willing to pay yourself before you’d need the insurance to kick in and cover the rest. It’s sometimes called a deductible.

In most cases, the larger the excess, the lower the premiums.

Even after you’ve paid any chosen excess, you may still have to contribute a proportion of the cost of some treatments. This is sometimes called co-pay or co-insurance. It depends on the plan and provider you choose.

There’s usually a cooling-off period from the policy start date, during which time you can cancel without paying a fee.

How do I make a claim?

The claims process for international health insurance can vary depending on the plan and provider you choose.

For some treatments or healthcare services, you may need to contact the insurer beforehand so it can check if the care is covered and find you a nearby medical facility that’s part of its network.

In some cases, your provider may be able to pay for your treatment directly, so you’re not faced with a bill you have to then get reimbursed.

If you had emergency care and couldn’t clear it with your international health insurance provider beforehand, you’ll need to get in touch with your provider as soon as you can.

There’s usually a timeframe in which to make your application – or in certain circumstances, someone may be able to make it for you.

You’ll need to share your policy number and details of the situation. You should hold onto any bills you receive, and any receipts for payment, as well as any supporting documents – such as a discharge report or written diagnosis from a doctor. You may need to provide evidence to support your claim.

Looking for international health insurance?

Although you can’t compare international health insurance with us, Compare the Market’s international health insurance advice partner, Howden Life & Health, might be able to help. Contact them on 0808 141 1334.

Looking for private medical insurance?

We can help if you are from overseas and are looking for a quote for private health insurance in the UK.