Expat Health Insurance

Expat Health Insurance: Coverage Abroad

Expat health insurance offers long-term or short-term coverage for those living or traveling abroad. Many countries require proof of insurance before entry, making it vital to secure the right plan. If you’re unsure where to start, you’re not alone–we’re here to guide you.

This page explains what expat health insurance covers, how much it costs, and which providers are best. You’ll learn how to compare plans, what to look for in coverage, and how brokers can help. For quotes or expert advice, reach out to our team anytime.

Recommended Expat Health Insurance Plans for Expatriates

Understanding Expatriate Health Insurance Coverage

Long-term expatriate health insurance is worldwide medical coverage designed for individuals, families, and groups that live abroad. It’s also known as international health insurance for expats. Plans are typically renewed annually and provide health insurance no matter what country you are in. A variety of plans are offered by providers with global expertise.

Expat health insurance is also sometimes called international health insurance.

Difference Between Global Insurance and Local Insurance

Where local health insurance is tied to a particular country and its local providers, global health insurance stretches across borders. International health providers have well-established networks with medical professionals and healthcare systems across all countries on the globe.

This allows for expatriates, digital nomads, and global citizens to travel between locations and still have access to high quality healthcare and insurance when they need medical attention.

Local health insurance only covers you in a single country. If you leave that country and have a medical emergency, your provider will not cover any of your medical expenses.
Global health insurance covers your medical fees no matter where you go in the world.

This is highly appealing to U.S. travelers and travelers from other countries who know they will be living internationally for an extended period of time and who may travel between countries while abroad.

Foreigners Health Insurance Without Worldwide Coverage

While many foreigners’ health insurance plans cover you worldwide, there are plans available that only have coverage for the single country you will be living in. If you don’t plan to travel globally while abroad, these plans may interest you because their premiums are often lower.

Our insurance experts can help you find a plan like this if you’re interested in learning more.

Help for Employers Who Need Coverage for Expat Employees

If you are an employer who needs international medical coverage for your foreign employees, Pacific Prime can assist you in finding the right group benefits for your business. Our corporate insurance solutions can help you with group health plans, wellness programs, life and disability, and more!

Discover our employee benefits solutions online.

What Expat Medical Insurance Covers Abroad

Expat medical insurance plans cover inpatient and outpatient care, emergency services, maternity care, pre-existing conditions, and sometimes vision and dental care. Many providers offer a number of plans with various ranges of coverage to choose from, and you’re usually free to customize your plan.

When choosing health insurance for expats, it’s important to understand the coverage options. Most international health insurance for expats includes the following benefits:

International Coverage: It is common for expatriates and their families to be traveling back and forth between their home country and country of residence regularly. Having international medical coverage is a major benefit when this is your situation.
Inpatient Care: Inpatient hospitalization is one of the foundational benefits of expat medical insurance. This can cover overnight stays, lab work and testing, physician and nurse fees, surgeries, medications, emergency care, and much more.
Outpatient Care: Many international citizens’ medical plans cover outpatient care such as doctor consultations, lab work and testing, outpatient procedures, prescriptions, specialist consultations, therapies, recovery treatments, and more.

If a plan does not include outpatient benefits, there is usually an optional add-on you can choose or you can increase your coverage level to a more comprehensive plan.

Emergency Services: Another foundational benefit in almost all expatriate international medical plans are the emergency medical services. This can include emergency transportation, emergency treatments and procedures, and emergency evacuation and repatriation.
Maternity Care: Some expat medical policies have coverage for maternity services, such as prenatal, postnatal, childbirth, and newborn care. Some of the best maternity insurance plans for expats abroad are offered by VUMI, Allianz Care, AXA, and Cigna.
Pre-Existing Medical Conditions: It can be difficult to find medical insurance providers that cover pre-existing medical conditions, but there are expat health plans that do. Talking to a global insurance expert, like a broker, can help guide you in the direction of getting the coverage you need.
Dental and Vision Care: It is rare for dental or vision care to be covered by expat global medical insurance except for emergency dental or vision treatments that are medically necessary due to an injury or illness. However, some providers do have routine dental and vision care add-on benefits you can choose to opt into.
24/7 Customer Support: International providers provide international citizens 24/7 access to medical assistance for claims and general inquiries by phone or email.
Guaranteed Renewability: Expat health insurance plans sold by Pacific Prime offer guaranteed renewability. This means that even if you’ve developed a chronic medical condition within the year, you’ll be able to renew your policy and retain coverage.
Direct Billing: Under a direct billing network, the hospital within the network will bill your medical fees directly to the insurer, saving you the time of having to file a claim afterwards and reducing the out-of-pocket payments you’ll need to make for each hospital visit.

It is important to note that every global traveler plan is unique, so it is your responsibility to become familiar with the entire policy, its inclusions and exclusions, before signing it. If you’d like assistance comparing plans, you can send us a message, and we will help you at no charge.

Start by Comparing Insurance Plans Online

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Most Common Exclusions in Expatriate Medical Plans

Many expatriate medical insurance plans will exclude pre-existing medical conditions, behavioral and personality disorders, sleep disorders, fertility treatment, and 4 other conditions. It is essential that expats pay attention to what will not be covered before they purchase any plan.

Here are the 8 most common health insurance exclusions:

Pre-existing Conditions
Behavioral and Personality Disorders
Fertility Treatments
Sleep Disorders
Specific Scenarios
Cosmetic Surgeries
Obesity
Acquisition of an Organ

Some of the most common excluded specific scenarios include:

Injuries or illnesses sustained as a direct result from a natural disaster
Injuries or illnesses caused by participation in illegal activity
Injuries sustained from participating in extreme sports
Treatment arising from war or terrorist acts
Self-inflicted injuries and hazardous activities

How Much International Expat Health Insurance Costs

Pacific Prime’s 2024 Cost of Health Insurance Report reveals wide variation in expat premiums. Annual individual plans range from USD $3,900 in Poland to USD $15,296 in the US, while family plans span USD $10,710 to USD $34,152. Southeast Asia is generally more affordable than North America.

Insurance rates often rise yearly due to inflation and shifting healthcare needs. Knowing average costs helps with budgeting. For clearer insights, check updated charts comparing premiums across top expat destinations.

Note: All monetary values are in USD.

Average Health Insurance Costs in Popular Expat Countries
Country	Individual Annual Average Premium	Family Annual Average Premium
United States	$15,296	$34,152
Hong Kong	$8,339	$23,558
Singapore	$6,855	$19,879
Dubai	$5,896	$17,760
Switzerland	$5,532	$15,359
Mexico	$5,485	$15,480
South Korea	$5,226	$14,660
Costa Rica	$5,100	$14,096
Portugal	$4,638	$12,828
France	$4,213	$11,587
Netherlands	$4,071	$11,196
Poland	$3,900	$10,710
Thailand	$4,695	$18,027

What to Look for in an Expat Medical Insurance Plan

When comparing expat medical insurance plans, you can look for plans that are more customizable, include the extra benefits you want, have flexible deductible options, have the annual maximums you need, and more.

Let’s discuss a list of features you can look for in a strong U.S. expat insurance plan:

How extensive the provider’s network is
How quickly claims are reimbursed or completed
What extra benefits are offered (such as dental, vision, maternity, and repatriation)
How customizable the plan is
What deductible options you have
If there are any fees in addition to your premiums
If direct billing is an option
How high the annual maximums are
If there are pre-approval requirements
How much the plan costs
If a provider has a reliable history of delivering worldwide healthcare
If you can pay claims in your own currency
If there is a healthcare professional referral service
If the benefits are comprehensive and broad
If you will have 24/7 access to assistance and medical advice

How to Apply for Expatriate Health Insurance

To apply for international citizens health insurance, you can either go directly to the insurance provider or use an intermediary, such as a broker. Each provider may be a little different, but often you can select and pay for an insurance plan online or over the phone.

If you decide to use a broker, you can contact them online or over the phone. Brokers will assist you in many ways, including helping you compare plans from a variety of providers until you have found the one that is right for you and assisting you in the application process from start to finish.

Here are the steps to applying for medical insurance for foreigners:

Step 1: Find your plan, either on your own or with the help of a broker.

Step 2: Either fill out the application process online or talk with a representative over the phone.

Step 3: The insurance provider may need to ask you a number of questions to determine your medical history and qualifications.

Step 4: You may be required to get documentation from your current medical provider to send to the insurance provider.

Step 5: When your plan is approved, your premiums will be set, and you’ll begin paying monthly for your coverage.

Step 6: After a year, you can choose to renew the plan or switch to a new one. Your broker can assist you with this as well.

Best Providers of International Health Insurance for Expats

Top providers of international health insurance for expats include Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Solutions (formerly GeoBlue), IMG, and Allianz Care. Other reputable options worth exploring are Bupa, AXA, Aetna, NOW Health International, MetLife, William Russell, MSH International, and Globality Health.

These companies are known for offering robust coverage tailored to the needs of expats worldwide. For a more complete overview, you can browse the full list of leading international health insurers and compare their plans, benefits, and global reach.

Cigna Global Expatriate Insurance

Cigna Global offers several expat health insurance plans for extended stays, including Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Close Care. Coverage limits range from $1,000,000 to unlimited, with Gold and Platinum Plans providing maternity benefits.

The Close Care plan is designed for more localized coverage, limited to your country of residence and nationality, and comes with a $500,000 annual benefit cap.

Cigna Global Insurance Plan

Global coverage available (excluding the United States)
Connect with Cigna’s extensive network of healthcare providers
Flexible deductible choices to suit your budget
Round-the-clock customer service
Four primary plan options to choose from

Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Solutions Expatriate Insurance

Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Solutions offers long-term health insurance plans specifically designed for expats, with coverage available both internationally and within the United States. Plans are designed to meet varying needs depending on where you live and the level of protection you require.

Laboratory tests and imaging services
Surgical procedures
Hospital care for urgent medical conditions
Emergency evacuation and return to home country
Annual health check-ups

IMG Expatriate Insurance

IMG offers four tiers of long-term expat health insurance: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Coverage limits per individual range from $1,000,000 to $8,000,000 annually. Maternity benefits are included with the Platinum plan.

IMG Global Insurance Plan

Global coverage with flexible plan customization
24/7 support for members anytime, anywhere
Lifetime benefits up to $8,000,000 per person

Allianz Care Expatriate Insurance

Allianz Care offers three long-term expat health insurance options: Care, Care Plus, and Care Pro. These plans provide annual coverage limits between $2,500,000 and $5,000,000. Maternity benefits are available as an optional rider for both the Care Plus and Care Pro plans.

Allianz Care Health Insurance

Leading global health insurer for expats
Access to a vast network of 1.9 million+ healthcare professionals
Fast and streamlined claims handling
Coverage limits reaching up to $5,000,000 per plan

Benefits of Using a Broker for Expatriate Health Insurance

When expatriates use an insurance broker to get expatriate health insurance abroad, they gain an intermediary who negotiates with the provider on their behalf, who knows the international insurance market, who can compare plans with other top providers, and who works with them at no charge.

Are you considering going directly to the insurance provider? Here’s why a broker might better serve your needs:

Brokers are not loyal to any particular insurer: Going directly to an insurer means they’ll recommend only their products and services, which may not necessarily be the best plan out there to meet your needs and budget.

On the contrary, brokers work with a range of different insurers and can give you a tailored plan comparison of all your options on the market.

Brokers provide a number of value-added services: In addition to helping you find a suitable plan, brokers also tend to help you fill out insurance forms, liaise with insurers, and negotiate the best terms, as well as file claims for reimbursement and renew a plan.

This level of support and assistance is particularly important if you’re new to the world of international insurance and don’t understand global insurance jargon.

Brokers don’t charge extra: The cost to you is the same as going directly to the insurer! Many insurers rely on brokers to help them sell their insurance products so they don’t tend to offer any extra discounts or lower premiums if you go directly to them.

As such, it makes sense to go to a broker as you’ll pay the same amount AND benefit from the previously mentioned impartial advice and value-added services!

Pacific Prime is a leading global insurance broker that has helped over one million global travelers secure insurance. We have a robust global presence and solid partnerships with dynamic insurance providers.

We know insurance, and we know expats.

Learn more about how Pacific Prime can benefit you and help you secure the best insurance for your needs and budget.

Compare Insurance Quotes

You now have a strong foundational understanding of what expatriate health insurance is, how it works, what it covers, what to look for in a plan, and who the top providers are. Now you’re ready to start comparing insurance plans! If you’d like our assistance, reach out to us anytime.

We highly encourage you to use our online insurance quote generator since it can help you compare hundreds of plans side by side from dozens of different providers. It truly is an invaluable resource!

If you found value in this page, you will also want to learn about international health insurance and family health insurance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of health insurance is for expats?

Expatriates use expat health insurance, also known as international health insurance, because these medical plans are designed for international travel. Many of these plans include coverage worldwide so that you have medical protection no matter where you go.

How much do expats pay for health insurance?

Expats who live in Thailand can pay as low as $3,594 annually for health insurance while expats living in the United States can pay as high as $9,817 annually. Your average cost of health insurance largely depends on the country you’ll be living in.

Can an expat use Medicare while abroad?

Expatriates cannot use their Medicare insurance while living internationally because the United States only covers its states and territories. You must instead pick a global insurance plan designed for individuals, families, and groups who are living abroad.

Do expats get free healthcare?

Healthcare is not free anywhere in the world. Each country has its own healthcare and insurance systems, and expatriates should expect to get a public or private health insurance plan, to contribute their income to a national insurance fund, or to pay for their medical expenses out of pocket.

Do expatriates need health insurance abroad?

Whether or not expatriates need health insurance is directly correlated to what country they are moving to. Some countries require foreigners to have health insurance by law and others don’t. All countries will expect expats to pay their medical bills, however, whether directly or through insurance.