What Constitutes Good Expat Health Insurance?

The Daily Telegraph recently brought the need for decent expatriate health insurance plans to the top of the agenda for many by highlighting the fact that if something like Swine Flu took hold, and a pandemic broke out, those living in poorer or less sophisticated nations could find that their local health services are ill equipped to cope, or even perhaps become overwhelmed.

In such a situation it would be critical for expatriates to have decent heath insurance cover in place to ensure that they had access to the treatment they needed locally, or that there was funding in place to evacuate and repatriate them.

So, what constitutes good expat health insurance cover, because surely it must differ from nation to nation right?  So how can an international health insurer offer a ‘one size fits all’ health insurance policy?  We investigate…

It does seem odd, to say the least, that health insurance companies seem to want to lump all expatriates in together when it comes to the policies they offer.  They usually have a platinum, gold and silver level of cover in terms of the benefits available, but the benefits available are the same whether you live in a nation like Germany with exceptional health care facilities, or Turkey where facilities can differ massively depending on which part of the country you’re residing in.

What does this mean for you as an expatriate?

Well, it means that you have to know what level of cover you need, and you have to shop around to find it if you’re on a strict budget and want to get the very most for your money.  For example, say you are living in Germany, well, you are far less likely to need repatriation as part of your insurance package, but at the same time you will need your insurance company to be willing to pay out for every doctor’s visit, because every single element and level of patient care in Germany costs a significant amount of money!

If you are an expatriate living in Turkey on the other hand, you may well find that you can easily afford the odd trip to a GP for a prescription, but that you will want your insurer to pay out if you’re living in rural Turkey and need transportation to an urban centre with decent medical facilities – or even repatriation back to the UK in the event that you fall seriously ill.

Expatriates who are thinking about retiring abroad and who are looking for health care cover may find that they are restricted with what they can actually get because of their age and medical history, however, for such individuals, thinking about long-term care options as well as home help and nursing home access will be critical.

The most pertinent piece of advice therefore is that as an expatriate you have to think about your own personal circumstances and requirements, and then seek out the most appropriate and applicable health insurance policy to meet and sufficiently cover your needs.  In many countries there are local insurers who will cover you for all your medical needs in that nation – however, as an expat it may well pay to have a more international consideration when it comes to insurance cover.  For example, if you’re living in France and you only have cover when in France, if you return to the UK for an extended holiday or even permanently and you perhaps need treatment for an ongoing condition, you may well find that the NHS is not obliged to treat you for free.  If your local insurance policy in France stops paying out as soon as you leave French soil, you could well end up in a tricky situation.

As an expatriate therefore, have a look around at the international insurers – from AXA PPP to BUPA and beyond – and see if you can find a health insurance policy practically tailor made to suit you and your requirements and circumstances.  Another way forward is to speak to your expatriates peers in your new nation and find out who they insure with, or to ask your expat financial adviser about which insurers offer the best deals for the nation you’re in, or for expatriates in a similar situation to you.

To find an adviser in your area, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) and we will gladly refer you as it is imperative you are covered for all medical eventualities…