International HealthInsurance explained
What isInternational Health Insurance
IPMI or International Health Insurance provides medical coverage that works across multiple countries. Think of it as medical protection that travels around with you, whether you're an expat living abroad, frequently traveling for business, or managing teams across different countries.
Whoneeds it?
Living or travelling abroad without proper health coverage is like driving without a seatbelt - it's risky. Here's why you might need International Health Insurance as an individual:
- Your home country's health insurance often stops at the border
- Local healthcare systems might not meet your standards or might be extremely expensive
- You want access to private hospitals and English-speaking doctors
- Emergency medical evacuation can be incredibly costly without insurance
- It may be a requirement to guarantee your residency
Companies with international operations may need to provide protection for their employees and their bottom line. So, a business may purchase International Health Insurance because it;
- Is often a legal requirement when sending employees abroad to work
- Can help attract and retain top talent for international positions
- Can benefit productivity by giving employees quick access to quality healthcare
- Protects against potential extensive costs of overseas medical emergencies
- Demonstrates duty of care to employees working internationally
How it works
International health insurance is straightforward in practice. You choose a plan based on your needs and where you'll be spending time, and your coverage begins once you pay your premium. When you need medical care abroad, you can either visit an in-network provider for direct billing (the insurer pays the healthcare provider directly) or pay upfront and claim reimbursement later from the insurer. Typically, most plans include: Inpatient care (such as hospital stays), Outpatient care (such doctor visits and specialist consultations), Emergency evacuation, Annual health checks, Prescription medication and add-ons such as Dental and vision care.
Coverage & flexibility
Most providers offer regional or worldwide coverage options. You can usually choose coverage that includes or excludes the USA (excluding the USA usually makes premiums much lower due to high US healthcare costs). Some providers also have the options to limit cover to Europe only, or just specific countries. There will also be some countries which insurers deem to be exceptionally high-risk (e.g. warzones) and therefore exclude from cover entirely, along with sanctioned countries. Almost all providers will allow you to customise your plan with different levels of cover and optional benefits.
Get in touch
Remember: The best time to get international health insurance is before you need it!.