International health insurance plans have gained popularity over the years as more and more people who love to travel find the need for a medical coverage while they are in a foreign land. International health insurance provides broad coverage in the event of illness or injury.

So many health-related mishaps can happen while you are traveling in a foreign country, and since you are not a native of the place, you might not be eligible for government-sponsored health care. That is why if you travel overseas most of the time (either for business or for pleasure or maybe both), it is important that you have an international health insurance plan.

Basically, international health insurance offers two plans: the travel medical insurance and the expatriate medical insurance. Although these both provide coverage in the event of sickness or accident, the coverage vary on their length of the stay in the foreign country.

The travel medical insurance is the more popular type of international health insurance. This is a better option for those travelers who are making one tour or cruise and only stays in a foreign land for a shorter duration like seven days to twelve months. This usually consists of $1 million coverage for ordinary and emergency healthcare, home country coverage and trip interruption.

On the other hand, if you are an American who wishes to live in another country for an extended time, the expatriate medical insurance is the plan for you. It is essential to make sure that you and your family are covered in your new country. The advantage of this over the travel medical insurance is that this can be renewable annually and has a bigger coverage of up to $5 million.

Getting an international health insurance plan is indeed a wise move, whether you are traveling just for few days or for a longer duration. But see to it that what you choose is exactly the plan that will best work for your travel insurance needs.

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Chances of having health-related concerns may increase if you are traveling in foreign countries. You may not qualify for any of the local government-sponsored health care programs considering that you are not a native of the country you are visiting.  If you travel internationally, therefore, it is very important to have an international health insurance plan.

International health insurance plans basically offer two kinds of plans: travel medical insurance and expatriate medical insurance.  Both cover the expenses of certain sickness or accidents.  However, each varies with regards to the length of the stay in the foreign country.

The more popular of the two plans would be travel medical insurance. It is often considered as a better option for travelers who are staying in a foreign country for a shorter span of time – usually covering only one tour or cruise and durations of  about seven days to twelve months.  Usually, $1 million of coverage is given consisting of ordinary and emergency health care as well as country coverage and trip interruption.

However, an expatriate medical plan would be more suitable if you are an American who is thinking of moving to another country for an extended amount of time. Of course, it is important to ensure that you and your family are covered in your new country. One of the best things about an expatriate medical plan is that it can be renewable every year and provides a larger coverage – up to $5 million.

It is definitely a wise move to get an international health insurance plan. This goes for all travelers; whether you are traveling for a limited span of time or for a much longer duration. However, see to it that you gather enough information and tips so you can choose the most fitting plan that will be best for all your insurance needs and expectations.

Health is wealth, so we all say. Therefore, all of us should watch our health a little more closely.  A health insurance plan is one of our best tools of protection. We should have one ready anytime, anywhere. This includes when we are going abroad. Remember that accidents and any other mishaps do not choose the exact date, time nor place where they would occur.

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In order to answer this question, you need to first ask yourself the following questions:

1. Am I traveling or relocating?
2. Where will I be traveling to?
3. What are the medical cares that I may need while overseas?
4. How much am I prepared to fork out for these medical expenses?
5. Are there better alternatives to manage the risks?

Let’s examine each of the above questions separately.

1. Am I traveling or relocating?

If you are traveling to a foreign country for vacation or business, then what you need is an International Travel Medical Insurance. On the other hand, if you are relocating to a foreign country, then what you need is an International Health Insurance or sometime known as Expatriate Health Insurance or Global Health Insurance.

International Travel Medical Insurance typically comes in two (2) different plans; one that covers single trip and the other is an annual plan that covers multiple trips.

Single trip International Travel Medical Insurance plan may be obtained for an insurance period of 5 days to 12 months and some plans will allow renewal of up to 36 months.

Annual plan is ideal for corporate executives and business owners who require International Travel Medical Insurance coverage for numerous trips during the year and making sure that their coverage is always in place for those last minute international trips. In terms of premium, there will be some cost savings for purchasing an annual plan over multiple single trip plans purchased separately.

If you are relocating to a foreign country, then it is advisable that you obtain an International Health Insurance which offers comprehensive coverage for hospital inpatient as well as clinical outpatient care. International Health Insurance may also offer other benefits such as maternity care, wellness benefits, mental health benefits, physical therapy, organ transplant, and pre-existing conditions.

In short, International Travel Medical Insurance is designed to protect unforeseen medical needs that arise while a person is traveling outside his/her home country whilst International Health Insurance covers medical care that can be either emergency or routine in nature.

2. Where will I be traveling to?

Due to the high medical costs in the North America, typical International Health Insurance will have 2 separate plans; one covers USA & Canada and the other excludes. Obviously, plans that cover USA & Canada cost more than those that don’t.

3. What are the medical cares that I may need while overseas?

This question is even more relevant if you have a pre-existing condition. Simply put it, pre-existing conditions are medical conditions that have manifested before you purchase the insurance policy. Be sure to check whether or not your International Travel Medical Insurance policy or International Health Insurance policy covers pre-existing conditions.

Even without any pre-existing condition, there are other health risks associated with overseas traveling and living. Such health risks may be linked to lack of basic hygiene or sanitary standards to a more serve outbreak of pandemic such as avian flu.

Beside illnesses, there are risks of accident that could happen in a foreign country or in a remote location that may require you to be medically evacuated. Such emergency medical evacuation can cost as high as US $100,000.

More importantly, when you are in a foreign country and run into a medical situation you want to be able to know where you can obtain quality health care. Hence, it is utmost important when selecting an International Travel Medical Insurance or International Health Insurance plan, to choose a plan that offers 24/7/365 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year) customer assistance that speaks your language. The Plan should also provide worldwide toll-free or call-collect number allowing you to get customer assistance from anywhere in the world, around the clock.

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