Summary: Quality health care is one of the top priorities to many global citizens when traveling or living overseas. Having a quality International Health Insurance coverage will allow you to have access to quality health care while overseas and more importantly it gives you the peace of mind to know that you and your loved ones are well protected for emergency or routine medical care 24/7/365 no matter where you are in the world.
Where can I get quality International Health Insurance?
The answer is easy. With today’s Internet technology you can now apply for an International Health Insurance online from anywhere in the world 24/7/365 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year). You can also receive your policy online! You will find, at the end of this article, where you can purchase your quality International Health Insurance online. But first, let’s look at some of questions you should be asking yourself when deciding on an International Health Insurance plan:
- Am I traveling or relocating?
- Where will I be traveling to?
- What are the medical cares that I may need while overseas?
- How much am I prepared to fork out for these medical expenses?
- Are there better alternatives to manage the risks?
Let’s examine each of the above questions separately.
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 Health 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.
International Health Insurance offers comprehensive coverage for hospital inpatient as well as clinical outpatient care. It 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 Health Insurance covers medical care that can be either emergency or routine in nature.
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.
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 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 sanitation to a more serve outbreak of pandemic such as avian flu.
Beside illness 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 Health 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. It will be a bonus if your International Health Insurance plan offers worldwide toll-free number allowing you to get customer assistance from anywhere in the world around the clock at no cost to you.
How much am I prepared to fork out for these medical expenses?
The answer to this question will help you to decide which plan to choose in terms of Deductible level. Deductible is basically what you have to pay first before your insurance plan pays; it is part of your cost sharing. Hence, a deductible of $250 means that you are responsible for the first $250 of eligible claim before your insurance benefit kicks in. The higher the Deductible level, the lower the premium.
Beside Deductible, International Health Insurance plans may also come with Coinsurance as another form of policyholder’s cost sharing. Coinsurance is usually in the form of 80%/20% meaning the insurance plan pays 80% of eligible claim and policyholder pays the other 20%.
Are there better alternatives to manage the risks?
The real risks we are talking about here are risks of:
- Not knowing where to go or who to turn to when you have a medical situation in a foreign country;
- Exposing yourself or your loved ones to sub-standard medical care that may further exacerbate your pain and suffering and putting your life at risk;
- Emergency medical situations that may require you to be evacuated to save your life;
- Emergency situations that develop due to act of war, terrorism or natural disaster.
Unfortunately, the above calamities are real in the world that we all live in today. From the financial point of view, it is not wise for an individual to assume all the above risks. Furthermore, some of these risks are far beyond financial which can be a matter of live or death.
With a comprehensive International Health Insurance plan, the above risks can be mitigated cost effectively. For example, you can get $1,000,000 International Health Insurance coverage at as low as $1.70 per day. This is probably less than the cost of a bottle of mineral water! So, should you purchase an International Travel Health Insurance or International Health Insurance for your next overseas trip? The answer is obviously!
Check out the easy online application of International Health Insurance at our GHI Specialists’ website at www.BuyInternationalTravelHealthInsurance.com
Go see the world, but don’t leave home without a good International Health Insurance!
Bio: GHI (Global Health Insurance) Specialists is a firm specializes in providing quality International Health Insurance solutions to customers worldwide. Consultants at GHI Specialists have a combined experience of more than 50 years in insurance and employee benefits industries with Clients from all over the world. For more information on quality International Health Insurance plans visit our website at: www.BuyInternationalTravelHealthInsurance.com
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