Expatriate medical insurance could be a part of your current policy, but not all US policies include coverage for members traveling overseas.
If you live abroad, you may be eligible for the public medical insurance offered by the country in which your reside. However, even if you’re eligible for the public plans, most expatriates have more peace of mind if they’re covered with a U.S.-style health insurance plan. Worldwide economic problems are also forcing governments to make their eligibility requirements more stringent, so countries that once offered public insurance to expats may not be able to do so now.
Fortunately, a number of companies specialize in expatriate medical insurance
These companies offer policies for individuals and families, and sell group coverage for small companies doing business overseas.
After researching the benefits and premium costs of several different expatirate medical insurance plans, you may also want to find out if the carriers have offices in the country where you intend to live. It helps if the carrier you choose has familiarity with the health care system in that country, so they can offer assistance in getting the services you need. You’ll want a company that can help you find emergency medical care quickly, and that can easily let you know if a medical facility is covered under their plan. If the customer service department is in a building thousands of miles away, there may be a delay in getting help.
Also, before choosing an expatriate medical insurance policy, find out how easy (or difficult) it will be to submit a claim. Some companies have participating providers in many countries, and these providers can bill the insurance directly. Other insurance companies will require you to pay the bill at the time of service, and submit a copy of the bill for reimbursement. If this is the case, try to have the provider write up the bill in English, to make sure all the services and fees will be easily understood. If this is not possible, your reimbursement may be delayed while the insurance company finds a qualified translator.
As with any health insurance policy, ask if pre-existing conditions will be covered, and if there is a waiting list for any types of conditions.
If the health care providers near your new home abroad can only offer limited treatment options, you will need to know if your insurance plan will cover emergency evacuation back to your home country. If evacuation is covered, find out if they’ll cover the cost for flying you only to the nearest available hospital where you can be treated, or will they allow you to return to the States or other country of origin?
Most policies do limit the coverage for evacuation to the nearest hospital, so it will be wise to research the available medical facilities long before an accident or emergency illness makes treatment necessary. If there is no facility in your new country that you trust to provide quality treatment, you may need to cover the emergency evacuation costs on your own.
Some international medical insurance companies, such as Goodhealth Worldwide , specialize in the health insurance needs of expatriates, and have offices in many countries. Companies specializing in expatriate medical insurance will have plenty of experience with the medical billing procedures and health care facilities where you live, and will be an invaluable resource if you’re ever ill or injured.
