Top 10 Tips
Top 10 Tips when looking for the right international health insurance:
Area of Cover
Ensure the area of cover you are looking for not only covers the region you are in, but any other area you are likely to visit, be it for temporary business or pleasure.
Underwriting terms
Make sure the underwriting terms of the plan meet your requirements.
Most providers will exclude all pre-existing conditions, no matter when they occurred. Do not accept such restrictions.
Cancer treatment
Find out how long Cancer treatment is covered for. Many providers
will only cover this for a maximum of 5 years, whereas Expacare cover this in full (unless under our Choices cover you elect to reduce or remove this cover). The same applies for chronic conditions. Many providers only cover acute or palliative treatment, whereas we cover chronic conditions in full, providing it is not a pre-existing condition.
Excess payments
Ask the provider if there is any excess on the plan. This will be the amount you have to pay each time you claim for a condition. Those apparently modest deductions soon add up.
Relevant benefits
Make sure you are not paying for benefits that are not relevant. Question whether you would actually need some of the benefits you are being charged for. If the answer is no. Ask for tailored cover to meet your circumstances.
Assistance providers
Find out who the assistance provider is. These will be the people who you first contact in an emergency, and can arrange for guarantees of payments to be made with the hospitals.
Underwriters
Find out who underwrite the plans. These are the people who will be paying out your claims so ensure they are financially secure.
Adequate cover
Try to gauge how much coverage you may need. For example if you are moving to the UK and will be paying social security contributions, you will be entitled to treatment under the NHS, for a period of time. But, if you require private treatment, or the waiting time on the NHS is too long, then a higher level of cover would be advisable.
Family cover
Remember that your family can also be added to cover, so make sure the benefits cover all eventualities for a "whole" family.
Price
With international medical insurance, price is based on the cover you opt for. The more cover you need - especially if you are insuring more than one person – the higher the premium.