International health insurance for expats: the complete guide

What is international health insurance for expats?

International health insurance for expats is a medical plan built for people who live outside their home country for months or years. Unlike a travel policy, it is meant to be your main health cover: it pays for hospital stays, surgery, specialist visits and, depending on the plan you choose, everyday care such as GP visits, medicines, dental and maternity.

Its key feature is portability. Your cover is not tied to one country or one employer. If you move from Singapore to Dubai, or from Bali to Lisbon, the same policy can usually follow you, as long as your new country sits inside your chosen area of cover.

This guide walks you through what these plans cover, how their price is worked out and how to compare them without getting lost in the small print.

Who needs international health insurance?

Most people who settle abroad for more than a few months should at least consider it. Typical situations include:

• Expats and their families who have left their home country's public system and want access to private hospitals where they live.
• Remote workers and digital nomads who spend long periods in several countries.
• Retirees who have moved abroad and need reliable cover as they get older.
• Employees on assignment whose employer does not provide a suitable plan, or whose company plan leaves gaps.
• Business owners who want to cover a small international team.

In some countries, private health insurance is also required by law or for a visa. Rules change, so always check the latest official requirements for your destination. If you are still deciding which type of cover suits you, our guide on international vs local vs travel insurance explains the differences.

What does an international health plan usually cover?

Most insurers build their plans in modules. You start with a core and add options. The names vary, but the structure is often similar:

• Inpatient and day-patient care: hospital stays, surgery, intensive care and cancer treatment. This is the core of almost every plan.
• Outpatient care: GP and specialist consultations, diagnostic tests, prescribed medicines and physiotherapy.
• Medical evacuation and repatriation: transport to a suitable hospital when the right treatment is not available locally.
• Maternity: pregnancy, childbirth and newborn care, often with a waiting period and its own limit.
• Dental and optical: check-ups, treatment, glasses and lenses, usually with yearly caps.
• Wellness and prevention: health checks, vaccinations and screenings on some plans.

What is included, and up to what amount, depends on the plan and the insurer. Two policies with the same name level can differ a lot once you read the table of benefits.

How is the price of international health insurance worked out?

There is no single price list for expat health insurance. Insurers look at several factors:

• Age: premiums generally rise as you get older.
• Area of cover: plans that include the USA cost noticeably more, because healthcare there is very expensive. Our guide on whether to include the USA helps you decide.
• Deductible and co-payment: the more you agree to pay yourself when you claim, the lower the premium.
• Level of benefits: an inpatient-only plan costs less than a comprehensive one with outpatient, dental and maternity.
• Medical history: some conditions may be excluded, or accepted with a higher premium, depending on the insurer.
• Who is covered: adding a partner or children changes the total.

Because each insurer weighs these factors differently, the same profile can receive quite different prices. That is why comparing several insurers is worth the effort.

How to compare international health insurance plans

Looking only at the monthly or yearly premium is the most common trap. When you compare, ask these questions:

1. What is the overall annual limit, and are there sub-limits on key benefits such as cancer care, mental health or physiotherapy?
2. What will I pay myself when I claim? Look at the deductible, any co-payment and whether there is a yearly cap on what you pay.
3. Is outpatient care included, or only hospital care?
4. Which hospitals offer direct billing in the city where I live, so I do not have to pay upfront?
5. How are pre-existing conditions treated? Excluded, covered, or covered with a higher premium?
6. Are there waiting periods, for example for maternity?
7. Can I keep the plan as I get older, and on what terms is it renewed?

If terms such as deductible, co-payment and sub-limit are new to you, read our guide on deductibles, co-payments and limits first. It will make any comparison much easier to read.

Common mistakes to avoid

A few avoidable errors come up again and again:

• Relying on travel insurance for a long stay. Travel policies are built for trips and often stop paying once you become a resident abroad.
• Not declaring your medical history. Leaving something out can lead to a refused claim later. Be complete and honest on the application.
• Choosing the widest area of cover by default. Paying for the USA when you never go there can make your plan much more expensive than it needs to be.
• Waiting until you are older or unwell. Premiums depend on age, and new conditions may be excluded once they have appeared.
• Letting your old cover lapse too early. Keep your current plan until the new one is confirmed in writing.

Why use an independent advisor?

Be Protected Abroad is an independent advisor, not an insurer. We compare plans from 20+ international insurers and explain the differences in plain language. Our advice is free: you pay the same premium as if you went direct to the insurer.

Since 2019 we have helped 8,000+ expats find cover that fits their life, their budget and their destination. You can learn more about the plans we arrange on our international health insurance page.

Ready to see your options? Answer a few questions and receive a personalised comparison by e-mail in about 2 minutes with our instant quote. If you prefer to talk it through, a real advisor is available on WhatsApp, by video call or by message.

Useful resource: World Health Organization: universal health coverage