Who needs international health insurance? 

International health insurance is designed for people who live abroad for part of the year. It is particularly relevant to those who have chosen an internationally mobile lifestyle, whether for work, love, adventure, study or retirement. 

This guide explains which profiles take out international health insurance and helps you decide whether it may be right for you. 

Key points to remember 

• People who take out international health insurance have lifestyles that involve living, working or regularly spending time abroad. This includes: 
  • Expats 
  • Digital nomads 
  • International students 
  • Retirees living abroad 
  • Internationally mobile employees 
  • Frequent travellers 
• This type of cover works like private health insurance abroad and is often taken out for one year. 
• The main difference between international health insurance and travel insurance is that it covers extended stays abroad rather than occasional trips. 
• Depending on the policy, it covers some or all healthcare, medical treatment, hospital stays, and repatriation costs. 
• Compared with local health insurance, it provides more comprehensive cover suited to people who spend much of the year outside their home country. 

What is international health insurance? 

International health insurance is cover for people who live abroad for at least three months a year. It works like standard private health insurance: 

• You choose a core plan and select the options that match your needs; 
• The policy is generally taken out for one year and can be renewed; 
• You can be covered for a full range of healthcare, from routine consultations and surgery to maternity care, diagnostic tests, cancer treatment and mental health support. 
• You often have freedom to choose your hospitals and doctors. 

Its main feature is that it covers you in your country of residence and your home country (when visiting), within a defined geographical area or internationally. 

What is the difference from travel insurance? 

The two types of cover meet different needs and have three major differences: 

• Duration: travel insurance is generally intended for short stays, often up to 90 days. International health insurance is taken out for a longer period. 
• Cover: travel insurance mainly covers emergency medical expenses during an occasional trip. International health insurance goes further by also covering routine care and medical treatment. 
• Benefits: travel insurance also covers certain unexpected events, such as lost luggage or trip cancellation. International health insurance, by contrast, is specifically designed for healthcare expenses. 

If you are unsure which one you need, ask yourself: how long will you be abroad, and in what circumstances? 

For a holiday or short stay of up to three months, travel insurance may be enough. For a move lasting several months, regular travel between several countries or life abroad, international health insurance is more suitable. 

Who needs international health insurance? 

Wondering whether you need this type of cover? These are the main profiles that take out international health insurance: 

Expats moving abroad for work or to join family 

Expats often lose access to the public healthcare system or their health insurance when they move abroad. They may need to take out local insurance, particularly when it is required for their visa or residency status. 

However, this cover may be limited, with some care excluded, waiting periods, or a restricted choice of doctors and facilities. 

To prepare for this, many expats choose international health insurance, sometimes alongside their local cover. 

This can offer: 

• More comprehensive protection; 
• Greater freedom to choose doctors, including English-speaking or French-speaking doctors; 
• Access to private hospitals and clinics. 

Private healthcare can quickly become expensive depending on the country, which makes good protection important. 

Some international insurance policies also offer additional services suited to expat life, such as a second medical opinion. At Global Health, we also offer teleconsultations, along with fitness and mental health coaching programmes to help people manage the stress of moving abroad. 

Digital nomads and globetrotters 

There are more than 40 million digital nomads worldwide, and this lifestyle continues to appeal to remote workers. Spending three months in Portugal, then six months in Thailand, before moving on to the Americas is a mobile way of life that goes beyond the scope of local insurance limited to a single country. 

If you are a digital nomad or are considering becoming one, we recommend flexible international health insurance. At Global Health, we offer customised plans that allow you to choose which regions are covered or excluded. 

International students, teachers, and researchers 

Students and academics tend to underestimate their health insurance needs. Yet a French student taking a three-year course in Canada, a doctoral student conducting research for two years in Germany or a teacher working in Australia may need routine or emergency medical care, just like any expat. 

As many of them return to their home country during the holidays, international cover may be particularly suitable for their circumstances. 

Retirees

Around 10% of UK retirees choose to settle abroad. This includes younger retirees moving to Portugal, Spain or Italy, as well as Thailand, Mauritius or Puerto Rico. 

For peace of mind throughout the year, it is important to plan ahead for medical care. 

International health insurance can protect them both in their country of residence and when they return to their home country for holidays, and may meet the insurance requirements of certain retirement visas. 

Executives and employees on international assignments 

Multinationals and large companies may send employees abroad on assignments lasting 6 to 36 months, sometimes across several countries. 

Depending on their circumstances, employees may have cover arranged by their employer or may need to take out private health insurance themselves: 

• When insurance is provided by the employer, it may cover the employee’s main healthcare needs during the assignment abroad. 
• When the employee or contractor must arrange their own insurance, international health insurance provides cover suited to their professional mobility. 

International health insurance may also include inpatient and outpatient care, emergency medical evacuation, occupational health services and mental health support. 

For SMEs and large companies alike, Global Health designs international health insurance for employees, including teleconsultation services, wellbeing programmes, and multilingual assistance available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

Who may not need international health insurance? 

Comprehensive international health insurance is not necessarily needed by everyone. Depending on your lifestyle and the length of your stays abroad, travel insurance or good local cover may be enough. 

• For short stays of less than 90 days, travel insurance covering emergency medical care is a reliable option; 
• For temporary business trips, the health cover provided by your employer may be sufficient. 
• For young, healthy travellers spending a few weeks backpacking in a country, travel insurance may cover emergency care, provided they plan to return to their home country for follow-up or long-term treatment. 
• If you live permanently in a country where you have access to the public healthcare system and do not plan to receive treatment abroad, local private health insurance may be enough.

However, remember that your needs may change, particularly if you move or your family circumstances change. Review your cover regularly, ideally every year. 

What are the main benefits of international health insurance? 

How much does international health insurance cost? 

The cost of international health insurance varies considerably according to your profile and chosen level of cover. The main factors affecting the premium are: 

• The age and number of people insured; 
• The countries and geographical areas covered; 
• The level of cover and reimbursement limits; 
• The options included; 
• The excess. 

Depending on your medical history, the insurer may apply an additional premium or exclusions. 

Global Health offers several levels of international health insurance, with different areas of cover and reimbursement limits. 

How to choose the right international health insurance 

Choosing the right international health insurance means matching your medical needs and travel habits with the benefits offered by the policy. 

Before comparing offers, start by identifying the factors that can genuinely affect your cover. 

• Consider the countries where you live and expect to receive treatment: check the cost of healthcare and the facilities you want to access. Cover needs can vary greatly between countries, particularly where private healthcare is especially expensive. 
• Check the requirements that apply to your circumstances: some visas may require a minimum level of health cover. Your employer may also have specific requirements if you are going abroad on an assignment. 
• Think about future travel: if you regularly travel across several countries, choose insurance that covers all the relevant destinations without requiring you to change your policy for each trip. 
• Plan for certain events: a planned pregnancy, scheduled surgery or regular treatment may change your coverage needs. In particular, check the terms of cover and any waiting periods. 

Learn more about how international health insurance works. 

What to compare before taking out a policy 

Once you have identified your needs, do not compare premiums alone. Two offers at the same price may provide very different levels of cover. 

Take time to compare: 

• Reimbursement limits, particularly for hospital care, surgery and costly treatment. 
• Exclusions, for example those relating to certain pre-existing conditions, high-risk sports or specific treatments. 
• The scope of the medical network, including access to quality hospitals and clinics in the countries where you may receive treatment. 
• Services offered, such as teleconsultations and second medical opinions. 
• The quality of customer service, including availability, languages offered and the ability to support you while you are abroad. 

Read the policy terms carefully 

Before taking out a policy, read the policy documents carefully, even if the offer appears to meet your needs. 

In particular, check waiting periods, excesses or co-payments, exclusions, and the rules that apply when you receive care outside your area of cover. 

Some medical services may also require prior authorisation from the insurer before they are covered. It is better to know the required steps in advance to avoid an unpleasant surprise when you need care.