What does International Health Insurance Cover?

Table of contents

1. Maternity cover

2. Hospital treatment

3. Well-being benefits

4. Cancer treatment

5. Outpatient services

6. Emergency medical evacuation

7. Additional benefits

Plans can be tailored to meet your individual requirements, giving you peace of mind that you can receive medical treatment when it’s needed. Ensure you do research before purchasing a plan so you choose the best international health insurance for you.

Below we have put together some of the main features of IPMI cover. Please note, however, that this is not an exhaustive list, and the aspects of your plan will depend on the policy you have chosen.

Maternity cover

If you’re thinking about having children when you’re living abroad, maternity cover might be a key consideration when looking at expat health insurance plans.

Examples of maternity benefits that could be incorporated in this type of cover are:

• Childbirth costs

• Complication of pregnancy

• Newborn care

Under insurance policies, pregnancy is considered a pre-existing medical condition. So, if you’re pregnant when you purchase the cover, then your pregnancy will not be included in the plan. If you want maternity cover added, there might be a waiting period before this can take place, which can vary between different insurers.

Hospital treatment

Cover for hospital services is another feature of international medical insurance plans. In the event you become ill when you’re overseas, having this kind of insurance enables you to access high-quality medical care.

For example, international health insurance companies may cover you for the cost of surgeries, accommodation and other fees associated with having treatment in a medical facility.

One benefit of IPMI is that portable benefits are often part of the plan. This means that you can receive healthcare services wherever you are if it is within your area of cover. This is beneficial if you travel frequently and want your health safeguarded in the event something goes wrong.

Well-being benefits

Depending on your cover, well-being benefits are sometimes covered under international health insurance plans. These benefits might be for:

• Routine health screenings

• Optical care

• Hearing care

• Childhood and travel-related vaccinations

Relocating abroad or frequent travel can mean that you’ll need vaccinations depending on your destination, helping to protect you and your family from illnesses. Look into whether you need to have any immunisation before you go overseas, as this can vary between different countries and might be a pre-requisite for visiting the location.

Having optical or hearing care could also be an important consideration for many people, and may cover you for things like sight tests, dentures, or the cost of contact lenses.

Cancer treatment

Being diagnosed with an illness like cancer can be scary, especially when you’re not in your home country and may be unfamiliar with the healthcare system where you now live.

Cancer treatment cover is frequently incorporated into international health insurance plans, making it easier for policy holders to access treatment when they need it most. Healthcare services you could receive reimbursement for include:

• Counselling

• Consultations and diagnostic tests

• Hospital treatment

• Chemotherapy and radiotherapy

Having private medical cover in place can make a very stressful time less difficult and, in some cases, allow you to avoid long waiting times for treatment.

Outpatient services

Navigating healthcare services in a different country can be difficult, but opting for international health insurance could make the process quicker and easier.

Some IPMI policies can provide you with fast access to specialist consultations, GP appointments and diagnostics. Your insurer may provide reimbursement for treatment such as:

• Physiotherapy

• Prescription drugs

• Diagnostic tests

• MRI, CT, and PET scans

IPMI policies can also offer a lot of flexibility for insured people, often giving them the choice of where they receive care and with which doctor.

Emergency medical evacuation

Another feature sometimes found in IPMI policies is emergency medical evacuation, allowing you to be transported to a more suitable location for medical treatment if this is not available locally.

Insurers can provide cover for different costs incurred, such as for transport or your hospital stay. Some providers even offer cover for emergency non-medical evacuation, which would allow you to be taken to a safe location in a life-threatening scenario.

Additional benefits

Insurance plans can often have other benefits included as standard – this could include access to remote GP consultations and second medical opinion services.

You might also be able to select other additional options as part of your plan, such as out-of-area cover or cover for pre-existing medical conditions.

Have a careful read of all the literature associated with the plan before purchasing to see if any additional benefits are something you want included in the policy. Added value services can provide you with convenience and extra levels to your cover that might make you feel more comfortable.

Find out more

At APRIL International, we deliver simple and accessible international health insurance solutions across the globe. Click here to learn about how we can support you.