International Health Insurance

You may be buying international health insurance for the first time. So here's a quick guide to help answer your biggest concerns.

If you have a question you would like answering, email us at enquiries@optimumglobal.com

1. What Is International Health Insurance?
2. Why Should I Have It?
3. Can I Make Do With Travel Insurance?
4. Why Should I Choose Optimum Global?

1. What is International Health Insurance?

Generally, international medical/health insurance covers you against accident and illness on an international basis, allowing the policyholder to seek treatment almost anywhere in the world.

Unlike travel insurance which restricts people to emergencies only, international health plans cover elective treatment (i.e. treatment chosen by you) at an almost unlimited number of medical facilities.

Treatment in some parts of the world is, inevitably, more expensive than in others. This means that the premium you pay will depend on two key factors:

• Where you normally reside
• Where you wish to have treatment.

Other factors that affect your premium will be:

• Type of cover you require
• Your age
• Any deductible (the amount of claims that you pay yourself) you have selected

2. Why Should I Have It?

a. Standards Of Care:

People living in relatively affluent countries become used to good quality healthcare and are often surprised by the lack of medical facilities in other countries. Quality is often poor in developing countries, meaning that having a first class health insurance plan is often a necessity, not a luxury.

b. Mandatory Cover:

The cost of medical provision is high and continues to rise at a rate often faster than inflation. Thus most governments are understandably not prepared to pay the medical bills for visitors or expatriates. Therefore in many countries, having international medical insurance is mandatory.

3. Can I Make Do With Travel Insurance?

Travel Insurance is important for short term leisure trips but it will only cover emergencies and not elective treatment (i.e. non-emergency treatment you have chosen to have). It is also for relatively short duration and thus generally not suitable for long term expatriates.

4. Why Should I Choose Optimum Global?

There are many good reasons to choose Optimum Global.

Still have a question about international health insurance? Email us at enquiries@optimumglobal.com