Expatriate Medical Insurance: Why You Need It
Unlike short term travel medical insurance, these plans have benefits that are better suited for everyday life.
Expatriate medical insurance is true international major-medical and term life insurance for individuals and families. It’s long-term, renewable, and can provide health care benefits during extended periods of stay of citizens outside their home country for 1 year and more. Certain plans will even offer you coverage within your home country as well. Plans designed around expatriates typically cover maternity, pre-existing conditions (with a waiting period), preventive and dental care, along with other benefits.
Although short-term travel medical insurance can cover sudden illnesses and injuries overseas, expatriate medical insurance provides renewable, international health coverage to those living abroad. While living abroad, it’s important to be prepared not only for the big stuff, but also the little stuff that pops up in day to day.
Here are some points to consider when weighing the importance of purchasing expatriate medical insurance with worldwide coverage versus some domestic health insurance plans:
- Those domestic health insurance plans that provide “customary and reasonable” hospital costs abroad may not pay for your medical evacuation to the nearest qualified hospital. A medical evacuation is an essential part of the coverage needed overseas, as it can easily cost $50,000 to $100,000.²
- Many foreign doctors and hospitals require payment in cash prior to providing service or treatment.
- Payment of hospital and other medical expenses abroad is the responsibility of the traveler with many domestic and international health insurance plans. So, it's important to find an insurance provider that works directly with medical care providers for claims filing and payments.
- Uninsured patients may be refused service in overseas hospitals and facilities.
- Do not assume that moving to a country with socialized medicine means the standards and level of care received are the same as you may have at home.³
- Some countries require non-citizens to carry accident insurance or travel insurance. So, purchasing a comprehensive expatriate health insurance plan instead of both domestic insurance and basic travel insurance is likely a more affordable option.
For detailed information on country-specific information, please visit the U.S. Government’s informational website.
Selecting the Right Plan
Two high quality plans for expatriates are CitizenSecure® and CitizenSecure® Economy. These plans offer coverage in over 130 countries. They are annually renewable and do not require you to answer medical questions at renewal. Both plans offer emergency medical evacuation and emergency reunion in the case of a medical emergency requiring evacuation.
| CitizenSecure® | CitizenSecure® Economy | |
|---|---|---|
| Benefits | Limit | Limit |
| Overall Maximum Limit | $5,000,000 Lifetime Max | $5,000,000 Lifetime Max |
| Deductible Choices | $250 - $5,000 Deductible per person | $250 - $5,000 Deductible per person |
| Coinsurance (US & Canada) | After the Deductible, plan pays 80% of the first $5,000 then 100%; Coinsurance is waived if PPO is used | After the Deductible, plan pays 80% of the first $5,000 then 100%; Coinsurance is waived if PPO is used |
| Coinsurance (Outside US & Canada) | 100% After Deductible |
100% After Deductible |
| Prescription Drugs | Usual, Reasonable & Customary | Usual, Reasonable & Customary |
| Child Wellness4 | Children Under 19: $50 per visit, 3 visit max (Not subject to Deductible) |
Children Under 19: $50 per visit, 3 visit max (Not subject to Deductible) |
| Coverage Area | Worldwide (can include/exclude US and Canada to save $) | Worldwide |
| Office Visits | Usual, Reasonable & Customary | 25 Office Visits per Certificate Period, per Member Physician - $70/visit Specialist - $70/visit Psychiatrist - $60/visit Chiropractors - $50/visit Surgical Consultant - $500/visit Physical Therapy - $50/visit |
| Family Member Deductible | Max of 3 Deductibles | Deductible per Member |
| Maternity4 | 50% of first $100,000 after deductible, then 100% up to $250,000 lifetime |
After Deductible, $5,000 per pregnancy (Not subject to Coinsurance) |
| Newborn Care | Included with maternity for a max of 60 days | $15,000 per covered pregnancy, for first 60 days of life |
| Emergency Reunion | $10,000 lifetime max | $5,000 lifetime max |
| Pre-Existing Conditions | Same as any other illness/injury if disclosed on application | $5,000 per period, $50,000 lifetime after 24 months of continuous coverage |
| Ambulance | Usual, Reasonable & Customary | $1,500 per person per Certificate Period |
| Intensive Care Unit (ICU) | Usual, Reasonable & Customary | $1,500 per day/max 240 days per hospitalization |
Helpful Tips for Expatriates
Here are a few steps to help make your move and adjustment to your new home a little easier:
Citizens planning to move and live abroad, whether US citizens moving abroad or non-US citizens moving to the US, should find a quality international major medical policy.
Review the plan benefits of our expatriate medical insurance and get a free quote today.
¹ The claim example provided above is based on actual claims handled by the insurer of these plans. Coverage for similar claims is not to be inferred from the above example, as all claims are determined to be eligible/ineligible based on the applicable insurance policy and the facts and circumstances of each claim.
² Statistic according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
³ ExpatExchange.com: "Your Insurance Options Abroad" by Jack Rutherford, October 2008.
4 Benefit covered after 12 months of continuous coverage.
(4/2010)