Taking out overseas insurance will allow you to receive health coverage while you are expatriated abroad.
Anyways, it can be challenging to choose one, given all the options available out there.
In this article, you will find our professional advice to help you choose the best international health insurance for your particular case.
International Medical Insurance “from the First Euro”
International insurance policies known as “from the first euro” or “first dollar” are the most common solution for expatriates.
Full Health Coverage
Taking out one of these international insurances will allow you to have complete health coverage. Indeed, these policies cover your health expenses from the first euro you spent.
Therefore, they do not require a subscription to any other health insurance, whether it is a mandatory plan or not.
A Complete Overseas Insurance for Expatriates
Besides the full coverage, this type of insurance is adapted to your needs as an expatriate.
The contracts include repatriation coverage. In case of an accident or serious illness, you will be allowed to be hospitalized in your home country with your loved ones by your side.
The “first euro” insurance policies also cover care provided when you travel to your home country.
In the cases of expats that are no longer entitled to their national Social Security coverage, this is a significant advantage.
Specific Advantages of this International Medical Insurance
Another reason to consider these policies as the best international health insurance is that they are offered by companies with experience in overseas matters. Most of them have partnerships with local health networks in many countries.
This allows you to have at your disposal a selection of recognized health professionals. And to benefit from advantageous rates and fast reimbursements.
With this international medical insurance, you will also be exempted from having to pay in advance for hospitalization costs. As long as this takes place in one of their partner centers.
Finally, these insurances put you in touch with English interlocutors. And you will have access to a dedicated app, which facilitates all the administrative procedures.
Overseas Insurance with Social Security
Depending on your country of origin and the reasons for your expatriation you still might have the right of being covered by your national Social Security when you move abroad.
An International Insurance Open to all Without Restrictions
Social Security is supervised by the State and has a public service mission. It is therefore obliged to provide insurance to all citizens who wish to do so, unlike traditional private insurance.
For people who have pre-existing conditions, i.e. who suffer from a serious chronic illness or who have undergone major surgery, this can be a good solution.
Sometimes, these people are not able to get a policy with the “first euro” insurances. And in some cases, they suffer extra charges in their insurance cost.
Not the Best International Health Insurance
One big downside of this insurance is the value of its reimbursements.
They are calculated according to the prices in your country of origin. They can be largely insufficient in the countries where the cost of care is higher.
In addition, this health insurance does not include coverage for care received when you travel back to your country on a holiday. To do so, you must take out a supplementary policy.
Supplements for Social Security Insurances
For those who have no other option, because of pre-existing conditions, it is possible to take out complementary international medical insurance to improve the reimbursements and coverage.
