Deciding to move abroad is a big decision and it requires careful thought. In the best cases, the probable employer is offering a health plan that will give you and any family accompanying you full protection against expenses and bills incurred in the local healthcare service. This is the ideal situation leaving only the thorny question of repatriation costs if more effective treatment would be available in the US. But if no employer is lurking in the wings with a convenient health plan in hand, you are forced to look at private international plans for cheap health insurance. The majority of the larger insurers offer these policies, but there are significant differences in the small print and you must be very careful before you part with money to make sure you are getting what you think you are paying for.
The first important question to resolve is whether the insurer will pay the foreign healthcare provider directly or you have to pay all costs out of your own pocket and then reclaim the amount from the insurer. If it's the latter, make sure you have enough cash or a permanent reserve on your credit card to deal with emergencies. You should also find out how long it takes to recover these payments from the insurer. You could find you are stuck with a big interest charge on your credit card to cover the expenses. For these purposes, you need confidence that the insurer operates a helpline 24/7 so you can telephone for help and advice whenever the need arises. If the insurer's approval for treatment is required, you need to know what the procedures are and how easy it is to get the approval.
The second issue is whether, in an emergency, you will be evacuated back to the US for treatment. There are many different variations on this theme. In principle, you are looking for repatriation when the medical problem is serious and there is no adequate local provision. The insurer should cover all costs for your own travel together with reasonable provision for the travel and accommodation for family members and dependents. Finally, the best policies pay for everyone to return to the foreign country when the treatment is successful and complete. Be careful because some policies exclude chronic conditions or only pay for the stabilization of injuries. It's also appropriate to look at whether the plan will pay for you to return to the US (or elsewhere) if one of your family or relatives falls ill. It could be expensive to find the money to fly to the hospital bed of your parents or other close relative.
If you are traveling with your family, you should be careful to cover all your dependents across the range of health needs. This involves precautionary and wellness testing, out- and in-patient treatments, medications, maternity provision if appropriate, dental care, and so on.
Finally, you need to consider the relationship between the international policy and any visits back to the US. Are you still covered on home soil? What would happen if you decided to return home for treatment during a holiday period? What happens if you decide to return to the US permanently? All these questions are important and should be fully explored before you buy. |
Useful Information