why it’s important for ex-pats
We tend to take healthcare for granted in Britain, assuming that there will be a GP, hospital or consultant to help us whenever we need them. However, in other countries around the world, the healthcare system can vary widely from this, with some countries having little or no national health provision whatsoever, while others have a healthcare system that depends on citizens having their own private health cover. As a long-term visitor without international health insurance, you could find that healthcare that would be free at home, comes with a bill of several thousand pounds overseas.
Why take out international health insurance?
Unless you are moving to a European Union country that has a reciprocal healthcare agreement with the UK, chances are you will need international health insurance to pay for your healthcare abroad. Even where this agreement does apply, you may still find that you need ex-pat medical insurance, as the state facilities are not of the standard you would expect. This is particularly true of former Soviet Bloc countries, where a two tier health care system is rapidly emerging, as cash strapped state facilities struggle to compete with new private hospitals.
In some countries, such as the United States, hospitals may even refuse to treat you unless you can prove you have international health insurance, or you give them open access to your credit card. That said, with treatment costs quickly escalating into the thousands of pounds, even your credit card may not last that long.
Getting the best deal on international health insurance
Health Insurance Solutions can find the best value international medical insurance for you, based on your age and health, and the country you are planning to stay in. International health insurance is tailored to meet the demands of your destination country, and will ensure that you have rapid access to the best quality treatment and facilities.
International health insurance guarantees you the best available medical care wherever you are moving to. What’s more, private facilities are much more likely to have English speaking staff, as they are often geared up for the medical tourism market. Without expatriate health insurance, you could end up in poor quality facilities, with no interpreter suffering far from healthy treatment at an exorbitant cost.
Getting the right international health insurance policy
With so many variables around the world, it is vitally important to make sure that your international health insurance cover meets the needs of the country you are moving to. With the help of an independent insurance expert, you can avoid trawling through hundreds of policies; Health Insurance Solutions can narrow the number down to the best half dozen, saving you a great deal of time reading the small print.
