Insurance Overview
Generally, with most insurance services you get what you pay for.
Read the documentation carefully, particularly the benefits and
exclusions clauses.
International medical insurance is a complex and difficult field.
Insurers are competing for your long-term business. They all will
all argue, "their plan is best", in the end though they all offer
like products.
Certain strategic insurance considerations have been also affecting
the expatriate market since the World Trade Centre disaster. Many
ex-patriots are now looking for international term life and income
replacement coverage, as well as medical insurance. Time will tell
how long term insurance growth is affected in this expanding
expatriate global market place, the global situation evolves day to
day.
If you purchase a comprehensive plan from a reputable insurer, with
an independent broker, you are usually not disappointed. However,
if you buy what is clearly a cheap cut plan, without advice, beware
when trying to make a claim. They may well have pages and pages of
exclusions in the small print.
It is also important for your budget to choose the correct
geographical area of coverage. Routine travel options can be more
economical than full-blown USA coverage.
If you do not really need elective USA coverage, look for it as an
"add-on" feature. Voluntary excesses on claims can substantially
reduce premiums, as can coinsurance payments.
In the final analysis, international expat medical insurance is
best to have at your side so that "you may sleep soundly at night"
rather than to think of ways to claim. If both parties fully
understand the contract and deal in good faith, all are satisfied,
insurers very much want to keep clients for the long term.
It is always better to compare and study three or more packs of
brochures from differing insurers, or have a review done by an
independent broker specializing in the healthcare insurance
field.
All the material needs attention and careful reading. Understand
what you are committing to, what the contract actually states, not
what you may think it states (or some salesman told you) and what
geographical limitations are set giving your area do cover.
You may not need to read this contract again until the moment you
need medical aid. Remember, a brand name alone does not necessarily
indicate good service, but in 2006, many lesser-known expatriate
specialist insurers offer excellent premiums, wide benefits, good
claims records and fast efficient electronic client services.
Professional support teams are vital in overseas emergencies. Your
helpline card is the key to medical help and assistance 24 hours a
day, while overseas. Make sure you have it at hand and you know how
to use it. All quality insurers are now offering toll free global
lines 24 hours a day. These vital help-lines are the first port of
call, prior to any treatment being arranged, with the exception of
emergency co-insurances. Establish contact as soon as you can, then
let the insurers assistance teams do the rest. It is service in a
hectic hour of need.