http://www.iexpatriatehealthinsurance.com//blog Blog for Expatriates en writer120383@gmail.com Copyright 2012 2012-05-11T01:55:26+00:00 http://www.iexpatriatehealthinsurance.com/blog/what_to_look_for_when_buying_expatriate_health_insurance/ http://www.iexpatriatehealthinsurance.com/blog/what_to_look_for_when_buying_expatriate_health_insurance/#When:03:58:29Z Are you heading abroad to begin an exciting career in a new country? Or perhaps you are relocating for personal reasons, simply looking to grow personally by experiencing a new culture and a new environment. Whatever the driving force behind your decision to become an expatriate, you will definitely need expatriate health insurance. Here are some factors you will need to consider when making this important purchase. One important factor to consider is how often you will be returning to your former home country. Will you be shuttling back and forth frequently between your old and new countries? Or will you be limiting return trips to holidays or other special occasions? There are different types of plans available for expatriates based on this factor, so getting the right plan is critical to making certain you have the coverage you need. Next, consider how much coverage you want for your plan. Do you have another plan that is being provided by an employer, so you need less from this plan? Or do you need as much as possible from this plan as it is your sole source of insurance. These are important questions to ask. Keep in mind that the more coverage you purchase, the more your policy will cost. However, do not let that fact inspire you to take a cheap approach to buying coverage, as you may wind up with less than you need. Finally, other factors you will need to decide that will affect your policy type and cost include your age, your citizenship status, how long you want coverage for and what sort of deductible you are willing to pay. Once again, these factors do influence the cost of your policy, but you should not let them steer you towards buying the cheapest available expatriate health insurance. Doing so could leave you with inadequate coverage, costing you much more down the road than you would have paid initially. Blogging 2011-03-19T03:58:29+00:00 http://www.iexpatriatehealthinsurance.com/blog/what_to_consider_in_expatriate_health_insurance/ http://www.iexpatriatehealthinsurance.com/blog/what_to_consider_in_expatriate_health_insurance/#When:01:55:26Z Expatriate health insurance is an insurance policy geared towards people who spend more than just their holidays outside the borders of their country. There are many factors that can influence this type of insurance and here are some of the essential ones: • Personal Needs and Expectations. People become expatriates for various reasons. Depending on those reasons, the health insurance for expatriate people will be different. There are expat insurance policies for international students, freelancers, soldiers, or for people who are working sent by their employers. • The Health Insurance System in the New Country. More developed countries allow expats to pay monthly contributions to the healthcare system and thus get coverage for certain health services similar to what a citizen of that country would. But that is not the case in less developed countries. • Current State of Health. Naturally, the premium for your expat health insurance will be lower if you are healthy and fit. But, if you suffer from pre-existing conditions, your health insurance premium will be higher. • Insurance Level. Insurance providers do not offer a universal coverage plan for all expatriates. They have different insurance levels and each level means a particular coverage level and also a certain premium amount. Depending on health condition, money situation, and health system, you can choose the most suitable level for your health insurance. • Material Situation. Again, this is an important element. Expatriate health insurance has a certain level of deductibles. The higher the amount of deductible, the lower the premium will be. If your earnings and overall money situation allows you, you can choose an insurance with higher deductibles.   Blogging 2012-05-11T01:55:26+00:00 http://www.iexpatriatehealthinsurance.com/blog/expatriate_health_insurance_and_preexisting_conditions/ http://www.iexpatriatehealthinsurance.com/blog/expatriate_health_insurance_and_preexisting_conditions/#When:08:12:39Z Ten years ago, it would have been inconceivable that expatriate health insurance companies would cover pre-existing conditions. Nowadays, people can benefit from insurance coverage in this respect. It is also true that not all insurance providers would take the risk of protecting a policyholder against conditions that he or she is known to suffer from. Not only did insurance companies not cover preexisting medical conditions, but they did not cover any other medical condition that may have been related to or triggered by it. Therefore, high blood pressure would cause additional exclusions for angina, heart attacks, strokes, or thrombosis, for example. This vicious circle continued even if the condition was kept under control with medication. When you travel in a foreign country and you make your home there and your workplace, you become an expatriate. But being an expatriate does not make you immune to illness. In fact, on the contrary, the new living circumstances may aggravate your existing conditions or may trigger new attacks. In this case, expatriates need to pay even more attention to how they choose their health insurance and to the inclusions and exclusions of the policy. Although pre-existing medical conditions will probably determine a higher premium on your expatriate health insurance, it is recommended that people get covered given the physical and emotional stress that they are exposed to when living in a new environment. As an expatriate, you have to keep in mind that your health insurance premiums are not necessarily high due to your pre-existing medical conditions. Other factors influence insurance premiums, including healthcare costs in the new country you are moving to. Blogging 2012-05-04T08:12:39+00:00 http://www.iexpatriatehealthinsurance.com/blog/what_to_look_for_in_group_expatriate_health_insurance/ http://www.iexpatriatehealthinsurance.com/blog/what_to_look_for_in_group_expatriate_health_insurance/#When:07:29:30Z Expatriate health insurance for groups is a more complex type of international health insurance. Such insurance will have to attend the needs of the group without neglecting the separate needs of the individuals. But what are the aspects you should look for in expatriate medical insurance? • For groups, the most important aspect of international health insurance is the portability of coverage for employees who need to move or travel from one place to another. • Medical assistance is one of the essentials of international health insurance and that is why a good insurer should grant access to a complete selection of health providers. Additionally, the insured should have the chance to choose their own health providers. • The coverage should be handled by a global insurance company that has enough resources and extensive claims and administration management. A third party administrator is not recommended. • A good insurance policy should have several levels of deductibles and competitive premiums. • The coverage for the group should be extended also in the countries of origin of each individual member. • Pre-existing conditions should be covered by group expatriate health insurance without exception. • The policy should be customizable for high risk areas such as terrorism or war zones. Potentially hostile environments should also be included in the coverage. • If not covered, maternity is a significant risk. That is why the female members of the group should have maternity coverage included in the policy. • A call center available 24/7 for claims and support should also be included in a good policy. This allows for better communication, administration and availability. Blogging 2012-04-27T07:29:30+00:00 http://www.iexpatriatehealthinsurance.com/blog/a_glance_into_expatriate_health_insurance/ http://www.iexpatriatehealthinsurance.com/blog/a_glance_into_expatriate_health_insurance/#When:05:45:42Z As the name suggests, expatriate health insurance is the right policy that a person or family should consider when they are living and working abroad. When spending an extended time in a different country, you will experience a different culture with different habits than yours, and you need to think about the safety of your family or of yourself. It is a fact that living and working abroad improves wellbeing due to the fact that every location is possibly linked to pleasant feelings, but you must consider covering the risks of falling ill or having an accident. An Introduction to Expatriate Health Cover A good expatriate health insurance policy should cover medical expenses for inpatient and outpatient medical assistance, preventive care that includes vaccination and annual medical check-ups, regular and preventive check-ups for your dental health, annual check-ups for your eyes, maternity care and emergency assistance in case that you or a member or your family fall ill or suffer an accident while abroad. Three Basic Types of Expatriate Medical Insurance Those are some of the requirements that should be covered, but keep in mind that expatriate health insurance policies come in three “flavors”: basic, extended and premium, each with its own risks covered, so you must be informed which ones are covered by your policy. Also, remember that the country you are living or working in is considered by your insurer an area of risk simply because it is outside the boundaries of your home country. Health Is Always Your First Priority Choosing the best expatriate health insurance for you and your family is not something that should be ignored or not granted the proper attention. Your health and that of your family always have to come first on your priority list. No matter where you are in this world, you must be sure that your policy will be able to help you in case of unexpected and unfortunate events. Blogging 2012-04-21T05:45:42+00:00 http://www.iexpatriatehealthinsurance.com/blog/expatriate_health_insurance_for_groups/ http://www.iexpatriatehealthinsurance.com/blog/expatriate_health_insurance_for_groups/#When:22:22:10Z Expatriate health insurance plans for groups apply to companies that have several employees working and living abroad. These companies are exposed to huge financial consequences if their employees are not protected against the risks they are facing in a new country. Therefore, as a business, it is impossible to overlook the importance of insurance plans for expatriates in order to avoid considerable financial losses. Choosing the Right Insurer and the Currency Although it may sound simple, it is not easy to establish the most adequate insurance provider in this field. The temptation to use domestic plans is great, but when it comes to expatriate group insurance, a domestic insurance provider cannot effectively help you. As a result, any organization that wishes to protect its employees in another country needs to choose an insurer specialized in expatriate insurance products and are licensed to function in the respective country. Also, the currency used for payments is very important as it is always best to have payments made in a stable currency. What to Look for in Expatriate Insurance Policies The type of insurance plan a company chooses is very important, but it depends on many factors. In case of groups, these factors need to be analyzed carefully so that all expatriates are covered according to their individual needs. Accidental death and dismemberment, long- and short-term disability, emergency evacuation, repatriation of remains, and maternity costs are all aspects that should be attended to. There are a variety of expatriate health insurance plans for groups that can serve an assortment of requirements and expectations, but attention to details is still very important. Blogging 2012-04-13T22:22:10+00:00 http://www.iexpatriatehealthinsurance.com/blog/what_to_consider_when_getting_expatriate_health_insurance/ http://www.iexpatriatehealthinsurance.com/blog/what_to_consider_when_getting_expatriate_health_insurance/#When:03:05:19Z Assuming that unfortunate things won’t happen to you is not the way to protect yourself and your family from risks. As an expatriate, the risks you are facing are higher than usual and you should never consider that the importance of expatriate health insurance is overrated. Nonetheless, you ought to pay attention to a number of aspects when you are considering overseas health insurance coverage and here are some examples: • Geographical coverage is very important since some insurers do not cover a number of high-risk travel regions. • Benefits that are directly related to hospitalization and benefits that are considered non-related to hospitalization • Dental treatment and maternity benefits • The extent of coverage for chronic conditions • The extent of emergency evacuation coverage • Insurance coverage for pre-existing conditions • The list of exclusions of your expatriate health insurance • Repatriation of remains in case you wish it to be included • Overall medical benefits compared to similar insurance providers • Coverage for war or terrorism related risks Blogging 2012-04-13T03:05:19+00:00 http://www.iexpatriatehealthinsurance.com/blog/medical_insurance_for_living_abroad/ http://www.iexpatriatehealthinsurance.com/blog/medical_insurance_for_living_abroad/#When:03:57:25Z Living abroad can be a very exciting time. There are many changes that take place in your life, but one thing that does not change is the need for protection in the form of expatriate health insurance. You may be under the impression that the host country will take care of your medical needs, but that may not be the case. You should have a plan that you can depend on for you and your family. Expatriate insurance does more than cover just medical expenses. It also covers medical evacuations, trip interruption, trip cancellation and cover. If you or someone travelling with you becomes ill and cannot travel, your insurance will cover the additional expenses. When you are living abroad and travelling for any period, having expatriate travel insurance that offers coverage for medical services is the best way to protect yourself and your family. You should have an insurance that can travel with you.     Blogging 2012-03-29T03:57:25+00:00 http://www.iexpatriatehealthinsurance.com/blog/the_best_expatriate_health_insurance_plan/ http://www.iexpatriatehealthinsurance.com/blog/the_best_expatriate_health_insurance_plan/#When:02:57:00Z Expats are exposed to more health risks than people living in their own country. That happens due to the increased stress of living and working abroad in different climates and overall living conditions, and travelling more often. As a result, expatriate health insurance is something that expats simply cannot neglect. Here are the features of the best insurance policies: • Coverage for hospital accommodation, diagnostic tests, surgery, surgical fees, physician fees, therapist fees, prescription drugs, surgical appliances, prosthesis, and more. • Coverage for a parent accommodation if an insured child must be admitted to the hospital • Coverage for day care treatment and outpatient treatment • Coverage for rehabilitation treatment and nursing at home if necessary • Coverage for medical evacuation, including accommodation in case ongoing treatment is required. • Coverage for local ambulance • Coverage for travel expenses of a family member of an insured person in case of medical emergency or death There are numerous other aspects you should consider when acquiring expatriate health insurance depending on your personal situation and on your specific needs.   Blogging 2012-03-24T02:57:00+00:00 http://www.iexpatriatehealthinsurance.com/blog/long_and_short_term_expatriate_health_insurance/ http://www.iexpatriatehealthinsurance.com/blog/long_and_short_term_expatriate_health_insurance/#When:23:34:19Z People travel or live abroad motivated by their own personal circumstances. Travelling, as well as living abroad involves higher medical costs in case you are not covered by expatriate health insurance. Depending on the length of time you intend to spend abroad there are two types of health insurance for expatriates. Short term expat health insurance covers periods between 5 days and 3 years. They do not cover travelling back and forth for a few days or weeks. It also expires when you are back in your home country. They include medical assistance, medical emergencies, and medical evacuation to the nearest center. Long term expatriate health insurance on the other hand is more complex and requires a minimum of 1 year for coverage. It is beneficial for those who travel frequently and is also valid in the country of origin. It offers the same benefits as a short-term insurance policy but evacuation to home country, repatriation of remains, maternity benefits, and pre-existing conditions can be added as supplementary benefits.    Blogging 2012-03-15T23:34:19+00:00