Here are the top 4 things you should look for in an international health insurance company…
Insurer’s Financial Strength
Perhaps one of the first and the most important considerations when you look for a health insurance company is the financial strength of the company underwriting the risk. Signing up for a plan that promises a lot but does not deliver when it comes to the insurer meeting obligations in the event of a claim is truly pointless.
You might want to sign up with an insurance company that has a credit rating of at least A or A- assigned by AM Best Rating Agency, which indicates that the insurer has "Excellent" financial strength
Administrator's Track Record
You sign up for international health insurance because you want an insurance plan that provides you with coverage all over the world. In this sense, it differs from a traditional health insurance plan that covers you only within your home country.
A critical factor to look out for would be your administrator’s experience in covering worldwide travelers and the ability to provide such worldwide assistance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days of the year.
Run a quick search on the following factors:
• Coverage of the company in terms of number of members and number of countries
• Foreign language capability of the customer support team
• Availability of medical professionals
• Hospitals, clinics and doctors in their network
• Testimonials from satisfied customers
Worldwide Assistance
When you travel, live and work abroad then you are exposing yourself to the following risks with regard to healthcare:
• Dangers arising out of natural disasters, political tensions such as war and terror attacks, diseases and epidemics.
• Substandard medical care abroad in terms of hospitals, clinics and doctors who might not be able to provide the level of care that you and your family are used to
• Emergency medical situations that demand evacuation
• Not knowing where to go and being handicapped in terms of language and contacts should you need medical care abroad.
Being able to communicate your needs and problems to someone in an emergency could really be the difference between life and death, which is why foreign language capability and a toll free number to access support and assistance is a huge plus for any international health insurance company.
Geographical Coverage That You Need
Owing to the high cost of health care in North America, typical International Health Insurance will have 2 separate plans; one that covers USA & Canada and the other that excludes it. Needless to say, plans that cover USA & Canada cost more than those that don't. This is why you need to opt for a plan which is in line with the geographical coverage that matches your overseas itinerary.
If you happen to be a US citizen living abroad, traditional sources of US private health insurance are not sufficient to meet your needs. Geographical exclusions and provider limitations common to these policies restrict or (in some cases) eliminate the coverage available to you while you are outside the US.
If you are a non-US citizen, you might need international medical insurance coverage which will supplement the coverage already available to you through a plan sponsored by your government or to provide coverage while you are outside your home country. Alternatively, you might want to have access to health care in other countries, including the US, in the event you become seriously ill.
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