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5 Reasons Expats Choose Individual Private Medical Insurance
When relocating to a new country, it’s important to secure peace of mind in as many aspects of your new life as possible; and ensuring that healthcare will be available for you and your family is a must.
Have you figured out how the healthcare system works in your chosen destination? Understanding everything about your new home can be a daunting process, and deciphering the way in which a country’s national health system works is no exception.
A good health insurance cover is important no matter where you are, but why do expats opt for individual private medical insurance (IPMI) policies?
IPMI policies can often be advantageous to expats, by comparison to local policies. Cigna Global, a specialist in expat healthcare, explains the main reasons why IPMI policies are so important for expatriates to ensure their wellbeing abroad.
- 1- Limitations to immigrants
As you leave your home country, you will realize you also leave certain comforts that were available to you as a national. How will you, as an expat, gain access to health services in your new home?
As a foreign national, you may not be entitled to any free or subsidized healthcare. In some cases you may need permanent residency before you can enter the system – and that could take years. It is therefore important to consider an expatriate health plan to provide for the healthcare needs of you and your family.
- 2- Difficulties with public health care
A common problem with most public healthcare systems is that the coverage provided is not all-encompassing. Furthermore, most countries’ healthcare schemes struggle to attend the needs of all the population, which usually translates in long lines and waiting times for residents trying to get treatment.
If you are eligible to subsidized healthcare, it’s essential to understand the repercussions of your coverage. Both expats and nationals around the world frequently opt for purchasing a private policy to complement the basic cover granted by public healthcare, and to gain complete and immediate access to the best healthcare services in the country.
- 3- Gaps in your policy
More often than not, expats are sent abroad by an employer and covered under the company’s health insurance plan; however, as one size almost certainly does not fit all – the coverage provided by an employer is hardly ever the right policy for most.
If you are covered under a company’s health insurance plan, find out exactly what your plan covers. Is your family included in the policy? Does it provide international coverage? Do you have any pre-existing conditions not covered by the policy? IPMI policies help expats to choose a comprehensive cover to fill the gaps in their employment plans.
- 4- The benefits of International
Globally mobile citizens often require an international plan to cover them in the many countries they frequent. Some expats leave their country with travel insurance in place, but the problem with travel policies is that these are designed for short stays, and cover only for medical emergencies.
IPMI policies are also a great help against the language barrier. Understanding your policy documentation and being able to talk to a customer service representative is vital when dealing with your health queries. Many expats are more comfortable with an international health insurance company that offers support in English or another familiar language.
- 5- The ability to choose a plan tailored to your needs
IPMI policies usually allow you to choose a plan to accommodate particular needs. Benefits vary from supplier to supplier, but some include unlimited annual benefit limits, Inpatient care, day-patient care, cancer care, and maternity care.
Cigna Global
have created a products suite specifically designed for expats just like you. Their plans can be tailored exactly to the needs of you and your family, with the flexibility to choose from three distinct levels of cover, and five optional additional benefits, including outpatient care, medical evacuation, and vision & dental care. Full cancer care is included as standard in Cigna Global plans, and their top two levels of cover include maternity cover.
To tailor a policy for you today; why not visit www.cignaglobal.com and start building out your perfect expat health insurance plan?
[Image © Poznyakov 2016 under license from Shutterstock]
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