The top 5 international health insurance companies for expats

If you’re living overseas, you should consider international health insurance. Health systems vary drastically from country to country and healthcare can be expensive in some countries. Being covered can give you peace of mind.

Some countries include health insurance as a mandatory visa requirement. Even if you’re planning to live in a country with universal healthcare or reciprocal agreements in place for visitors and expats, the public system might have long waiting periods or poor levels of care.

We’ve compared the best international health insurance companies for expats and explained what each one is best for.

Cigna Global

Cigna Coverage Limits
Plan / tier	Annual Benefit Limit (in USD)
Silver	$1,000,000
Gold	$2,000,000
Platinum	Paid in full
Close Care	$500,000

Allianz Care

Best for: A large network of healthcare providers.

Reviews: Allianz Care is rated 4.5 – “Excellent” – on Feefo.

Geographical coverage: Its network of providers is present in over 200 territories.

Allianz Coverage Limits
Plan / tier	Annual Benefit Limit
Care: Comprehensive health insurance	£1,575,000 €1,851,850 US$2,500,000 CHF2,407,400
Care Plus: Enhanced health insurance	£2,460,000 €2,963,000 US$4,000,000 CHF3,852,000
Care Pro: Superior health insurance	£3,100,000 €3,703,705 US$5,000,000 CHF4,814,815

April International

April International Coverage Limits
Plan / tier	Annual Benefit Limit
International	£1,000,000 $2,000,000 €1,500,000
International Plus	same as above
Executive	same as above
Executive Plus	same as above

Bupa Global

Bupa Global Coverage Limits
Plan / tier	Annual Benefit Limit
Major Medical	£2,000,000
Select	£1,000,000
Premier	£1,500,000
Elite	£3,000,000
Ultimate Global Health Plan	No limit

AXA

AXA Coverage Limits
Plan / tier	Annual Benefit Limit
Foundation	£250,000 €312,500 USD $400,000
Standard	£1,000,000 €1,275,000 USD $1,600,000
Comprehensive	£1,500,000 €1,900,000 USD $2,400,000
Prestige	£2,000,000 €2,550,000 USD $3,200,000
Prestige Plus	£5,000,000 €6,375,000 USD $8,000,000

What is international health insurance (IPMI)?

International health insurance is designed for people who live outside of their home country for an extended amount of time.

It’s designed for expats, global nomads and long-term residents.

It allows you to access private healthcare in multiple countries, assuming your policy covers you.

What to consider when comparing international health insurance

Coverage area

When you’re deciding on a plan, you’ll need to choose where you want cover. Some policies let you customise. It’s common to find policies that offer worldwide cover or worldwide excluding the USA. This is because healthcare is very expensive in the USA. If you aren’t travelling stateside then you can probably save yourself some money and opt for a policy that includes cover there. 

Maximum annual limit

You’ll need to pick a policy that covers all of your needs. If you’re young and healthy then you might be able to opt for a policy with a lower annual limit. If you’re a bit older or have family as part of the policy, having a higher limit will give you more peace of mind. In general, the higher the limit, the more the policy will cost. You can even find premium policies with no limits.

Inpatient vs. Outpatient Care

Inpatient care is always included in these plans. It’s generally the most expensive treatment and designed to stop you from going bankrupt. Essentially the main reason for getting international health insurance. Outpatient care means you can visit a doctor for a routine appointment, visit a specialist or get a prescription. Depending on your circumstances, you might only opt for the former.

Underwriting and Pre-Existing Conditions

You need to check how the insurer handles pre-existing conditions. Some insurers will cover some conditions, though this cover is likely to cost more. Others might need you to undertake a medical test to judge the potential you’ll need for treatment. This could mean the cost changes for you.

Direct billing network

Some insurers offer policies that allow for direct billing. Essentially you won’t have to pay anything out of your pocket for treatment in the right circumstances. You’ll usually need to go to a provider that’s part of the insurer’s network and show your health insurance details. For some policies, you’ll need to get pre-authorisation before treatment, though this is normally only for non-emergency care.

What is the difference between international health insurance and travel insurance?

International health insurance is a longer-term solution, so you would need it if you’re living overseas. It covers a larger range of health needs, such as routine care. 

Travel insurance is short term. It generally only covers emergency healthcare and as a result costs a lot less. It can also cover for other things that private health insurance doesn’t, including compensation for delays, lost luggage and your luggage.

When you take out travel insurance, you normally need to specify where you’re a resident and how long you’re going to be travelling.

If you live overseas and travel regularly, you might find that you need to have both.

Do I need health insurance if public healthcare is available

Yes, in general, you do. There are a few reasons for this. 

A lot of countries don’t have universal healthcare. And even in countries that do, the public system can often be overcrowded or underfunded. Having private insurance takes the burden off that system and also means you’re likely to get a higher quality of care.

Some visas require you to have private health insurance. If you don’t have insurance then you won’t be granted a visa.

Many countries have reciprocal healthcare agreements in place. But that doesn’t mean you’ll be able to have all your health needs covered. Australia is an example. It has a universal healthcare system and if you’re from a country with a reciprocal agreement, you can access it.

So you would be looked after in an emergency, but not all routine care is covered. You might still find yourself out of pocket if you need to see a doctor or dentist. 

In the case of Australia, some visas actually require you to have private healthcare. For the visas that don’t, the government strongly recommends purchasing it.

Will I be covered in my home country?

Yes, some policies will cover you in your home country for short stints. But it really depends on the policy. Make sure you read the terms and conditions before choosing one.

If you live in a country where travel insurance is cheaper than health insurance then it could be a good idea to buy a policy that keeps you covered when you’re visiting home. A country like the US would be an example of this. A country with universal healthcare like the UK might mean it’s less important.

If you’re buying a policy with some of the more expensive providers in this list, the cost difference for having cover in the US might not be that high. If you’re buying with April, that cost difference will be more significant.

Frequently asked questions

Useful resources

https://www.bupaglobal.com/en/for-you/international-health-insurance

https://www.bupaprivateclient.com/en/benefits

https://www.axaglobalhealthcare.com/en/international-health-insurance

https://www.cignaglobal.com

https://www.april-international.com/en/landing/international-healthcare

https://www.allianzcare.com/en/personal-international-health-insurance/products-and-services/international-healthcare-plans.html

https://www.cignaglobal.com/individuals-families/international-health-insurance/global-professionals/plans-in-detail