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The best worldwide medical insurance plan will have customizable benefits, wide global coverage, and more. Expats can find these benefits with top-tier international health insurance plans from providers like Cigna, Allianz, and AXA.
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Are you thinking of traveling to or living in a different country? In this article, we will share the best international health insurance providers for expats in today’s insurance market as well as the key benefits to look out for in a plan.
The Best Global Health Insurance Providers
Some of the top global health insurance providers include Cigna, GeoBlue, Bupa Global, and more. These international insurance providers provide expats with comprehensive health insurance plans with varying limits and deductibles, with options for every budget.
Let’s look at some of the top international insurance providers.
Cigna
Cigna offers four tiered international health insurance plans: Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Close Care. Across their Silver, Gold, and Platinum plans, the standard benefits include:
- Worldwide coverage (including or excluding the US)
- Inpatient care
- Mental health care
- Global health assistance
- Numerous deductible options
- Online customer platform
- Cancer care
- Visitor accommodation costs
- Private hospital room coverage
- Annual limit of USD $1,000,000 to unlimited
Beyond these benefits, you can select a higher plan for additional benefits or seek extra riders for more personalized coverage.
The Close Care plan offers a budget-friendly alternative for those who need international health insurance, as it provides coverage just in the expat’s country of residence and country of origin.
GeoBlue
GeoBlue’s Xplorer plan, with two tiers of coverage between their Essential and Premier options, provides the best coverage options for United States expats living abroad. GeoBlue offers 24/7 medical support, cashless appointments, and paperless claims resolutions, among other perks.
Let’s compare their Xplorer benefits.
| Xplorer Plans USA Coverage Comparison |
| Xplorer Essential w/ Add-on | Xplorer Premier | |
| Medical Maximum Benefit Amount (USD) | $1,000,000 | Unlimited |
| Coverage Duration within the United States (for US Citizens) | Maximum of three trips per calendar year, 21 days per trip | Capped at 9 months |
| Preventative Care within USA | Not Covered | Yes |
| Ability to Travel to USA for Treatment | No | Yes |
| Outpatient Prescription Drug Coverage (USD) | $1,000 for prescriptions only related to emergency medical care, illness, and accidental injury | $2,500 for Basic Benefit Package, $25,000 with Enhanced Prescription Upgrade |
| Birth Control Coverage in USA | Not Covered | See plan outpatient drug limit |
| Inpatient Mental Health Benefits within the USA | Not Covered | In-network: 80%, Out-of-network: 60% |
| Outpatient Mental Health Benefits within the USA | Not Covered | In-network: 100% after $30 copay; Out-of-network: 60% |
| USA Benefits for Covered Pre-existing Condition (USD) | $500 | Unlimited |
| Co-pay for each USA In-Network Physician Office Visit (USD) | $50 | $30 |
| USA Physician Network | Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO Network | Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO Network |
IMG Global
IMG Global plans offer worldwide coverage, or expats can choose their area of coverage. One unique offering to IMG is that all their plans offer coverage from prescription medications.
IMG’s global insurance benefits include inpatient care, prescription coverage, cancer treatment, and medical emergency coverage. Their Global Medical plan features four tiers that are designed for differing medical needs and budgets.
The lifetime limits of the Global Medical plans categories are listed below in USD amounts:
- Bronze: $1,000,000 per individual
- Silver: $5,000,000 per individual
- Gold: $5,000,000 per individual
- Platinum: $8,000,000 per individual
William Russell
William Russell offers four standard health insurance plans: Bronze, SilverLite, Silver, and Gold. These plans vary across coverage limits, allowing expats to choose different options for every budget and healthcare need. Annual benefit limits across the plans are:
- Bronze: USD $1.5 million
- SilverLite: USD $1.5 million
- Silver: USD $2.5 million
- Gold: USD $5 million
NOW Health
NOW Health offers their SimpleCare and WorldCare plans for international insurance seekers who want a budget-friendly option. Their SimpleCare plans do not offer coverage in the United States, but the WorldCare plans do have options for US coverage. Below is an overview comparison of these plans.
| Now Health International’s SimpleCare and WorldCare Plan Comparisons |
| Annual Benefit Limit | USD $1,000,000 to $1,500,000 | USD $3,000,000 to $4,500,000 |
| In-patient and Day-patient Care | Limits Apply | Covered |
| Organ Transplant | Limits Apply | Covered |
| Evacuation and Repatriation | Limits Apply | Covered |
| Mortal Remains | Limits Apply | Limits Apply |
| Pregnancy Medical Conditions | Not Covered | Covered |
| Congenital Disorders | Limits Apply | Limits Apply |
| USA Elective Treatment | Not Covered | Coverage Optional |
| Cancer Treatment | Covered | Covered |
| Day-patient or Out-patient Surgery | Covered | Covered |
AXA
AXA offers five core international health insurance plans for expats living abroad: Foundation, Standard, Comprehensive, Prestige, and Prestige Plus. These plans boast second medical opinions, evacuation and repatriation coverage, and virtual doctor services. Annual limits are:
- Foundation: USD $160,000
- Standard: USD $1,600,000
- Comprehensive: USD $2,400,000
- Prestige: USD $3,200,000
- Prestige Plus: USD $8,000,000
Allianz
Allianz’s three main plans for expats needing international health insurance are the Allianz Care, Allianz Care Plus, and Allianz Care Pro plans, which have flexibility for students, digital nomads, professionals, families planners, and businesses. The maximum plan limits are:
- Allianz Care: USD $2,500,000
- Allianz Care Plus: USD $4,000,000
- Allianz Care Pro: USD $5,000,000
April International
April International has five core health insurance tiers through their MyHealth International plan. Expats can choose between emergency-only care all the way to a premium plan with outpatient and preventative care coverage.
| April International MyHealth International Annual Benefit Limits by Tier |
| Emergency Plan | € 250,000 |
| Formule Basic | € 500,000 |
| Essential Plan | € 1,000,000 |
| Comfort | Unlimited |
| Premium Plan | Unlimited |
For more information on these international health insurers, reach out to the insurance experts at Pacific Prime. We are partnered with these providers and can help you navigate their policies and even provide you with a free quote.
The Best Worldwide Medical Insurance Benefits
The best global health insurance policy will have key features like wide geographical coverage, broad networks, flexible coverage, and medical evacuation and repatriation. Other important benefits also include language support and other expat services.
Wide Geographical Coverage
Plans that cover the policyholder across multiple regions instead of one specific country like a local health insurance policy should be prioritized when looking for worldwide medical coverage. This ensures expats can take their plans globally and receive coverage wherever they go.
Expats, global citizens, students abroad, and business professionals who travel often and work abroad will benefit most from this.
More Accessible Networks
When looking for worldwide medical insurance coverage, find plans that cover a wider network of worldwide healthcare providers and hospitals instead of one specific geographic area. This makes it easier for the policyholder to receive care for their medical needs.
Many top international insurance providers have direct billing set up with many international hospitals. You won’t have to deal with the hassle of paying upfront and waiting for a refund, as direct billing will take care of the payment for you.
Flexible Coverage
Worldwide medical insurance coverage is more flexible than local health insurance policies and generally allows adjustments and customization to coverage depending on the policyholder’s needs. There is also room for customizable benefits, such as optical, dental, maternity, and newborn cover.
With the best worldwide medical insurance plan, you can customize your benefits so they work for you, and you don’t have to pay for coverage you will never use.
Emergency Medical Evacuation and Repatriation
The best worldwide medical health insurance plan will include coverage for emergency medical evacuation and repatriation, which can provide peace of mind to global travelers in case of any serious medical injuries or accidents.
Emergency medical evacuation will transport expats who have suffered a serious injury or accident to the nearest adequate health center or hospital for treatment. The repatriation benefit means the policyholder’s body will be returned to their home country if they pass away.
Language Support
Many of the best international health insurance providers offer multilingual support for their members, as well as other digital services, to help expats during their time abroad.
As expats travel across the world, they are likely going to be in hospitals and healthcare centers with workers who do not share the same native language. Language support can be a great help to expats who are having trouble communicating with their healthcare providers.
Why Expats and Travelers Need International Health Insurance for Worldwide Coverage
Worldwide coverage is essential for expats because of the coverage it offers, regardless of location, as well as the protection it offers for unexpected health events. Local health insurance can only cover you within the border of one country, which isn’t as useful to those who travel often.
If you don’t have adequate coverage while traveling abroad, you could be forced to cover the total charge of some very high medical bills in the case of an accident or health emergency. With international health insurance, you’ll be protected against any health emergency.
Who Does Worldwide Medical Insurance Cover?
Worldwide medical insurance can cover individuals, families, retirees, students, and groups. International medical insurance plans come in different variations to fit every age and lifestyle, with benefits and limits that make sense for every situation.
Whether you are looking for an individual policy or a family plan that will cover you and all your dependents, you can rest assured that there is a plan available for your needs.
Comparing the Best Worldwide Insurance Providers
When comparing international insurance providers, you should consider key factors like their coverage areas, benefits, premium prices, eligibility, and ratings. You can make choosing a provider easier as well by comparing quotes between insurers.
- Coverage Areas: Ensure the provider and plan you are looking at covers the country you will be residing in or visiting. Some providers also allow you to choose policies that exclude coverage in the U.S. so you can save on your premiums.
- Benefits: It is imperative to choose a plan with benefits that will cover all of your healthcare needs and priorities. If you are someone who will need regular dental care, make sure you choose a plan that has dental coverage options.
- Premium Prices: Insurance policy premiums can vary greatly, and it’s important to choose the right provider that fits your budget. If you’re looking to keep your premiums low, you can opt for higher deductible plans with in-patient-only coverage.
- Eligibility: Ensure you are eligible for the plan you are applying for by taking notice of any exclusions or age limits on the policy. Some plans may or may not cover pre-existing conditions as well.
- Ratings: Looking at the customer reviews and ratings of the international insurance company can help you choose a provider.
Top 10 International Health Insurance Companies
Tips for Choosing a Worldwide Medical Insurance Plan
Helpful tips for choosing a worldwide health insurance plan include understanding your own health needs, knowing your budget limits, and taking care to read the terms and conditions of the policy thoroughly.
Understand Your Health Needs and Budget
Take the time to understand what you are looking for in a policy. Do you want a plan with extensive medical benefits so all your healthcare needs are covered? Or are you more interested in in-patient-only coverage to save on your premiums?
Understanding your own needs can help you choose between providers and their plans, but it’s important not only to choose a plan because it is the cheapest option. You may end up paying more out of pocket if you do not have the coverage you need in a serious health event.
Read the Terms and Conditions Thoroughly
When choosing an international health insurance policy, it is important to carefully read the terms and conditions so you are not surprised by any exclusions or limits in your plan. No one wants to be left unaware of an important detail hidden in terms and conditions.
Insurance jargon can be confusing, so if you’re having trouble understanding any part of a policy, feel free to contact an insurance expert today for answers.
Travel Medical Insurance Coverage
Expats who aren’t planning on being abroad longer than three months can choose a travel insurance policy to protect their medical needs. Travel insurance can cover medical emergencies and inpatient costs, as well as other customizable healthcare services.
In addition to medical coverage, travel insurance can also provide coverage that will help prevent financial losses concerning common travel issues.
Some of this coverage includes:
- Trip cancellation and delay coverage
- Baggage loss coverage
- Travel document loss coverage
- Personal liability coverage
Travel insurance differs from international health insurance as it is a short-term coverage option. Expats looking to spend longer periods traveling should invest in a long-term health insurance option so they are well protected during their time abroad.
Group Medical Insurance Coverage Options
Another option for medical insurance while living abroad is through group insurance policies, available for organized groups, non-profit agencies, and businesses. Group insurance can offer comprehensive and competitive employee benefit packages for your employees.
Expats living abroad with international employees and group members will benefit from group policies. Group policies have the benefit of lower premiums per individual and generally have minimal underwriting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best worldwide medical insurance?
The best worldwide medical insurance policy will have extensive global coverage, customizable and comprehensive benefits, accessible networks, and language support. The best policy will also depend on your preferred level of coverage.
How can I pick the right worldwide medical insurance plan?
You can pick the right global health insurance plan for you by understanding your coverage needs and comparing providers and plans online. Make sure to read every policy thoroughly and not skim over the terms and conditions. Consult a broker for impartial advice.
How much does a global health insurance plan cost on average?
Annual costs vary across plans and providers, but the average cost is around USD $5000 per year. Limited benefit plans can go as low as USD $500 annually, while more comprehensive and extensive benefits plans can go up to nearly USD $8000 annually.
Which health insurance company is the largest globally?
Cigna Global is the biggest health insurance company to offer private medical insurance. Cigna Global has more than 180 million customers across the world and a global network of 1.7 million healthcare providers.
Conclusion
Expats can find the best worldwide medical insurance for themselves by understanding their needs and budgets and by comparing providers and policies. Pacific Prime makes comparing quotes from different insurance providers easy with our free online quote comparison tool.
For more answers to all your insurance-related questions, reach out to our experts directly. As brokers, we are not tied to any one particular insurance provider and can give you unbiased advice on which policy would fit your specific situation best.
Contact Pacific Prime today to get started on your health insurance journey!
Serena earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of British Columbia, Canada. As such, she is an avid advocate of mental health and is fascinated by all things psychology (especially if it’s cognitive psychology!).
Her previous work experience includes teaching toddlers to read, writing for a travel/wellness online magazine, and then a business news blog. These combined experiences give her the skills and insights she needs to explain complex ideas in a succinct way. Being the daughter of an immigrant and a traveler herself, she is passionate about educating expats and digital nomads on travel and international health insurance.
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