International health insurance sounds a lot like travel insurance, but they are for very different circumstances. You wouldn't buy international health insurance for any upcoming holiday. However, if you are planning to, or already have relocated overseas to work or study for a longer period of time, buying international health insurance is a very good idea.

International health insurance covers major healthcare costs, such as hospitalisation and treatment, overseas. This is important because healthcare bills can be high if you are living abroad. As a foreigner, you are unlikely to qualify for subsidised healthcare in your country of residence, so the cost of healthcare may be quite high.

At the most basic level, your international health insurance plan would cover hospitalisation and treatment costs. However, most insurance companies will allow you to add on riders and options to extend your healthcare coverage, such as vision care, dentist visits, health screenings, vaccinations, pregnancy, and regular General Practitioner (GP) visits.

The most important part of a health insurance plan will be the hospitalisation benefits, because inpatient and daypatient bills are among the largest medical bills you can get. Even the most basic international health insurance plan would cover hospital stays, surgeries, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) wards, medication, diagnostic tests, ambulance fees and more.

The next biggest medical cost to anticipate are outpatient treatments. These are basically medical treatments that may not require you to stay in a hospital, such as kidney dialysis, cancer radiotherapy and chemotherapy, immunotherapy. Different providers have varying levels of coverage for outpatient healthcare, so be sure to compare this before you make a decision.

While local health insurance plans usually provide you with access to healthcare services within a specific country, an international health insurance plan grants you access to medical attention in a region or continent of choice (or globally).

Most international health insurance plans will also offer riders to extend your healthcare coverage to include non-emergency lifestyle and health needs such as routine dental visits. You’ll need to research the expected dental costs and decide if the rider is worth it.

Some international health insurance plans may also offer you the option to add on any mental health, behavioural care, or optical care (which includes glasses, prescription lenses, and routine optician visits). Again, these are optional, so it’s good to do your homework and decide if the additional premiums are worth it.

Among those who purchase international healthcare insurance plans are those relocating with their families or spouses. If this is the case (or if you plan to start a family overseas) you may want to consider the commonly-offered pregnancy and childbirth rider. It extends your healthcare coverage to include pre-natal gynaecologist visit, your actual childbirth, and post-natal care.

There are different areas of coverage for international health plans. Most insurers offer “Worldwide” or “Worldwide Excluding US” as options, with the latter usually costing more. However, if you’re going to relocate within Asia, consider an insurer that offers Asia-only coverage, which would most likely be cheaper.

Many international health insurance plans are highly customisable, so you need not opt for a standard packaged plan. Compare each plan’s benefits and optional add-ons before deciding on which plan which suits you best. If you’re relocating with a young family, for example, you may want to opt for higher coverage, while if you’re a solo expat on a budget, you may choose a simpler plan without too many add-ons.

Compared to local health insurance in Singapore, international health insurance will definitely cost more in terms of premiums. Fret not, though — there is a way to lower your annual premiums if you are generally in good health. International health insurance providers often allow you to manage your premiums by selecting a higher deductible and co-pay percentage. You will, however, need sufficient emergency savings to pay for your share of the medical bills.

Inform your insurer or financial advisor immediately should you need to make a claim. For full assurance of claims, it’s best to call the insurer's dedicated claims concierge hotline or your broker to get peace of mind for your medical treatment. Some insurers also have online claims applications to make it hassle-free.

Whatever you are making a claim for, you have to be able to prove its authenticity. This means producing original documents for the following: your attending physician's statements, medical certificates, accident reports, clinic or hospital invoices

Your insurance agent or advisor should be able to assist you to fill up the claims form. Otherwise, look for your insurance company’s claims concierge for help with completing the claims form. Most insurance companies have a claims turnaround payout time of around 5 to14 working days.

Don't have time to compare all the different international health insurance plans? Answer some questions online and let our intelligent system find the best international health insurance plan for you.

Let our insurance specialists drop you a text and a call to clarify your medical and lifestyle needs. They will also be able to explain the international health insurance plans' offerings to you in greater detail.

Finally, let our insurance specialists offer you unbiased advice and help you complete your application process.