by The benefits provided under most international health insurance policies are far more comprehensive than travel insurance and are more closely related to a private U.S. health insurance policy. Because these are annually renewable and permanent types of health plans, they place more focus on preventive health care and medical condition treatment and maintenance. Out-of-country health plans of shorter duration focus primarily on providing benefits for emergency medical treatments and place little concern on maintaining the insured’s future health status. Also, since long-term international health insurance plans can be in effect several years, the maximum limits on paid benefits are substantially higher.
Below is a summary of the benefits that you should expect from your international health insurance policy:
- Hospital Room and Board
- Intensive Care Unit
- Local Ambulance
- Physician Visits
- Annual Physical Exams
- Immunizations
- Prescription Drug Coverage
- Maternity Benefits – Pre-Natal and Post-Natal
- Newborn Care
- Outpatient Surgery
- Physical Therapy
All of the benefits listed above apply to medically related expenses. Some benefits, such as maternity coverage may have maximum benefit limits of a pre-set amount that is much lower than the overall maximum offered through your international health insurance plan.
Some international plans may offer supplemental benefits, such as:
- Emergency Medical Evacuation
- Repatriation of Remains
- Emergency Reunion
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Benefits
- Life Insurance
As with most health insurance policies, certain benefits may have certain exclusions and limitations that should be considered when applying for an international health insurance policy. We also suggest that you review our Guide to Choosing International Health Insurance before agreeing to a policy.