Health insurance is a must when you’re moving abroad. It protects your finances and enables you to access top-quality healthcare if and when you need it.
It’s not always easy finding the perfect health insurance plan. There is an endless number of plans out there, all of which offer different things, so narrowing down your choices can be confusing.
Plus, health insurance is just one of the many things you need to organize when becoming an ex-pat. Alongside health insurance, you must organize travel insurance, an international courier, and accommodation before moving.
Even if you have existing health insurance in your home country, you might need to set up a new policy when you move abroad. Some health insurance plans only cover certain areas, and your current plan might not be valid overseas.
It’s always best to go for a comprehensive health insurance plan over a basic one. In this article, we will cover the many benefits of choosing a comprehensive health insurance policy.
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5 Benefits of Comprehensive Health Insurance
Comprehensive health insurance policies are health insurance plans that provide extensive coverage for a wide range of medical services and treatments. They are designed for maximal coverage and enable you to access hospitals, surgeries, doctors and other healthcare professionals, laboratory tests, prescription medications, and preventive care.
With comprehensive health insurance, you can also access specialized treatments and therapies, emergency medical care, mental health services, and psychotherapies including online therapy that accepts insurance. You're able to access basic medical services across a wider area too, so no matter where you're moving in the world, you can protect your health.
Let's take a closer look at the benefits of comprehensive health insurance policies so you can decide whether it's a good option for you as you begin your ex-pat life.
1) Financial Protection
One of the main benefits of health insurance is that it significantly reduces the cost of healthcare. You can access in-network doctors while abroad and receive all kinds of medical treatments and medications, without paying for all of them out of pocket.
Medical expenses can accumulate quickly, leading to hefty bills that could cut into your savings. A comprehensive insurance plan is a must to avoid paying a fortune every time you use your local healthcare services as an ex-pat.
Being financially protected under a comprehensive health insurance plan provides peace of mind. You can enjoy spending money on exploring your new area and socializing with your loved ones instead of saving it in case you get injured or ill. Your health insurance will cover hospital stays, treatments, therapies, surgeries, laboratory tests, and medications.
2) Immediate access to top-quality healthcare
Healthcare systems vary across different countries and many places don’t allow you to access their healthcare services without adequate insurance. In a few countries, you may be able to access hospitals and primary care practices for basic care but not specialist treatments, and you may need to wait several days for any form of intervention.
A comprehensive health insurance policy resolves the above problems and enables you to access a wide variety of healthcare services as soon as you need them. If you’re injured or ill while living abroad, you can get treatment or therapy as required.
3) Access to Specialist Treatments
Comprehensive health insurance enables you to receive all kinds of treatments, therapies, and tests that you wouldn’t be able to access with a basic insurance plan.
It provides coverage for several medical services across all areas, including routine check-ups, emergency care, hospitalization, specialist consultations, and prescription medications. You can seek medical attention without worrying about the cost or the quality of care you'll receive, even if you require ongoing treatments for a chronic condition.
4) Coverage to Pre-Existing Medical Conditions
If you have pre-existing medical conditions that require ongoing medical attention, you might worry whether you can still access the treatments that you need when you move abroad.
With comprehensive health insurance coverage, you won’t need to worry, as you’ll be able to access the necessary care and treatment for your condition. Without this coverage, you might struggle to find affordable and accessible healthcare for your pre-existing conditions anywhere but in your home country.
5) Access to Additional Services
Most comprehensive health insurance providers offer additional benefits and services on top of extensive medical coverage. Examples of additional services include preventive care, wellness programs, telemedicine services, and mental health support.
With access to these additional benefits, you can maintain all aspects of your health, enabling you to stay as healthy and happy as possible while living abroad.
