The Basics of International Health Insurance Plans
Michalis 'BIG Mike' Kotzakolios


Defined Tag: International Health Insurance.

When taking up residence in another country, a critical piece of your financial peace of mind is international health insurance coverage. Some expatriates can qualify for a local government health plan. However, in smaller and less-stable nations, government plan coverage is minimal. As well, the government plan is not portable; that is, when you leave the country, your coverage doesn't go with you.

Many companies offer international health insurance coverage for expatriates. The more basic international health insurance plans cover in-patient hospital stays, including physician fees, surgeons, anesthesiologists, and even some prescription medication.

The more comprehensive international health insurance plans can resemble domestic health plans. Consultations, outpatient visits, therapists, and emergency dentistry are included. Often, specialists such as radiologists, pathologists, and oncologists are covered, as well as ambulance transportation charges.

There are even more extensive coverage options for international health insurance. While the premiums are higher, so are the covered benefits. These benefits can include childbirth, chiropractors, organ transplants, rehabilitation, and psychiatry. As well, diagnostic services such as x-rays, magnetic resonance imaging scans, and other lab work can be included.

Many international health plans include emergency travel medical coverage and evacuation coverage in the basic level. For an additional fee, most international health plans can add transportation to a top-notch medical facility anywhere in the world, and then a discounted fare to return to your home country after you've recovered from illness.

Not everyone can be covered by an international health plan. If your occupation is classified as dangerous or hazardous, some companies won't cover you, while others will cover you at a very high premium. Pre-existing conditions aren't usually covered either, whether the condition was known or not. However, some companies might cover a pre-existing condition for an additional premium. Many international health plans won't cover pregnancy and childbirth, while others will cover it for an added premium. Some international health plans will require a waiting period for up to 12 months before covering pregnancy and childbirth, while other plans will only cover maternity-related costs if the pregnancy occurred after the policy comes into effect.

Comprehensive international health insurance plans usually cost about twice of what a basic plan would cost. You can choose to have the full 100% of your expenses covered. To save money on premiums, you can opt to have the international health insurance plan cover up to 80% of the expenses while you cover the rest. You can also save money on the premium by paying a deductible. International health insurance plan premiums can vary depending on age. On some plans, even gender can affect premiums.

BIG Mike is a well known author, developer and Adsense expert as well as the owner of Niche Maniacs - a unique Adsense Marketing System designed to build long-term passive income streams from Adsense, YPN, Chitika and other PPC services.