INTERNATIONAL HEALTHCARE INSURANCE

INTERNATIONAL HEALTHCARE INSURANCE

HCI provide expatriate medical insurance plans (sometimes called international health insurance or international medical insurance) which are similar to the types policies sold domestically, with the key difference that these policies operate and can be used throughout the world.

Global health insurance is critical for people living as expats in foreign locations where access to local healthcare is limited or restricted and where the quality of care offered may not match their expectations. These policies allow for clients to seek local private medical care when needed, or to access it elsewhere if suitable standards of care are not available locally.

Expat insurance has grown enormously in recent years as the numbers of people moving offshore has risen, so much so that this sector of the insurance market even has its own name now – International Private Medical Insurance (or IPMI for short). And in keeping with this growth, the variety of international health care plans available has also grown so that now it is possible to compare many different options until you find the coverage that meets your own unique needs and budget.

If you are looking for expat health insurance then HCI are a good place to start, we offer 5 annual plans and a short-term plan. But we also offer other types of expat insurance, including travel, life and income protection policies. We are the expats one-stop insurance stop.

HOSPITAL

Being able to either visit a doctor’s clinic, local medical centre or the nearest hospital knowing that the cost will be met by their insurer is a source of financial assurance and piece of mind.

But of course, depending on where you are living and the standards of care locally available, it may be that the nearest urgent care locations are not of a suitable standard and it may be necessary to travel to an emergency hospital or medical clinic which does meet these standards.

HCI policies allow you to seek hospitalisation and the medical facilities you need even if they are not where you are currently living. We do not restrict our clients to a list of ‘approved’ facilities, in fact provided they are prepared to provide the right treatment at a fair price, our members can access some of the best hospitals in the world. And post hospitalisation treatment can also be obtained locally or wherever the nearest suitable facility is.

Having health insurance in place also makes it financially possible to arrange appointment with a doctor at any time. The health professional you are most likely to need to utilise is the family doctor (general practitioner). Whilst not all policies cover GP appointments or doctors’ visits, HCI offers a range of plan types which do. Not only will these plans cover a doctor’s appointment (including seeing a nurse practitioner and a doctor’s prescription or an annual doctor check-up), we can even help you to find a local doctor if you are unsure about who to see or don’t know how to find a GP in your new home.

Although the cost of seeing a private GP, or even an after-hours GP is unlikely to cause financial distress, it is comforting to know that these expenses can be reimbursed by your insurer.

If you are living away from home as an expat you will probably have medical insurance high on your list of priorities to ensure that an unexpected health problem does not derail your life in your adopted homeland. Expats buy medical insurance for a variety of reasons, but generally these are centred on the reassurance of knowing that in the event of ill health or an accident, high quality treatment can be obtained without delay.

Our focus is on ensuring you receive the right treatment for your condition. If you become ill and require medical assistance we can help ensure you get the medical treatment you need, whether this is as an inpatient or an outpatient.

Our aim is see that you get the best health treatment -be it surgery, medicine of even palliative care - that is recommended by your specialist so that you get treated in the most appropriate way, taking account of the medical guidelines and best practice which apply to your condition.

Having health insurance in place also makes it financially possible to arrange appointment with a doctor at any time. The health professional you are most likely to need to utilise is the family doctor (general practitioner). Whilst not all policies cover GP appointments or doctors’ visits, HCI offers a range of plan types which do. Not only will these plans cover a doctor’s appointment (including seeing a nurse practitioner and a doctor’s prescription or an annual doctor check-up), we can even help you to find a local doctor if you are unsure about who to see or don’t know how to find a GP in your new home.

Although the cost of seeing a private GP, or even an after-hours GP is unlikely to cause financial distress, it is comforting to know that these expenses can be reimbursed by your insurer.

Motherhood is a wonderful time of life, but it can also bring with it many worries and many expats ask us about health insurance for pregnant women. HCI medical insurance plans for expats can include cover for pregnancy and childbirth after 12 months of cover. If you are looking for the best insurance for pregnancy and child birth our plans not only cover normal child birth, they also cover complications including caesarean section.

And as well as providing a generous maternity allowance for pregnant women some of our plans also now include a benefit allowing for the new born baby’s stem cells to be extracted and stored for future use should the need arise in a process known as cord blood banking; a revolutionary medical process where stem cells are painlessly taken from the placenta and umbilical cord of a new born child and then frozen for future use should the donor, their siblings or parents suffer ill health or injury in later life.

Laboratory tests and diagnostic procedures

If you are living away from home as an expat and you become ill, the first step in getting the treatment you need is getting the right medical diagnosis.

HCI medical insurance plans not only cover medical procedures, but, critically, they also enable you to get the medical diagnosis tests that your doctor is going to want you before they decide on what exactly the right course of treatment should be, based on your medical symptoms.

These could be any of a wide range of laboratory tests including blood tests and other diagnosis tests. These medical checks are a vital first step in getting you back on your feet.

Our policies can even cover annual health checks, though medical examinations for visa purposes are generally not covered as these are not typically associated with any actual medical condition or symptom.

Supplemental Insurance

Our international medical policies provide personal injury and illness insurance cover expats for unexpected events, such as hospitalisation and visits to GP’s or specialists, however there are other benefits which either come as standard with some plan types, or which can be added for an additional cost.

These include a wide range of supplementary benefits such as travel insurance and cover for dental treatment and eye care.

Visits to a dentist in particular can be expensive, but in order to maintain good oral health and to ensure you have healthy teeth it’s important to have regular dental care to avoid tooth decay and other associated problems. Our policies can allow you to stay on top of this important aspect of your overall health and wellbeing by relieving the financial burden.

Your vision is also critical, of course, so we also help with vision care coverage including eye surgery and cover for eye glasses and lenses.

And we also offer as standard, personal accident cover which will pay a lump sum to the insured member in the event of their death due to an accident. This cover level can be extended by the payment of an additional premium.