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Whether you’re a professional living or working abroad or you travel a lot on your own, international medical insurance can take care of your medical and healthcare needs. Our health plans for expats are flexible and personalised.
William Cooper
Marketing Director
Falling ill or injured when you’re an expat overseas can be highly stressful, so it’s important to know you can access healthcare if you need it. Are you moving abroad for a fixed-term contract or a permanent position?
Or perhaps you’re already based overseas, and you’re looking for the right international medical insurance plan?
It’s worth spending some time choosing the right private health insurance for living abroad.
International medical insurance is specially designed for professionals and frequent flyers living and working in other countries. With each country having its own unique health system, taking out international private medical insurance (IPMI) is the best (and sometimes only) way to guarantee you’ll have the coverage you need, when you need it.
With international medical insurance you can access high-quality private healthcare around the world. Many expats have health insurance for peace of mind should they need urgent medical care while living or working abroad.
It covers you for a wide range of medical needs, including:
We provide global health insurance to expats in over 150 countries. Our plans are created especially for expats, and, unlike domestic healthcare insurance, will cover you in multiple countries.
It’s important to know what type of healthcare system a country has before moving there. There are four main healthcare systems worldwide. In countries that rely on private (‘out-of-pocket’) healthcare, taking insurance might save you money on future medical care.
Our plans are flexible and personalised, so coverage is bespoke to you and your needs. The range of illnesses covered is extensive and, depending on your level of cover, you could access a variety of treatments for conditions including cancer, transplants, kidney dialysis and more.
All our plans include emergency medical evacuation as standard. In general, you can expect to be covered for being admitted to hospital and serious issues such as cancer.
Most insurance providers don’t cover pre-existing health conditions or related conditions, so check before you decide on a provider.
Bronze
SilverLite
Silver
Gold
Certain benefits in this table of benefits specify a waiting period. You must be covered by the same plan for the full duration of the specified waiting period before you can claim for that benefit. No benefit is payable for any treatment costs incurred during the waiting period.
*Cover is limited to post-hospital care.
The cost of international health insurance for individuals can vary. Although it’s generally more expensive than a local health plan, it gives you more coverage and the added assurance that you’re getting the best possible care.
For example, most international medical insurance plans include cover in multiple countries and emergency medical evacuation. To calculate your premium, we look at a number of factors including your age and where you live or work.
Example monthly premium based on a 30-year-old man living in Vietnam, with a US$250 per annum excess and Zone 2 cover.
Bronze plan
SilverLite plan
Silver plan
Gold plan
See our full plan description here.
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The quickest way to reach us is by email.
Inez Cooper, Managing Director and Founder of William Russell shares her recommendations on what expatriates should look for when choosing a international medical insurance policy:
Getting familiar with a country’s healthcare system and health culture is one of the biggest challenges that expats face when relocating overseas.
Whether you are moving abroad for the first time or you have experience being an expat in many different locations, it’s beneficial to understand the key healthcare factors when deciding to live and work abroad.
You need to ask yourself several important questions, such as:
If you’re relocating abroad for work, it’s common to receive health insurance through your job. Therefore, you may already be covered, especially if you are moving abroad with your company.
However, it’s good to look into what your company healthcare plan covers you for, as it may not be sufficient for your specific needs. These plans often do not become effective immediately.
You probably already know that healthcare quality can vary significantly from country to country.
In some cases, the healthcare standards in your new home might be as good or even better than those you’re used to in your current one. In other cases, healthcare standards may not be as high as they are in your home country.
Find out whether it’s better to visit private hospitals or use the public healthcare system in your new home. You can often do this through your embassy or consulate, or you can reach out to other expats in the community for recommendations. Also, make sure that you are aware of how the emergency medical services function in the country that you are moving to.
If you already have private insurance in your home country, you should speak to your provider before your move – their plan may cover you in your new country.
On the other hand, remember travel insurance policies are usually designed for short stays and typically only cover medical emergencies.
Globally mobile citizens will therefore typically require an international medical insurance plan if they want to be fully covered in the countries they frequent.
When picking a plan, make sure all your needs are tailored for.
This includes making sure your plan covers your destination, or destinations, and considering what level of coverage you are going to need.
While most health insurance gives you access to private healthcare, the health plan you choose defines the rules and limitations of that access. Consider age restrictions, how pre-existing conditions are handled and what exclusions might exist when making a claim.
Finally, remember it’s better to be safe than sorry. Accidents, emergencies, and new diagnoses can seriously disrupt your life and – depending where you live – can have a serious impact on your finances too. Think carefully about the risks attached to not having a comprehensive health insurance plan.
You can call our 24/7 emergency medical helpline
You’re free to choose which hospital you visit for treatment
We have a worldwide network of hospitals and doctors to call upon
For over three decades, William Russell has specialised in providing international student health insurance around the globe.
Get the plan to suit your student lifestyle, with a choice of premium and lower-cost options.
Our product teams keep an eye on global healthcare, looking out for breakthroughs in medical science and monitoring trends.
Here are some of our top tips:
Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about international health insurance. If you can’t find what you’re looking for here, or would like to speak to our award-winning customer service team, please call us on +44 1276 486 477.
Every country has its own unique healthcare system, and healthcare in some countries is better than in others.
It’s important to know what type of healthcare system a country has before moving there. If the country uses an out-of-pocket system (where people pay for treatment as and when they need it), you will almost certainly need international medical insurance.
In some countries, such as the United States, you may even need highly specialised insurance (see ‘Where you have cover’ for more information).
Make sure to check with your employer if you’re living abroad for work, as they may offer IPMI as part of their global employee policy.
If you’re an employer managing global employees, you may be interested in our curated Employee Benefits package which includes IPMI for your worldwide staff.
Yes, it can do. Healthcare plans from William Russell are international, so your cover doesn’t need to stop if you travel abroad or return home temporarily, provided this is within your coverage zone.
If you return home permanently, we can offer cover in your home country. Please note the cover is not available to you if the USA, Iran, Libya, North Korea, South Sudan, Syria or Yemen is or becomes your country of residence, irrespective of your nationality.
It is in some destinations, so make sure you check. Before you travel, it’s also a good idea to research the public healthcare. Look at the quality and availability of medical care, for both illness and accidents, and what the eligibility criteria are for accessing it. For extra coverage and peace of mind, you may decide to arrange international medical insurance for you and your family.
Our plans are divided into 6 zones:
Zone 1
Worldwide cover, with restricted cover in the USA.
Zone 2
Provides cover in most countries. But in countries where the cost of private health insurance is high, this is subject to certain limits. There is no cover in the USA.
Zone 3
Special coverage zone for residents in Indonesia only, with restricted cover where private healthcare is expensive but no cover in the USA.
Zone 4
Full cover in Africa & Indian Subcontinent, with restricted cover elsewhere but no cover in the USA.
Zone 5
Full cover in Africa (except South Africa) & Indian Subcontinent, with restricted cover elsewhere but no cover in the USA.
Zone 6
Worldwide cover, excluding the USA, with restricted cover in certain countries and regions. Only available for residents in Indonesia.
Zone 7
Full cover in South East Asia (except Thailand and Singapore), and no cover elsewhere.
All William Russell plans come with some cover for for emergency dental treatment following an accident, and you may be able to add more depending on what plan you choose.
The Silver plan is a popular choice amongst our members without partners or families, you have:
We have a range of tools and options to keep your premium low, so you can put together the right health plan for you whether you’re purchasing a plan yourself or with your employer’s help.
Yes. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the concept of remote working into mainstream conversations about work-life balance.
Why slog away in an office in rainy London or freezing New York when you could do your job quite comfortably in a more exotic location?
We can cover you if you’re living abroad but working remotely, even if you’re hopping from place to place and you occasionally return home for business or leisure.
Ultimately, you’ll want to find a international medical insurance policy that covers you for eligible medical conditions relevant to yourself and your family, gives you peace of mind for the future, and suits your lifestyle and budget.
A comprehensive IPMI policy may cover you for a variety of medical conditions, including but not limited to:
When shopping for an international medical insurance policy, you should have three questions in mind:
You may also wish to consider taking out a separate life insurance policy and income protection, especially if you’re living abroad with your family.
While most of our members are expats, you don’t have to live overseas permanently to purchase one of our health plans. Suppose you’re lucky enough to spend at least six months of the year living, travelling or working outside your country of nationality. In that case, you can usually apply for international health insurance with us.
We are also able to offer plans to nationals of Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius and Nigeria who are resident in their home country, and also to Estonian nationals.
Purchasing an international medical insurance plan can have several benefits over a travel insurance policy. You’ll have cover for:
All the benefits on this webpage are per member per policy year, unless we state otherwise. We show the benefit limits in US dollars, but we can also denominate your policy in pounds sterling or Euros. You won’t find complete information for our plans on this webpage, nor the full T&Cs, limitations, and exclusions that would apply if you purchase a health insurance policy. You can find complete information in the plan agreement, which we suggest you read together with this webpage. We work hard to ensure the information we provide on this webpage is accurate and up-to-date, but inaccuracies are possible. We rectify errors as soon as we become aware of them. The T&Cs that apply to your policy are those found in your plan agreement.
At William Russell, we have over 30 years’ experience of helping expatriates move abroad and settle into their new lives overseas by providing world-class international health insurance.
Joe Holden Global Relationship Manager
If you’re ready to see prices for health insurance, click on ‘Get a Quote’ below to head on over to our online quote tool.
We’ll ask you a few details (your age, your location), and then we’ll show you prices—it only takes a few minutes!
A couple of days after you’ve received you quote, Joe will email or call you to find out how we can help you further. Joe won’t bug you, and you can opt out at any time.
It’s filled with handy information and tips for expats.
We were one of the first insurance providers to cover people living abroad, and we’ve earned a reputation for our wonderful customer service.
The insurer behind our policies is part of the Allianz group
We’re proud of our award-winning service and our members rate it highly
You will get your own dedicated adviser when you join
If you’re not happy with your health insurance policy or the service we provide, and you haven’t yet made a claim, then we’ll refund the premium you’ve paid—no questions asked.
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