International Health Insurance Types

Short Term international health insurance plans are a kind of fall-back plans which is designed for people traveling outside their home country for less than a year. The other categories of people who typically opt for short term international insurance plans are those on a vacation abroad, missionaries or executives traveling on work.

The short term insurance plans offer coverage benefits for all age groups and are most beneficial for those travelers who are less than 70 years old. Dependent children and spouse are also eligible for coverage under the short term plans.

These plans cover various medical exigencies that may result in surgeries, doctor consultation, hospitalization or emergency repatriation. The individuals are not eligible for coverage of pre-existing medical conditions that exist at the time of enrollment. In addition, these insurance plans do not reimburse for routine check-ups, dental treatments preventive care tests and vaccination.

The validity period of a short term international travel medical insurance plan is from 5 days to a year and some insurance plans can be renewed for a period of 3 years. In case you expect to require health insurance coverage for more than a year, long term insurance plans could work out more beneficial for you.

Long term international medical insurance plans offer coverage for more than a year and the premium rates of these health insurance plans is calculated based on the services for which coverage is required. The plan is generally renewed on a yearly basis.

Long term plan is designed for overseas travelers, marine crew workers, missionaries, professionals, expatriates and other executives who are planning a trip abroad for more than a year for personal or professional purposes and may come back to their homeland multiple times in a year.

The long term international travel health insurance plans offer coverage benefits worldwide across all countries around the globe. Coverage is available for individuals even in the homeland unlike short term medical insurance plans which provide limited coverage in the country of citizenship.

International travel insurance plans offers two broad categories of benefits depending on the type of coverage it offers – Fixed and comprehensive benefits. Depending on the plan you choose you can avail coverage for various medical expenses which include hospitalization, preventive care (after a waiting period), maternity coverage, doctor consultation, surgeries, emergency medical assistance or evacuation and Repatriation.

Ray Sondeo often writes about international insurance.