Medical Insurance for Working Abroad
With the world economy continuing to become more interconnected, there are a whole host of reasons why you might have to move abroad to work.
Why do I need medical insurance?
If you are a UK national living abroad permanently, then you are no longer entitled to NHS care in the country you’re abiding in, which is why having medical insurance is key to ensuring your health needs will be met as and when you need.
You may be a contractor or run a business from another country, or an official whose job involves a lot of travel. Whatever the reason for your jet-hopping, having medical insurance while you work abroad can provide you with a great sense of being protected.
If your family has not travelled with you, medical insurance can mean that they can rest assured that you will be subject to a high level of medical care.
Other noted advantages of being insured in another country are:
- Being able to get a diagnoses and treatment faster than you would if you did not have medical insurance
- You can insure that you will be treated using the most advanced methods possible
- You may be able to get a private room if that is what you desire
Where am I moving to?
Some countries, such as Spain, have similar healthcare systems to the NHS that you might be entitled to use – assuming you make national insurance contributions in this country. It’s worth looking at what is covered by such systems, as they vary country-to-country – so you shouldn’t assume your healthcare needs will be covered.
Even if there is healthcare offered by the country you live in, it’s worth looking at medical insurance options to make sure you’ll be covered in a pinch.
Where can I find medical insurance?
If you are planning to move abroad, getting an insurance policy can often take a back seat to other important preparations – finding a place to live, moving arrangements, learning a new language etc.
But it’s a vital part of moving and should be top of your to-do list.
The easy to use product comparison tables above make the search for medical insurance quotes quick and simple.
What should I be looking for?
It will be worth taking the time before you leave to compare various medical insurance quotes, as all policies differ slightly in detail and you do not want to be either caught out as under-insured or paying higher premiums than you need to be some things to consider when looking at different medical insurance policies are:
- Do you want to only be treated in private medical facilities
- Each policy will have its own range of additional features and benefits, such as outpatient cover
- Each policy will have a list of exclusions which will exclude you from making a claim
- Any existing conditions you have – and how this might impact your care/entitlements