How to Compare International Health Insurance Plans

International health insurance plans are often difficult to compare for a number of reasons. First, different health plans have different jurisdictions; second, different plans often have totally different terms of coverage; third, the reputability and willingness to pay of different insurance plans often depends on the quality of the medical center that a person expects to frequent. Take these challenges into account when comparing such plans.

Instructions

• 1

  Decide on the jurisdiction you need coverage for. For example, if you expect to be spending time in India, then you should review the jurisdiction of an international insurance plan that applies to India and compare different plans in terms of cost and coverage. Of course, in this process, be as specific as possible. Traveling to Bodh Gaya in Bihar, India, is significantly different than traveling to Delhi in Uttar Pradesh, and so forth.

• 2

  Contact a medical center listed on each insurance plan that accepts this form of insurance and ask questions about the regularity with which the insurance company accepts claims and whether international patients at that medical center tend to find the insurance useful and effective.

• 3

  Review the illnesses present in the area that you plan to travel to, and review which insurance plans provide better coverage for those specific issues. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website (hhs.gov) has a number of useful resources.

• 4

  Contact the embassy of the country you are planning to visit, and ask a representative for advice on effective international health insurance plans. Although government officials tend to be on government plans, embassies always keep track of their citizens in the country of residence and are likely to have good advice on effective medical care.

• 5

  Contact insurance companies and check whether the insurance plans provide coverage by directly paying medical centers or reimbursing you after you pay out-of-pocket. This will impact your travel budget, and rightfully so. For plans that reimburse after you pay out-of-pocket, you need to know the type of paperwork required and the terms to receive health coverage. Thus, generally, it is advisable to have a plan that is accepted by medical centers in the areas you are traveling to where the insurance plan pays them directly.