Why is it Important to Get Health Insurance When Working and Living Abroad?

So, you’ve made the big decision to move abroad…now what?

There are a number of things that you need to organize when you’re planning to relocate to another country and work there. You’ll need to sort out your work visa, find new work or transfer your existing employment, and figure out the logistics of moving your belongings overseas.

Another key thing that you need to consider when becoming an expat is health insurance. If your home country offers free healthcare, you’ll definitely need to sign up for a new insurance plan when you move.

Even if you have existing health insurance in your home country, your plan might not be valid overseas. In this case, you’ll need to find a new plan that covers some of your healthcare costs abroad. 

Why Do You Need Health Insurance When Working and Living Abroad?

Healthcare insurance isn’t cheap. There’s no getting around that. It can also be complicated to get your head around the different plans and levels of coverage that are available to you as an ex-pat.

However, having a valid health insurance policy is absolutely necessary if you want to stay safe and be healthy enough to continue working when you move to a new country. Your investment will not have gone to waste, even if you never end up making a claim. It’s better to be safe than sorry!

If you’re not yet convinced to find a great health insurance policy, keep reading to learn about why it’s essential to have health insurance when you are moving abroad.

It lowers the costs of your medical care

You might be tempted to risk moving without signing up for a health insurance plan to save money and hope that you don’t get ill or injured, but this is never a good idea. You can never predict when accidents or injuries are going to happen, or when you’ll need medical treatment for an acute health problem.

With a great health insurance plan, you can get financial assistance when you require costly medical treatments. Depending on the terms and conditions of your policy, your provider will fork the bill for a specific sum of money, so you only need to pay the excess. This applies to general hospitalizations and specialized treatments and therapies.

Health insurance isn’t as expensive as you might first think and it doesn’t need to be expensive. There are plenty of affordable policies that offer great levels of coverage, like the Cigna global health insurance. Be sure to shop around and check multiple insurance policy provider’s websites so you can compare quotes and plans.

 It minimizes your financial worries

The costs of healthcare are rising due to inflation and the use of advanced technologies and therapies in medicine. With a great health insurance plan, you can minimize your worries and reduce potential financial strains in the future.  

You’ll be able to live in your chosen country knowing that you are covered in the event of a medical emergency or if you develop a chronic health issue. Knowing that you’ve got the financial support of a great health insurance policy provider enables you to fully enjoy your life as an ex-pat and explore your new home with less worry and stress.

It enables you to access top-quality medical facilities

Health insurance not only lowers your costs when you need treatments or therapies but also enables you to access better-quality services in your area.

Without valid health insurance, you might not be able to use the hospitals or primary care practices in your area. Even if you can access some facilities, they might not be the best, or they might not offer the most specialized or advanced medical treatments that you need.

Luckily, most health insurance providers will offer plans with extensive levels of coverage that enable you to access treatments, therapies, and appointments at a variety of healthcare facilities in your area. Make sure you know what facilities your policy covers when you sign up, so you can ensure that you always get the best quality medical care when you need it.

It enables you to get specialized medical treatment

Health insurance becomes particularly helpful if you’re dealing with a chronic health condition that requires ongoing specialized treatment. A lot of health insurance plans will cover basic medical treatments, but if you require medications, surgeries, or therapies that are less common, you’ll need to search for a plan that covers your unique needs.

If you’re not currently ill, but you develop a chronic illness while living abroad, your existing health insurance policy might not cover your needs. In this case, you can get in touch with your provider and ask them to switch you onto a better insurance policy or add extra coverage to your existing plan.

You can’t always predict future illnesses, and with new drugs and medical therapies being created every year, having health insurance coverage enable you to get the most advanced treatments as soon as they become available in your area.