Expat Health Insurance: What You Need to Know
Expats should buy international health insurance if they move often.
If you stay in one country, it's probably a better idea to get a plan there once you qualify. And if you visit the United States after moving to another country, a travel health insurance policy might be a good idea, but you might need global health insurance for longer visits.
Expat health insurance
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What is expat health insurance?
Expat health insurance is a plan that covers you, as an American, when you move to another country.
Expat health plans are also called international health insurance or global health insurance plans.
The health insurance you have in the U.S. doesn't usually cover you when you're abroad. Even if it does, the coverage is likely limited to emergency situations and won't pay for much. If you move to another country, you need a health insurance plan that covers you there.
But you can't always buy health insurance in your new country right away. It depends on your new country's laws and if you're a legal resident or not. Getting a global health insurance plan lets you get medical care in your new country until you qualify for regular health insurance there.
Health insurance when you're abroad
When you move to another country, you have three options for health insurance.
International medical insurance: These plans are good when you first move or if you plan to move often because they let you get private medical care in different countries. You might be able to choose specific countries or even whole continents that your plan applies to. You can also choose whether or not you want to be covered in the U.S.
Government health insurance: Many countries have government-sponsored health care. For example, in France, most people qualify for the country's universal health care system after three months of legal residency. Each country has laws, so you'll need to check with your new country to see if you qualify.
Private health insurance: This is a plan that you buy directly from a health insurance company. You might qualify for private health insurance in your new country, but you'll need to talk to a company and check your country's laws.
International health insurance is the best option for expats who have just moved or who move around often. If you settle in a new country, you might qualify for government health care or private health care depending on your residency status and how long you've been there.
Before you buy expat health insurance, make sure the plan has good coverage.
You'll want coverage for more than just emergencies. As you shop for a plan, check that it covers the major types of health care you might need.
- Doctor visits
- Preventive care
- Prescription medications
- Vaccines
- Lab services
- Emergency care
- Hospital stays
- Chronic condition care
- Maternity care
- Mental health care
- Terminal illness care
You might also want to look for a plan that covers dental, vision and hearing care while you're overseas.
Global health insurance has better coverage than travel health insurance. Travel plans are designed for short trips and usually only pay if you get sick or hurt. Global health insurance might also cover preventive care like annual wellness exams and vaccines, rehab, surgeries and more.
Expats might also have specific needs that other residents don't.
For example, you might want a plan that covers political evacuation, which would cover you if you need to evacuate back to the U.S. because of a political situation. Or, in a situation where you pass away overseas, you might want coverage to return your body to the United States.
Health insurance when you're back in the U.S.
If you plan to visit the United States after moving overseas, you have a few options for coverage.
Global health insurance: If you buy an international health insurance plan when you move abroad, it might cover you when you're back in the United States. Just make sure that you buy a plan that covers you in the U.S., if you plan to come back. Global plans are also a good idea if you plan to come back for long periods of time, like a few months.
Travel health insurance: If you are only coming back to the U.S. for a short trip and you don't have a global health plan, travel health insurance might be a good idea. These plans cover you if you get sick or injured. But they don't usually have coverage for longer-term medical needs like maternity care or preventive care.
How much does expat health insurance cost?
Expat health insurance costs an average of $916 per month.
But rates change based on where you are from, what country you're going to, how long you're there, how much coverage you need and what company you choose. The best way to know how much you'll pay is to get quotes from several companies and compare them.
Company | Canada rate | Mexico rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GeoBlue | $706 | $706 | |
| IMG | $735 | $735 | |
| Cigna Global | $865 | $1,746 |
| Average | $769 | $1,062 | |
Average monthly rates are for a 40-year-old man from the United States living in either Canada or Mexico.
Expats on Medicare
Medicare doesn't cover you if you move to another country.
You should buy a global insurance plan until you qualify for health insurance in your new country. But it's a good idea to keep your Medicare Part A and Part B active, even if you aren't using it. That way, you'll still have coverage when you visit the U.S. And if you ever decide to move back to the United States, your Medicare will be cheaper than if you had canceled it.
If you are sure you won't move back to the U.S., you can cancel your Medicare coverage. But if you do move back in the future, you'll have to pay a higher monthly rate than if you had kept your coverage.
You can also keep your Medicare Supplement plan active, even though your plan probably won't pay for your medical bills. Some Medigap plans have coverage for emergencies in foreign countries, but that's usually just for short trips.
You can't keep a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan if you move to another country. You will have to cancel these types of plans when you move abroad.
Frequently asked questions
Does my health insurance cover international travel?
Health insurance doesn't usually cover you when you're out of the country. Even if your plan does give you some coverage, it's probably not very much. If you're on a short-term trip, you should consider travel insurance. If you're going on a long trip or you live in another country, you should probably buy international health insurance.
Does Medicare cover foreign travel emergencies?
Medicare doesn't usually pay for medical care outside the United States. But if you have a Medicare Supplement plan, you might have coverage for emergencies that happen if you take a short trip to another country. Plans C, D, F, G, M and N cover 80% of the bills you get for foreign medical care in an emergency.
Do expats need U.S. health insurance?
It depends on how often you come back to the United States. If you only make short trips back, travel insurance might be enough. If you visit for longer periods of time, you should probably look into global insurance that covers you in your new country and in the U.S. Talking to a licensed agent can help you decide what health insurance is right for you.
Methodology and sources
To find the average cost for expat health insurance, ValuePenguin gathered quotes from Cigna Global, GeoBlue and IMG. The monthly rates are for a 40-year-old man from the United States and living in either Canada or Mexico. Quotes are for plans with either a $750 or $1,000 deductible and include coverage within the United States.
Coverage for dental, vision and preventive care was included when listed separately. Other plan features may vary based on the company. Your rates will change depending on where you are from, where you're moving, the amount of coverage you need and what company you choose.
Other sources include Allianz Care, the Association of Americans Resident Overseas and Medicare.gov.
Editorial note: The content of this article is based on the author’s opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.