Securing your future and buying health insurance is pre-eminent. Some individuals with high incomes decide to go overseas for medical treatments for reasons of advancements in technologies and superior healthcare. Or, in case of a life-threatening disease, you might have to go out of India for intensive care. Cost is the major obstacle in both cases. In such a situation, you might think of buying health insurance that covers overseas costs. There are some plans by which you can get covered globally, including customisable length and area of coverage, mode of payment and peace of mind no matter where you are.
What is health insurance with overseas costs?
This health insurance plan is designed for you to avail of medical services anywhere across the globe, whether planned or unplanned. For people travelling abroad frequently for business or leisure or specifically for medical treatment, the expenses of intensive care being covered are crucial. Medical expenses leave their mark on one’s pocket for a long time. Having a health insurance policy makes it easier to get healthcare whenever and wherever you require it.
Types of International Health Insurance
Health Insurance covering overseas medical expenses can be broadly classified into two categories — one being travel insurance with health benefits and the second being global health insurance. Travel insurance offers short-term medical covers wherein the policyholder gets benefits such as coverage for accident treatment, permanent disability, medical evacuation to India, dental injury, reimbursement of return ticket for a family visitor or even death. Plans include Reliance General Insurance Travel Care Individual plan, Tata AIG Travel Guard Silver plus plan, Bajaj Allianz Travel Ace Silver Plan, etc.
Global Health Insurance plans offer comprehensive healthcare, domestically and abroad, over the policy term. It covers the medical treatment you choose to get abroad. Global coverage will cover the costs if you are diagnosed with a disease in India but plan to go overseas for medical treatment and healthcare services. Plans like Aditya Birla Global Health Secure Policy covers travel and accommodation, worldwide cashless treatment, organ donor expenses, and cover 16 major illnesses, post-hospitalisation medical expenses, and repatriation of mortal remains. Reliance’s pre-existing condition coverage covers life-threatening diseases for travellers below 70 years.
What Should You Know Before Buying International Health Insurance?
Whether to go for travel or global health insurance, you need to have detailed information to make a wise choice. When travelling to another country unfamiliar with anyone, tension prevails in mind about any help required in the time of need. In case of any medical emergency when you don’t know whom to contact, at such times, the only help you probably can get is insurance. Some travel insurance covers health, wherein the policyholder can claim medical benefits in various countries. In case of an accident, heart attack or an unknown medical condition, you can get a cover up to $100,000. This policy is taken for a fixed time, and it does not cover any medical treatment in your state. It also excludes coverage of pre-existing diseases or pre-planned hospital visits overseas.
Global health insurance provides bigger and better facilities. Some people who prefer to go overseas for medical treatments for life-threatening, chronic diseases must go for this plan. This insurance covers any kind of medical emergency while you are travelling abroad.
Key Features of Travel Health Insurance
Following are some key benefits of a travel health insurance policy:
- Provides cashless hospitalization facility
- Available for frequent as well as occasional travellers
- Includes 24/7 medical assistance
- Offers global coverage
- Includes individual and family floater plan
- No pre-policy medical checkups required
Key Features of Global Health Insurance
Following are some key benefits of a global health insurance policy:
- Affordable plan that offers sufficient coverage
- Pre-existing and chronic diseases are covered for secure high-cost emergency treatment in foreign countries
- Medical evacuation coverage, including an ambulance or a rescue helicopter
- Emergency room charges are covered
- Covers OPD charges in case of emergency or planned visits
- Diagnostics are also covered under some policy plans
- Other medical benefits like maternity or dental treatment are also covered
Conclusion
Before buying any health insurance, you must know all the terms and conditions. It is not necessary that a plan will cover all the ailments or their treatments. Many health insurance benefits include critical illness insurance, hospital cash insurance, preventive health checkups, etc. Do not hold any assumptions and prefer a detailed check before buying health insurance.
