INTERNATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE: BENEFITS AND TIPS FOR CHOOSING

International health insurance is increasingly becoming an important option for many people, especially those who frequently travel or work abroad.

sofyanto

8/13/2025 04:55:00 pm

What is international health insurance?

It's an insurance product designed to provide protection against medical expenses that may arise while you're abroad.
Unlike local health insurance, which is typically only valid within a specific country, international health insurance covers many countries.

Some of the coverage covered by international health insurance includes hospital care, medical evacuation, and so on.

Health Insurance Users

In principle, international health insurance is most suitable for:

Migrant workers, i.e., people currently working abroad
Tourists, i.e., travelers who enjoy traveling to various countries
International students, i.e., those studying abroad
Retirees residing abroad, i.e., those who choose to live in a particular country after retirement.

The Importance of International Health Insurance

There are several crucial reasons to answer the question of how important international insurance is.

1. Different healthcare options exist in each country.

Every country has a different healthcare system, so the costs and quality of services will also vary.

In some countries, medical costs can be very expensive, even for basic care without insurance. This can be a trap that will force us to pay expensive medical bills.

International health insurance can be a solution that can help us avoid these high costs. We don't need to worry about treatment costs and can receive comprehensive healthcare.

2. Obtaining Quality Medical Services

With international health insurance, we will receive the best care at internationally recognized hospitals, especially if we have a specific illness that requires specialized treatment at a specific hospital in a particular country.

3. Emergency Medical Evacuation

One of the main features of international health insurance services is related to medical evacuation.

If we find ourselves in a country with inadequate healthcare facilities, this insurance can cover the costs of medical evacuation to another healthcare facility.

4. Maintaining your health while traveling

It's a logical consequence that when we travel, health problems are always lurking. Whether it's due to unsuitable weather in the country we're traveling to or an accident during the trip, all of these can impact our health.

This insurance will provide extra protection against unforeseen circumstances.

Types of care covered by the insurance

There are several healthcare services we can obtain if we participate in this international health insurance, including:

1. Hospitalization

In this case, all costs related to hospitalization, surgery, postoperative care, and follow-up treatment will be covered by the insurance.

2. Doctor's consultation fees

All costs during doctor's consultations, whether with a general practitioner or specialist, will be covered by the insurance.

3. Accident and emergency care costs

This third point covers all costs related to medical emergencies, whether due to accidents or sudden illnesses.

4. Medication and outpatient care costs

If any medications are used during inpatient or outpatient care, all costs will be covered by this health insurance.

5. Medical Evacuation Costs

As I've explained, the cost of medical evacuation to a home with the best healthcare services will be covered by this health insurance.

6. Repatriation Costs

This cost covers the repatriation of remains in the event of death while traveling internationally.

Tips for Choosing International Health Insurance

International health insurance typically uses certain parameters, which form the basis for determining the premium amount.

Therefore, we need to be selective in choosing this insurance to ensure we receive the best possible healthcare.

Some things to consider when purchasing insurance are

1. Check the country coverage.

This section covers all the countries we commonly travel to. Therefore, ensure the health insurance we choose provides services in the countries we regularly visit.

2. Consider medical evacuation.

Medical evacuation services are crucial, especially if you're traveling with inadequate healthcare facilities. Ensure your insurance policy covers medical evacuation so that it covers all costs in the event of an evacuation.

3. Choose a policy that meets your needs.

If you need basic services, choose a policy that only covers basic services. However, if you frequently travel or even live abroad long-term, choose a policy with comprehensive coverage.

4. Compare prices and benefits.

Don't be fooled by low premiums; instead, consider the benefits you'll receive. Some policies offer low premiums but offer limited benefits. Therefore, choose a policy that balances price and coverage.

5. Easy claims process.

Recruiting insurance participants is the primary goal of any insurance company, so various enticing insurance benefits are a key selling point for salespeople.

So, is the claims process really as easy as salespeople advertise? This is something we need to investigate in depth to avoid being misled. Find out this information from the sales representative.

Conclusion

Overseas health insurance is a service in the form of health protection for individuals traveling internationally and across borders.

This insurance offers tiered coverage, from basic to advanced. Therefore, we must be more selective in choosing health insurance, considering various aspects, as I explained previously.