What Indonesians Living or Traveling Overseas Need to Know
Whether you are an Indonesian citizen planning to move abroad, travel for an extended period, or take a short trip, it’s essential to have the right insurance to ensure you are protected during your time overseas.
For instance, you may need health insurance to cover medical expenses if you become ill or injured while living abroad, or travel insurance to protect against trip cancellations, lost luggage, or delays during your vacation.
Looking further ahead, you might also want to arrange life insurance to ensure your loved ones are financially secure if something happens to you.
Whatever your situation, having the right insurance gives you peace of mind and allows you to enjoy your time abroad, knowing you have protection against unforeseen events.
To help you understand your options, this article provides an overview of health, travel, and life insurance for Indonesian citizens living and traveling overseas.
Indonesian citizens living in their home country can access healthcare through either the public system, known as BPJS Kesehatan, or by purchasing private coverage to use services at private hospitals and clinics.
However, since Indonesia does not currently have any reciprocal healthcare agreements that allow its citizens to receive free or subsidized healthcare in other countries, they must rely on private health coverage or pay out-of-pocket for healthcare services while living abroad.
When choosing a policy, it’s essential to ensure it is suitable for your destination. For instance, the healthcare system in the United States is notoriously complicated and expensive, so selecting a plan that is specifically designed to cover high costs and help you navigate it effectively is essential.
It is also worth noting that the Indonesian rupiah has a lower value compared to many other currencies. This means you may face high costs and risks if you have a medical emergency while living abroad.
With this in mind, it is advisable to purchase global health coverage before you depart. This will ensure you have access to high-quality care in private clinics and hospitals, similar to the coverage you would receive with private health insurance in Indonesia.
If you are looking to save money or keep your expenses low, it’s a good idea to work with a licensed broker. They can help you explore the various options and create an affordable plan tailored to your needs and budget.
The Best Health Insurance Plans for Indonesian Expats
There are several plans to choose from, depending on where you plan to live and the level of coverage you wish to buy.
The Best Health Insurance Plans for the EU
Cigna and IMG offer EU-focused medical plans with various levels of coverage to fit your needs and budget. These are great options for Indonesian expats and families living in European countries due to their specific European coverage options:
Cigna Global: Provides affordable, comprehensive coverage in Europe. Cigna’s product is entirely customizable, allowing you to include only the necessary benefits and choose your deductible, which helps reduce your monthly premium.
IMG Global Prima Medical Insurance: Offers an exclusive European-coverage-only customizable plan, setting it apart from other options and making it appealing to expats living on the continent who do not require worldwide coverage.
IMG Global Prima Medical Insurance
Five flexible plan levels with optional add-ons
Choose your coverage area based on where you live or travel
Freedom to select your healthcare provider anywhere in the world
As mentioned, the U.S. is known for its complex and costly healthcare system. For Indonesian expats living in the country, a U.S.-based plan is the best way to navigate the system and avoid large out-of-pocket medical bills:
BCBS Global Solutions Worldwide Premier: The plan offers comprehensive coverage for Indonesian citizens residing in the U.S., featuring the industry’s best benefits, coverage, and service levels through the U.S. Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO Network. However, it is unavailable in New York, Maryland, Washington, and North Dakota.
BCBS Global Solutions Worldwide Premier
Unlimited annual and lifetime coverage
Pre-existing conditions covered with prior insurance
For U.S. citizens abroad or foreign nationals in the U.S.
Cigna Global: Offers a comprehensive, customizable worldwide plan with U.S. coverage that can be tailored to your specific health needs and preferences.
Indonesian expats needing worldwide coverage have a couple of options to choose from, as follows:
IMG Global Medical Insurance: Offers comprehensive plans with worldwide coverage or coverage excluding the U.S., Canada, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, and Taiwan. These plans are fully customizable, offering various coverage levels, deductible options, and add-on riders.
IMG Global Medical Plan
Affordable global coverage with flexible options
Coverage area options based on where you live or work
Cigna Global International Medical Insurance: The plan provides affordable coverage in over 180 countries and is customizable to suit your needs and budget. You can choose your plan level and deductible and include optional add-ons, such as Health and Wellbeing.
Notably, if you only need coverage for your home country and one other destination, Cigna Close Care can be more cost-effective than broader global plans. It offers targeted coverage for these specific areas, helping to reduce the overall costs.
If you are an Indonesian citizen traveling abroad for vacation, business, or visiting family, having travel insurance is crucial for ensuring financial protection and peace of mind. Depending on the plan you choose, it can protect your health, travel expenses, belongings, travel plans, or all of the above.
There are several types of coverage to choose from, including the following:
Trip Cancellation Insurance
World Nomads is a good option for Indonesian travelers seeking basic coverage, including trip cancellation. It offers reimbursement for non-refundable expenses due to covered reasons such as illness, injury, or the death of you or a close family member.
It also covers additional costs for returning home early and rescheduling or rebooking if covered events disrupt your trip.
Travel insurance should ideally cover unexpected medical expenses, including hospital stays, doctor visits, and emergency medical evacuation. It should also protect against trip interruptions, lost luggage, and other unforeseen incidents that can impact your travel experience.
There are several travel medical insurance plans available to Indonesians traveling overseas, depending on their destination:
Traveling Outside the U.S.
Atlas International: Offers worldwide medical coverage, excluding the United States. It includes features such as translation assistance during treatment, doctor and hospital referrals, and help with replacing lost prescriptions.
Atlas Travel Insurance
Emergency medical, evacuation, and repatriation benefits
IMG Patriot International Platinum: Provides extensive coverage for Indonesian travelers, including inpatient and outpatient services, emergency care, dental treatment, and lost luggage. The plan is available for as little as five days and can be renewed for up to three years, with flexible renewal options available in monthly or daily increments.
Patriot Platinum Travel Insurance
Maximum limits up to $8,000,000
IMG pays 100% of medical expenses in-network
Evacuation due to Natural Disasters & Political Unrest
Trawick Safe Travels International: Offers global coverage for Indonesian citizens traveling outside the United States, with comprehensive benefits and various levels to suit all budgets.
Safe Travels International
Designed for non-U.S. citizens traveling outside their home country (excluding the U.S.)
Coverage for an unexpected recurrence of a Pre-Existing Condition
Coverage from 5 days to 364 days – extensions are available
Trawick’s Safe Travels USA: This is the best plan for Indonesian citizens visiting the United States. It includes medical, evacuation, and repatriation coverage, with coverage options ranging from five to 364 days and extensions available.
Safe Travels USA
Designed for non-U.S. citizens traveling to the U.S. and other countries
Includes comprehensive medical, evacuation, & repatriation coverage
Coverage from 5 days to 364 days – extensions are available
Patriot America Platinum: Offers comprehensive benefits, including medical coverage, emergency evacuation, and repatriation, specifically designed for travelers visiting the U.S., with flexible policy durations and high coverage limits.
Patriot Platinum Travel Insurance
Maximum limits up to $8,000,000
IMG pays 100% of medical expenses in-network
Evacuation due to Natural Disasters & Political Unrest
If you travel overseas multiple times a year, it’s a good idea to buy annual travel insurance or multi-trip coverage. These plans cover all your trips for a year, with a limit on the duration of each trip.
IMG Patriot Multi-Trip is a great option for Indonesian citizens, families, and groups of five or more who travel frequently outside Indonesia. You can renew it for up to 36 months and choose trip durations of 30, 60, or 90 days.
Patriot Multi-Trip Travel Insurance
Annual travel medical coverage
Designed for individuals and dependents
Full year of cover for trips of 30, 60, or 90 days in length
Planning for the future is crucial, and life insurance can play a significant role in this process. It ensures that your family receives financial support if you pass away, covering expenses such as funeral costs, outstanding debts, and ongoing living expenses.
This protection is especially important when you’re living or traveling internationally, where local insurance options might be limited or unavailable.
If you have a domestic life insurance policy, review it before moving abroad to ensure it covers deaths overseas. If not, consider switching to an international plan for comprehensive protection.
An international plan ensures that your beneficiaries receive a death benefit even if you die abroad, no matter where you are. This provides peace of mind, letting you focus on your work, travel, or adventures without worrying about your family’s financial future.
Term Life and Whole Life Plans
You can choose between two primary types of international life insurance: term life insurance and whole life insurance. Term life plans are popular among expats and travelers due to their affordable premiums and flexible coverage options.
These plans are budget-friendly, and you can adjust them to fit your specific needs. On the other hand, whole-life plans provide coverage for your entire life and a guaranteed death benefit, which is beneficial for those concerned about future health changes and the potential need for insurance later in life.
Each type has its own benefits, allowing you to select the one that best suits your needs.
Whether you’re an Indonesian living abroad or traveling to various countries, selecting the right insurance is crucial for peace of mind. Health, travel, and life insurance protect you from unexpected events and help ensure financial security and access to essential services.
Before you begin your journey, take a moment to assess your needs and select the insurance plan that provides the best coverage for you and your family, wherever you go.
Emily Cotlier is an experienced communications consultant and business analyst, senior analyst at New Zealand’s Parliamentary Counsel Office, specializing in visas, immigration, international relocation, and managing finance, insurance, and real estate.
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