For Americans Abroad–Expatriate Health Insurance Explained
Thousands of Americans realize their lifelong dream each year by moving abroad. For executives relocating to launch a new business, retirees eager to learn a new language, or spirited students on a gap year looking to gain work experience, becoming an American expatriate has no limits on age or interests.
But living overseas comes with challenges. Experiencing a different culture and adapting to unfamiliar things can be stressful at times.
Hopefully, as you embrace the challenges of your new home, your health won’t be on your mind. Here’s what Americans living overseas need to know about health insurance for U.S. citizens abroad.
We provide U.S. citizens moving abroad with free, robust health plan quotes. If you’re thinking of moving abroad, let us help! Our free quotes will give you the information to select the best policy.
If you’re a U.S. citizen residing overseas, we recommend these three top-rated international health insurance plans:
Cigna Global
The Cigna Global Medical plan is our most popular option. Its flexible, modular design lets you tailor your coverage to your specific needs and budget, making it an excellent choice for U.S. expats seeking customizable protection.
The BCBS Global Solutions Worldwide Premier plan is one of the most comprehensive options available. While it is more expensive, it offers robust benefits and exceptional service, making it an ideal choice for expats seeking premium coverage and peace of mind.
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.
The IMG Global Medical Insurance plan offers budget-friendly options for those seeking more affordable coverage without sacrificing essential benefits. It’s a solid choice for cost-conscious U.S. citizens living abroad.
IMG Global Medical Plan
Affordable global coverage with flexible options
Coverage area options based on where you live or work
If you are moving abroad, you must consider the risks of going without medical coverage. As an American living overseas, you could experience massive hospital bills or limited access to medical care in your new country.
Health insurance for Americans abroad will cover your medical costs in any country you’re in, which is an immeasurable benefit.
Life comes with surprises, no matter which country you live in. Whether you get a cold or a serious injury, being prepared while living abroad as an American is essential. Ensure you have a high-quality global medical plan that covers your care expenses wherever you live.
For U.S. citizens living abroad, getting coverage can mean finding immediate medical attention during emergencies. All plans include emergency medical assistance hotlines that you can call at any time for medical advice and support.
In addition to healthcare support, policies for U.S. expats also help meet new requirements for select visa types issued by the destination country.
Cheap Health Insurance Is Not Always the Best Option
Moving to a new country can sound very exciting. You will be tempted to start packing your bags after hearing an expatriate’s stories about an international lifestyle.
The cost of living is so low that they can afford to eat out daily and hire cleaning staff or a private gardener. And, best of all, a trip to the local doctor is very affordable.
The lower cost of living is a significant factor in U.S. citizens’ decision to become expats. Additionally, minor illnesses are often treated at a modest cost, unlike in the U.S. or other countries with expensive healthcare services.
However, don’t be misled into thinking you will receive the same level of care, access, and coverage for more severe medical problems.
The cost of specialist treatments, comprehensive diagnostics like an MRI, support systems from translators, and home care nurses can add up to an astronomical cost, and at an astronomical speed. And that doesn’t account for transportation to and from hospitals or appointments.
The quiet lifestyle in a remote area that attracts you to live overseas, whether on a beloved island, secluded reef, or mountain village, can work against you when you need to hire an air ambulance for a medical evacuation.
Being sick must not prevent you from exercising your right to choose the quality of healthcare service you receive.
Feeling that you have lost control over the situation can negatively impact your well-being and exacerbate your condition.
Finding yourself in a situation where medical services are absent when you need them the most can be infuriating and frustrating.
Health plans for U.S. citizens living overseas ensure these annoying circumstances do not happen to you.
The right international insurance plan gives you the power to choose a hospital or doctor to receive better healthcare services.
Insurance for U.S. expats gives you the control to make the following decisions:
Would you prefer to be under the care of a male or a female specialist?
From which hospital in your new town or city do you want to receive healthcare services?
Do you prefer a private or semi-private room when you get admitted?
The freedom to choose between these options means that you are looking at the right insurance package to apply for.
Having the power to make these decisions will also help you regain some control over the process, which can benefit your health.
Don’t Skip Preventive Care When You Move Abroad
Even if you’re in good health, your body needs protection throughout your life, especially as you adapt to a new environment.
Without preventative care, an accident or illness can quickly turn into a crisis. Insurance covers you when life’s unexpected issues arise.
Obtaining health benefits for U.S. expats is essential to maintaining your health. These policies can cover regular check-ups with a dentist or optometrist, scheduled annual physical examinations, and preventive care.
Wellness visits are the best way to ensure you continue living a healthy life. A healthy lifestyle can reduce the likelihood that medical problems will escalate.
When securing health coverage for living abroad, ensure that it also covers preventive and wellness care for your peace of mind.
Avoid Gaps in Coverage
It is common for many internationals and executives to stay abroad for an extra month or even an additional year.
Volunteering in an organization, honing photography skills, or perfecting a new language — the purpose for extending their stay varies.
After being covered by your employer or a school policy, you will often feel healthy and confident to the point that you do not extend your coverage. However, there are no guarantees when it comes to health.
Do not gamble with a coverage gap, thinking that you don’t need protection just because you have never encountered a medical problem before. Make sure the policy you have remains in effect during your extended stay overseas.
The best thing about expatriate life for Americans abroad is being able to live life to the fullest without worrying too much about money. But to do this, you must take care of your health no matter where you are in the world.
Life as a U.S. expatriate is more flexible than ever. Freelancers with flexible schedules can use their free time to travel worldwide, while overseas teachers can enjoy extended summer holidays.
Come the holiday season, retirees rent out their apartments to tourists and take up temporary residency elsewhere.
For American expats, the temptation to travel back home to the United States for a short visit to catch up with friends and family, reconnect with colleagues, celebrate the holidays, or explore a new part of the country is always present.
And with travel connections becoming easier to arrange than ever before, the same goes for a travel health policy.
Here are a few pointers for American expats on what to know before visiting the United States, especially if your international health policy does not include coverage in the USA.
Insurance Coverage for US Citizens Returning to America
If you have a comprehensive global insurance plan, it is likely to include coverage in the USA as well. Check your existing coverage to confirm this.
If you have a local plan in your new country that does not cover you while traveling, you will need coverage for your visit to the USA. For this, we have a couple of options for you.
All forms of coverage have restrictions and limitations. American expatriates returning to visit the United States are not exempt from these constraints.
However, before checking out the restrictions, ensure you first meet the insurer’s definition of being an expat. In many cases, this may include proof that you have resided outside the United States for a specified period.
Other providers may require you to have pre-existing coverage established in your new residence before they extend coverage for your trip to the United States.
They may also limit the length of time you are covered while in the United States before you are considered a permanent resident once more.
Travel Medical Plans for US Expats Traveling to the USA
The Patriot America Platinum travel medical plan provides coverage for people traveling outside their residence country whose destination includes the U.S. or its territories.
A U.S. citizen residing abroad can purchase a Patriot America plan to visit the USA.
It’s essential to note that while travel medical plans, such as Patriot Platinum, offer a comprehensive package of international benefits for medical emergencies, they typically do not cover routine checkups with your former primary care doctor.
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
Travel Medical Plans for all Situations and Nationalities
We offer a range of travel medical insurance plans for individuals of all nationalities traveling anywhere in the world. Take a look at our dedicated page where we Compare Travel Medical Insurance plans offered by trusted providers.
Find the Best International Travel Insurance
Compare top-rated travel insurance providers
Get quotes for Travel Medical, Trip Cancellation, and more
One of the best aspects of being an American expat is the affordable quality of life. But if you have been away from your home country for too long, you might forget the real health care coverage costs in the United States.
Ensure you are up to date on your facts and figures, and compare packages with a realistic perspective. A payout of $150 a night for unexpected hospital stay costs might sound very generous if you live in Guatemala or Thailand. However, it may not be sufficient coverage if you visit New York or Los Angeles.
It is time to budget your finances like an American once again! Review the insurance options for U.S. expats listed here to find the one that best suits your needs.
Request a Quotefor your cover. We will provide two or more options from the leading insurance providers and can customize coverage to your needs and budget.
FAQs
Generally, U.S. health insurance benefits will not cover you while outside of the U.S. Your domestic U.S. health insurance plans will cover you in a specific region within the USA. Sometimes they will offer limited coverage outside of the USA, but that is rarely the case. Request a quote to find an international health care plan that suits your needs.
The U.S. government strongly recommends that all Americans carry private health care insurance when traveling or living overseas. They also warn that their national coverage will not protect them in other countries.
According to the U.S. Department of State: “You should purchase insurance before you travel (or move abroad)…In general, Medicare and Medicaid do not cover medical costs overseas.”
Therefore, American expats are responsible for researching, comparing, and choosing a quality international medical insurance plan.
Absolutely, yes. Health coverage for U.S. citizens living overseas helps cover medical costs including hospitalization and wellness care. These policies provide coverage worldwide, medical evacuation, vision and dental benefits, and much more.
Benefits you will get from your plan:
Inpatient and outpatient international medical care
Freedom to choose any hospital, clinic, or doctor
24-hour emergency assistance and helpline
Emergency evacuation, repatriation, and hospitalization
Worldwide coverage, including your home country
Choice of multiple currencies for payment
If you do not have a high quality plan, you may have limited access to private hospitals, longer wait times and required up-front payment for your treatment. For some medical conditions, costs can add up quickly.
Most U.S. citizens living abroad will choose to purchase a global health insurance plan that will cover them worldwide, including in the USA.
U.S. Medicare does not provide medical cover when you have been living outside the country for more than six months. You will need to purchase an international health plan to cover your medical expenses abroad, instead.
A recommended option is the Cigna Global plan as the insurer provides comprehensive policies that cover all ages.
Some Medicare supplements provide limited international benefits up to a certain maximum amount per year for emergency medical expenses. You should check with your provider to determine if you have any international coverage in your Medicare plan.
Obamacare, or the Affordable Care Act, does not cover you should you decide to live abroad. ACA compliant plans are domestic U.S. health insurance plans and will cover you in your state of residence.
Some plans will cover you outside of your state of residence but for emergency care only. There are select plans that will cover you in every U.S. state.
If your plan does provide coverage outside of the USA, it is typically for emergencies only and limited to a set amount. That is why it is necessary to obtain international medical insurance for U.S. citizens living overseas.
Your U.S. health insurance plan will not cover you in Canada, although there are many alternative insurance options to choose from!
First, you could qualify for the Canadian health insurance program, which is called Medicare (not to be confused with U.S. Medicare). Be sure to do some research on whether this is the right fit for you.
You’d be surprised to hear about the many inconveniences of domestic coverage in Canada and the limitations of coverage outside of Canada. It’s best to get worldwide coverage as an expatriate.
An alternative is to get a global medical plan that will cover you whether you are in Canada or in the USA. GeoBlue Xplorer is a great option for this situation as it provides a comprehensive policy with worldwide coverage, including in the USA.
There really is no such thing as free healthcare, especially for U.S. citizens or American expats living overseas.
Countries with socialized medical care are thought to offer “free” healthcare. But the cost of healthcare in those countries is built into the expenditures of everyday life for their citizens. This includes compulsory payroll deductions and taxation on goods and services.
In many cases, expats are excluded from this local healthcare system. Simply put, U.S. expats are not considered citizens of their host country and, as such, have not contributed to healthcare costs.
While many countries have provisions to treat all people who visit hospital emergency departments, regardless of nationality or ability to pay, this is no substitute for an expatriate health plan.
Joe Cronin, President of ICI, is a leading expert in international health, life, and travel insurance. An MBA and founder of multiple global businesses, he helps expatriates and travelers access trusted, comprehensive insurance solutions worldwide.
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