NHS cover, travel insurance or international health insurance: what’s the difference?

What is the difference between NHS cover, travel insurance and international health insurance?

The main difference is where you live, how long you are abroad and what type of medical care you need.

The NHS provides access to public healthcare in the UK for eligible people. Travel insurance generally protects you against unexpected costs during a specific trip. International health insurance, also known as international private medical insurance or IPMI, is designed to provide ongoing healthcare cover when you live, work or study outside your home country.

These options are therefore not direct substitutes for one another. A UK resident may use NHS services while living in the UK, take out travel insurance for a holiday abroad, or choose international health insurance when relocating overseas for a longer period.

What is NHS cover?

The National Health Service, or NHS, is the UK’s publicly funded healthcare system. It is not an insurance policy that follows you automatically wherever you go.

In England, hospital treatment is generally free for people who are considered ordinarily resident in the UK. Broadly, this means living in the UK lawfully and on a properly settled basis. Eligibility is not determined simply by British nationality, National Insurance contributions, having an NHS number or being registered with a GP. Different rules apply in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

NHS services can include:

• GP consultations;

• hospital treatment;

• emergency care;

• maternity services;

• specialist care;

• prescriptions and dental care, although charges can apply to certain services depending on where you live in the UK and your circumstances.

Does NHS cover continue when you move abroad?

You should not assume that NHS healthcare entitlement will continue in the same way once you move overseas permanently.

NHS entitlement is primarily linked to residence rather than simply to nationality. If you leave the UK to live abroad, the healthcare system in your destination country and your personal eligibility will determine how you access medical treatment.

For temporary travel, a UK Global Health Insurance Card, or GHIC, can provide access to medically necessary state healthcare in eligible countries. However, the UK Government explicitly states that a GHIC or EHIC is not a replacement for travel insurance, as it does not cover areas such as private healthcare or repatriation.

What is travel insurance?

Travel insurance is designed primarily for temporary trips, such as holidays, business trips or other short stays abroad.

Rather than providing comprehensive ongoing healthcare, travel insurance generally protects against unexpected events that may occur before or during a trip.

Depending on the policy, this may include:

• emergency medical treatment;

• accidents and unexpected illness;

• medical repatriation;

• trip cancellation or interruption;

• delayed flights;

• lost, delayed or stolen luggage.

Medical benefits under travel insurance are generally focused on unexpected or emergency treatment during the insured trip. The objective may be to stabilise the traveller and, where appropriate, allow them to return home for further treatment.

Travel insurance is therefore generally not designed to cover routine healthcare when you have permanently or temporarily relocated abroad.

What is international health insurance?

International health insurance is private medical insurance designed for people living, working or studying outside their home country.

It is often referred to as international private medical insurance, or IPMI.

Unlike travel insurance, international health insurance focuses primarily on your ongoing healthcare needs rather than the risks associated with a particular trip.

Depending on the policy and level of cover selected, benefits can include:

• inpatient hospital treatment;

• GP and outpatient consultations;

• specialist consultations;

• diagnostic tests;

• prescription medicines;

• cancer treatment;

• maternity care;

• dental and optical care;

• mental health treatment;

• emergency medical evacuation.

International health insurance can also provide access to healthcare across several countries within the geographical area covered by the policy. Exact benefits, limits, exclusions and geographical coverage depend on the plan selected.

This type of insurance can therefore be particularly relevant for expatriates, internationally mobile families, employees on overseas assignments, students and people who regularly move between countries.

NHS vs travel insurance vs international health insurance: comparison

Does the NHS cover you when travelling abroad?

The NHS does not provide automatic worldwide healthcare cover simply because you are eligible for NHS treatment in the UK.

For certain destinations, eligible UK residents can use a GHIC or an existing valid EHIC to access medically necessary state healthcare under applicable arrangements. Treatment is generally provided on the same basis as for residents of the country being visited, which means it may not always be completely free.

A GHIC or EHIC does not replace travel insurance. In particular, it does not normally cover private healthcare, repatriation or other travel related losses.

For a holiday or temporary trip abroad, travel insurance may therefore provide protection beyond the healthcare arrangements available through a GHIC or EHIC.

Travel insurance or international health insurance: which do you need?

The key question is whether you are travelling abroad temporarily or moving abroad to live.

If you are going abroad for a holiday or another temporary trip, travel insurance is generally designed for that situation. It can cover unexpected medical emergencies alongside travel risks such as cancellation or lost luggage.

If you are relocating abroad and expect to need access to healthcare as part of everyday life, international health insurance is generally more appropriate. It can provide ongoing medical cover for GP appointments, specialists, hospital treatment and other eligible healthcare needs, depending on the policy.

Do you need international health insurance if you have NHS cover?

Having access to NHS healthcare in the UK does not necessarily provide the healthcare protection you need when you live abroad.

If you are moving overseas, you should first understand how the healthcare system works in your destination country. You may be entitled to local public healthcare, required to join a compulsory health scheme, or need private medical insurance depending on your destination and circumstances.

International health insurance can provide an additional or alternative layer of private medical cover, particularly when you want:

• access to private healthcare;

• cover in several countries;

• ongoing outpatient and hospital treatment;

• continuity of cover when moving between countries;

• a broader choice of doctors or hospitals, subject to the policy.

The right solution depends on your destination, residence status, local healthcare requirements and the level of protection you want.

Which healthcare cover should you choose when going abroad?

The appropriate cover depends on the purpose and duration of your stay.

For a short holiday, travel insurance will generally be the most relevant option.

For someone moving abroad to work, study, retire or live with their family, international health insurance may provide more suitable ongoing medical protection.

You should also check whether your destination requires you to join a local healthcare system or hold a particular type of health insurance. International health insurance does not automatically replace compulsory local healthcare requirements.

APRIL International offers international health insurance solutions designed for people living, working and studying abroad, with benefits and geographical areas that can be selected according to the policy and individual circumstances.