Short-term vs long-term international health insurance: which one is right for you?

Table of contents

1. What is short-term international health insurance?

2. Who is short-term health insurance suitable for?

3. Short-term health insurance: key points to consider

4. What is long-term international health insurance?

5. Who is long-term international health insurance suitable for?

6. Long-term health insurance: key points to consider

Do you have plans to live, work, or travel abroad for an extended period of time? If you do, consider taking out international private medical insurance (IPMI) to give you peace of mind that your medical needs will be covered during your time overseas.

From short-term plans ideal for stays of less than a year to coverage designed for longer periods abroad, there are a range of options available that suit diverse needs and budgets.

Explore our useful guide for a comparison of short-term and long-term cover to help you make an informed choice.

What is short-term international health insurance?

Short-term international health cover is intended for individuals and families who are living, working, or travelling abroad for 1-12 months.

It allows you to confidently access quality healthcare for a fixed time period without purchasing a traditional, renewable health plan you don’t need.

Short-term health plans can offer a wide range of cover, including doctor and specialist consultations, diagnostics tests, hospital treatment and emergency medical treatment. You’re also able to access top private medical facilities worldwide within your chosen area of cover, with the freedom to decide where you’re treated and by who.

Though their policy benefits are quite different, IPMI is often confused with travel insurance. While IPMI offers comprehensive medical cover for extended periods abroad, travel insurance covers you for a variety of travel-related issues, such as emergency medical treatment, flight cancellations, and lost luggage.

Take a look at our blog to learn more about the key distinctions between these types of insurance cover.

Who is short-term health insurance suitable for?

Here’s some examples of the diverse range of lifestyles that short-term health cover is suitable for:

• Individuals and families: this type of plan is a convenient choice for individuals and families who are relocating abroad temporarily, planning a short trip, or travelling around the world for a set period of time.

• Employees on temporary work assignments: it’s a preferable option if you’re working overseas for a specific duration, giving you access to a broad range of medical treatment while you’re abroad.

• Digital nomads: if you’re going overseas for less than 12 months, cover can support your healthcare needs as you travel between different countries and make the most of your adventures.

Short-term health insurance: key points to consider

If you’re thinking about purchasing short-term health insurance cover, there are some important points to take into account.

Flexibility

You can choose the duration of your cover between 1-12 months with our short-term plans, giving you the flexibility to find a plan length that best suits your travel requirements.

If you decide to stay abroad longer than a year, there may be an option to apply for a cover extension for a limited length of time.

Limits on cover

As short-term health insurance is designed to protect your healthcare needs for a fixed duration, coverage can be limited and may exclude services like routine dental treatment, maternity care, and cancer treatment.

Carefully read all documentation and ask questions about anything you’re unsure of before purchasing a plan so you understand what cover is included.

Cost

As you’re purchasing cover for a specific amount of time, short-term international health plans can cost less than traditional, renewable plans.

It’s important to note that paying the premium upfront is common with this type of IPMI, though you might have the option to pay in quarterly instalments depending on the policy duration.

Adding optional extras to your plan can make it more expensive, like if you opt for an out-of-area extension or pre-existing medical condition cover.¹

What is long-term international health insurance?

Long-term international health insurance is designed to cover your healthcare needs if you’re living, working or travelling abroad for 12+ months, providing continuous access to quality private medical care.

It offers a wide range of medical cover aimed at long-term stays abroad, such as cancer treatment, routine health screenings, routine dental treatment and chronic condition care.²

Cover can also incorporate maternity care, which is beneficial for those planning to have a family abroad in the future.  As pregnancy is classed as a pre-existing medical condition, it’s worth noting that maternity care won’t be included if you’re pregnant when you purchase the plan. If you wished to add cover for this, there’s an eighteen month waiting period before this can take place.

Who is long-term health insurance suitable for?

Below are some examples of groups that long-term international medical insurance is suitable for:

• Expats and families: you can include eligible family members in your cover, such as your spouse, partner or children, leaving you safe in the knowledge that their medical needs are taken care of.

• People without access to public healthcare: in countries where there is no public healthcare system or access is limited for non-residents, IPMI ensures timely access to private medical care.

• Frequent travellers: this solution is perfect if you travel or work abroad often, giving you access to a range of private healthcare services in multiple countries within your area cover.

Long-term health insurance: key points to consider

Here’s some useful information about long-term international health insurance plans to consider during your research.

Adaptability

Renewable each year, long-term plans offer continuous coverage and the ability to adjust your policy as needed, where you can have the option to:

• Alter your level of cover

• Add or remove family members

• Change your geographical area of cover

• Add a voluntary excess to your plan

It’s important to remember that there may be certain restrictions around when you can make changes to your cover, like when you renew your policy.

Flexibility

You can choose a cover level with long-term health insurance, giving you the flexibility to find a plan that best suits your needs and budget.

We offer our members cover by geographical region to help reduce costs. For example, you can exclude regions with traditionally high medical costs from your plan, such as the USA and the Caribbean, if cover in this area isn’t needed.

You can also opt to include an excess to lower your premium. This refers to an agreed fixed amount that you contribute towards your claim for medical treatment, and is normally paid either annually or per claim.

Long-term plans provide you with more control over how you pay your insurance premium – typically on a monthly, quarterly, or annual basis. Find out how much an international health insurance plan can cost by clicking here.