What Is the Difference?
It’s easy to get insurance products mixed up when there are so many to choose from. International health insurance and travel insurance are the most frequently misunderstood insurance products in our nearly two decades of expertise as insurance brokers. Despite the fact that both offer coverage while traveling outside of the UK, there are significant differences between the two, which we will attempt to clarify in further detail so that you may securely search for and purchase the insurance plan you require.
Why Do People Confuse International Health Insurance With Travel Insurance?
Travel insurance and international health insurance cover you in the event of an accident or illness while you are away from home. International health insurance and travel insurance are two distinct products, despite the fact that they may have similar features and benefits.
What Is Travel Insurance?
Short-term vacations and other short-term journeys necessitate the purchase of a travel insurance plan to safeguard yourself and your things (usually abroad, but UK plans are available too). Travel insurance may offer some medical benefits to support you in the event of an emergency or accident, but it is not designed to cover long-term care.
What Is Covered by Travel Insurance?
Your losses in the event of flight cancellations, lost luggage, medical emergencies, and personal liability while traveling are covered by travel insurance policies. Because travel insurance policies are not designed to cover medical expenses, the health coverage is significantly more limited than in health insurance policies.
What Is International Health Insurance?
Travel insurance may not cover your medical expenses if you plan to stay in another country for an extended period of time (at least 12 months), regardless of whether you are going for job, volunteer work, school, or any other purpose. An foreign health insurance policy can come in handy in these situations.
Accessing private treatment in the same way as at home is possible when traveling abroad with an international health insurance plan. A single country or region, like Europe, or the entire planet is covered. The insurance company pays for your medical expenses and gives you access to private healthcare in the country where you are currently located.
What Is Covered by International Health Insurance?
When compared to travel insurance, which often only covers medical emergencies, foreign health coverage gives a much broader range of medical coverage. Cover for tests, scans and treatments, hospital accommodation, surgery and specialist appointments for acute ailments (conditions that are treatable) may be included in your foreign private medical insurance plan, as well as dental and medical evacuation/retrieval coverage.
Which One Do I Need?
As a general rule, worldwide health insurance is required if you intend to cover your private medical expenses when traveling overseas over the long term. A brief vacation outside of the UK, on the other hand, will almost certainly necessitate the purchase of travel insurance.
It’s usually a good idea to consult with an expert who can answer any queries you might have.
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