United Kingdom And International Hospitals For Expatriates

The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) is acknowledged as one the world’s leading health systems. All expatriates in Britain are eligible for free emergency treatment at NHS hospitals in UK, but some expatriates will probably be responsible for some cost, determined by where they’re home country is. The UK has negotiated reciprocal health care arrangements among a variety of foreign nations, including New Zealand, Australia and members of the EU, meaning their citizens are exempt from healthcare payments.

Although emergency hospital treatment is free for all in the UK, expats must enroll for an NHS number in order to make routine appointments with a general practitioner. GPs may refer patients and will be the primary point of contact for most.

Expats should make it their priority to enroll for an NHS number immediately upon arriving in the UK. To enroll, an appointment must first be made, they’ll then be subject to an interview and need to complete some paperwork. They’ll subsequently be assigned an NHS number that will arrive in the mail inside a few weeks.

 

Private hospitals in the UK can be found most everywhere. But a number of Great Britain’s best are located in Central London. Private hospitals in Britain tend to specialize in a specific type of care. Most people avoid going to them unless they have international health insurance as the price of treatment at private hospitals in the UK is quite high. That’s the reason why many attempt to use the NHS.

Best Hospitals in UK

Healthcare in the UK is top notch and universally highly regarded. The following are the best hospitals in UK, recognized for their high quality care to patients, shortness of time patients stay, and the rate of emergency readmissions. 

Global Medical Plans

International Medical Insurance Plans ImageIf you plan to live or reside abroad for an extended length of time, you will want to make sure you invest in a high-quality international health insurance plan for the period you are overseas, outside of your home country, in case something happens and you need to seek medical treatment. For most countries around the world, it may also be a requirement of your visa (if you need one) to show proof of adequate coverage. These plans are ideal for Expatriates, Global Nomads or International Citizens who are abroad for the majority of each year.

What is International Health Insurance?

International Health Insurance offers comprehensive worldwide coverage for individuals and families living abroad for a year or longer. Coverage should include in-patient, out-patient, wellness, evacuation, dental, vision and select other benefits. Plans are renewable each year for life or until a specified termination date.

How Much do Global Medical Plans Cost

One of the first question we often get: “How much does international health insurance cost?”. Eligibility and premiums are based primarily on a policyholders age, medical history and area of coverage (typically not on an individual’s claims history), as well as the deductible and maximum coverage, selected. Plans will normally offer two areas of cover; Worldwide or Worldwide excluding the USA, sometimes excluded countries also include Canada, Hong Kong, and other more expensive countries for medical care. If you choose the coverage that includes the US, it will typically be more expensive. The reason for this is that medical care in the USA is the most expensive in the world.  At times, international medical insurance providers (GeoBlue and Cigna) will rank countries by medical costs and have premiums adjusted accordingly.

Global Medical Plan Benefits

International Health or Global Medical Plans offer comprehensive medical coverage for those living outside of their home country for a year or longer.  The best plans offer:

•     Freedom to choose any hospital, clinic or doctor

•     24 Hour Emergency Assistance and Medical Helpline

•     Emergency Evacuation, Repatriation, Hospitalization

•     In most cases, Home Country coverage is included

•     Choice of GBP, Euro and USD currencies for payment

Additional Benefits and Options

Plans may offer additional benefits such as dental, vision, maternity, prescription drugs and other coverage options. Some of these are included in the base plan. Other times they are optional add-ons that come with an additional premium. For example, Cigna Global allows you to pick and choose various options (Wellness, Dental, and Vision, etc.) and benefits to design a plan that meets your specific needs.

International Health Insurance and Pre-Existing Conditions

Individual global medical insurance plans are purchased by one person or a family. Typically, the plan is purchased because there is a risk of some medical issue soon (maternity is a typical example). Therefore, these plans come with added risks that an insurance company will try to minimize through a process called underwriting. After you apply, a team of underwriters will review your application and any pre-existing conditions. They may require a copy of past medical records. After their review, they will typically either

•     Approve your application as is

•     Approve your application with a limitation or exclusion of the pre-existing condition

•     Add a premium surcharge to offset the added risks of insuring you with your condition

•     Deny your application altogether

Typical Plan Exclusions and Limitations

All plans, domestic or international, will provide a list of exclusions for specific risks that they can not insure, including:

• Acts of War.

• Hostilities, Military Actions, Terrorist Acts, and Other Civil Commotions, whether the war    has been declared or not.

• Nuclear Explosions and resulting nuclear fallout.

Many providers have their specific exclusions in addition to those above. These additional exclusions can be broad or narrow depending on the type of policy or the company that has issued the insurance. Be sure to review a plan’s exclusions as specified in the policy schedule.

Of course, we suggest working with a licensed international health insurance broker. There are no additional costs to use a broker. The benefit is that you get an experienced agent working to help sort through a variety of policies to find the best plan for your specific needs. Your broker will also help get your application processed promptly and resolved any issues that may come up during the year. Contact us to get a quote today.

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