Expat Insurance
If you are planning on becoming an expat, one of the most important things to consider is insurance. Insurance's main service is to protect you from financial ruin and when traveling or living abroad there are many pitfalls that an expat can fall into causing the loss of savings, earnings, etc. Here are a few tips for expats on how to protect you with expat insurance.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is basic and sometimes comprehensive insurance covering the many facets of your travels. For instance, many travel insurance policies cover your transportation costs in the case that a flight gets cancelled or is unable to leave a location at a certain time. It also covers lost luggage costs and financial losses of a vacation or transportation if severe weather cancels it (such as a hurricane). Travel insurance also can sometimes include a health component. If you become sick during your travels, you will be covered from certain costs such as hospitalization, surgery, medical evacuation, etc. Travel insurance is a great idea and works well for expats. Expats can buy travel insurance for a few days or for an entire year making it a great policy to have to cover against many things that could potentially go wrong during your travels.
Health Insurance
Besides basic travel insurance, those that do not have health insurance or have plans that are not accepted in the locations that you reside should look into expat health insurance. Health insurance plans could be basic plans that cover serious illnesses and accidents or they could be extensive plans that cover many medical facets, just like healthcare policies back in the US. Health insurance usually varies by country and location. Many European countries have universal programs that many expats can join, other locations offer plans through private clinics and hospitals. However, if you want to make sure you are covered from most medical emergencies, expat health insurance is an excellent product.
International Auto Insurance
While most expats take advantage of trains, planes and busses to get from one location to another, if you are living in a country where you will be driving your own car or a rental car, you might want to consider international auto insurance. While prices and polices vary, international auto insurance is a great way to protect yourself and the auto you drive from financial damages as you drive in one country or through many countries. There are many policies available and you might even want to talk to your current auto insurance agency or AAA in the states regarding policies before you leave to become an expat.
Extreme Sports Insurance
For many expats living abroad gives you the opportunity to try new things. One thing that many expats love to try is extreme sports. It can be as common as snowboarding or skiing or as unique as base jumping off a cliff, there are plenty of activities that can be hazardous and are not covered by traditional insurance plans. Even if you have travelers insurance, your policy may not cover specific activities- so make sure you read the fine print. If you are interested in doing some extreme sports as an expat, look into purchasing travelers insurance that includes an extreme sport policy.
Insurance Companies that Serve Expats
Expat Financial provides international health insurance, life, travel and disability insurance for individual expatriates living abroad and their employers. We are a leading source of international health insurance plans with global health insurance coverage from various insurers offering the best in international health insurance.
Expat Financial offers a wide range of expatriate health insurance plans designed specifically for any expatriates of any nationality around the world. Our expatriate health insurance plans can also cover local nationals where conditions permit. We are not tied to any insurance company as we are accountable to you, the client.
TFG Global: Special Risks Coverage
TFG Global Insurance Solutions Ltd. has access to underwriters who may be able to offer special risk insurance to clients operating in very risky regions and countries. We can even offer health, evacuation and accidental life and dismemberment coverage in war torn countries in Africa and even Iraq and Afghanistan. If you are operating in Iraq and need coverage, we may be able to search out coverage for you and/or your company's employees. Iraq insurance, while difficult and expensive, is often possible to obtain. We can obtain individual or group plans.
Alexander Forbes World Service
Alexander Forbes World Service is the international loss / damage vehicle insurance product offered by Alexander Forbes Insurance Agency ('AFIA'). AFIA has been offering top quality loss/damage motor insurance for over forty years.
AFWS policies have been specially designed to meet the needs of:
- Diplomats
- Expatriates
- Humanitarian Organisations
- International Businesses
- International Charities
- International Schools
- Religious Orders
- United Nations Agencies
Bupa is the world's largest provider of international expatriate health insurance, supplying quality individual and group medical cover to people who are in their home country or expatriates living and working abroad.
EOS RISQ is a leading provider of insurance broking and risk management consultancy to European and global enterprises.
EOS RISQ is a risk adviser with a different approach. Their truly European partnership is the result of a historical collaboration of six companies. The key feature is the balanced division of the responsibilities. The major benefit of the new alliance is the global approach and the guarantee of service continuity, the partnership being managed effectively by a single management structure.
When you choose for an international career, expatplus provides you with peace of mind about your healthcare. expatplus is open to individual expatriates (and their family members) whose home country or host country is located within the European Economic Area.
All Aboard Benefits is an independent broker of medical insurance for international travelers, students, and citizens of all countries.
The Innovative Benefits Consultants
The Innovative Benefits Consultants is a consultant and broker for international life and health insurance programmes targeted to expatriates and internationally-mobile people. On IBC's web site, you will find articles describing the features to look for and the pitfalls to avoid when choosing international health and life insurance.
Healthcare International is a specialist provider of global private health and related personal insurances, designed to provide not just the basic health cover, but also a wide range of benefits providing peace of mind for you, your family or your personnel.