Expat health insurance policies provide long-term medical cover for people living or working abroad. They go beyond travel insurance by covering everyday healthcare needs, from GP visits to emergency evacuation and ensures consistent protection across multiple countries. This guide explains how international health insurance works and what to consider when choosing a policy.
Living abroad brings new experiences and challenges, but one of the most important decisions every expat must make is how to protect their health.
In many countries, access to local healthcare depends on your visa type or employment status, and even where public systems exist, standards and costs can vary widely.
Expat health insurance, sometimes called international health insurance, is designed to give you consistent medical protection wherever you live or travel, ensuring you can receive treatment when and where you need it.
You may also require this as a foreign national, even if the public healthcare is available to you.
This article is for general information only and should not be regarded as financial or medical advice. Insurance policies and eligibility criteria vary between providers and countries. Always read the terms and speak to a regulated adviser before purchasing cover.
Expat health insurance provides long-term medical cover for people living or working outside their home country.
Unlike standard travel insurance, which focuses on emergencies and short-term trips, expat health insurance supports everyday healthcare needs such as:
The key advantage is continuity of cover: you can move between countries or return to the UK without losing protection, making it ideal for globally mobile individuals and families.
Every country’s healthcare system is different. Some have excellent public options; others require proof of insurance before providing non-emergency care.
Local healthcare policies often:
Expat health insurance removes these barriers by giving you access to private treatment globally, often with direct billing arrangements so you don’t have to pay upfront.
Even in countries with public systems, foreign residents may be required to pay the full cost of treatment or register for national health contributions.
Health insurance ensures you can access quality medical care without unexpected bills or administrative complications.
Common reasons expats take out international health cover include:
Like all insurance products, expat health plans have exclusions. These can include:
Always read the small print carefully and declare all conditions honestly to avoid invalidating your policy.
When comparing plans, consider:
For British expats, it’s also worth checking how coverage interacts with the NHS if you return to the UK temporarily or permanently.
If you already have a medical condition, it’s essential to declare it when applying.
Some insurers offer moratorium-style policies, which may include the condition after a set period without symptoms or treatment. Others may permanently exclude it or charge an additional premium.
A specialist adviser can help identify which approach best suits your situation.
Premiums are typically based on:
Some policies also allow regional pricing to reduce costs by limiting coverage to specific zones (for example, Europe or Asia rather than worldwide).
Expat health insurance is usually annual and renewable, meaning you can maintain cover year after year, even if your health changes.
If you move to another country, most global insurers allow you to adjust your plan without reapplying which is a key benefit compared to starting a new local policy abroad.
You should review your health insurance if:
A simple review can ensure you’re not overpaying for outdated or duplicated cover.
Expat health insurance is long-term medical cover for people living outside their home country. It provides access to private healthcare, ongoing treatment and emergency evacuation worldwide.
Travel insurance is for short-term trips and covers emergencies only. Expat health insurance is long-term and covers routine and emergency healthcare for residents living abroad.
In many cases, yes. Public healthcare may not cover non-residents, and private hospitals often require proof of insurance before providing treatment.
Yes. Most expat health insurance policies provide global or regional coverage so you can receive treatment in multiple countries without losing protection.
Experts for Expats partners with The Expatriate Group, a trusted provider of international health insurance for British people living abroad.
You can get a quote directly from their site using the link below:
Get a quote from The Expatriate Group
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