{"id":3399,"date":"2018-07-30T02:10:10","date_gmt":"2018-07-30T06:10:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theprofessionalhobo.com\/?p=3399"},"modified":"2025-12-03T16:03:44","modified_gmt":"2025-12-03T21:03:44","slug":"expat-insurance-travel-insurance-for-full-time-and-long-term-travelers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theprofessionalhobo.com\/expat-insurance-travel-insurance-for-full-time-and-long-term-travelers\/","title":{"rendered":"Expat Health Insurance: Travel Insurance for Digital Nomads and Long-Term Travelers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

One of the more common questions I get is \u201c<\/span>What sort of travel insurance do you use?\u201d <\/span><\/i>After being on the road for a certain amount of time, full-time and long-term travelers (including expats living abroad) may not qualify for standard <\/span>travel insurance<\/span><\/a>, as some health care plans and programs from our home countries also lapse with a long enough absence. <\/span>(As a Canadian, I ran into this problem early in my digital nomad career, and it can be a crippling problem if not dealt with carefully). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are many insurances available in the market with each of its own purpose. Health insurances are maybe one of the most important things that every human being needs. It is always in our best interest to be fully insured to protect ourselves and our families in case of any medical emergency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One insurance that many travelers may not be aware of is expat health insurance. This type of health insurance works differently from travel insurance and is usually more comprehensive in scope. It focuses on providing medical coverage for people who travel or move abroad either temporarily or permanently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the purposes of this article and insurance coverage, expats are defined as people living and working abroad on a long-term or permanent basis. This includes not only people who have permanently located to another country, but also most long-term travelers and digital nomads are considered expats in the context of expat health insurance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s a full explanation of how I have insured myself over the years, along with some helpful tips and definitions if you are in a similar position.<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n

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What is <\/strong>Expat Health Insurance<\/b>?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Also known as International Health Insurance or Worldwide Travel Insurance<\/i><\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Expat insurance goes by many names, but the idea is the same; without a country to call your own (at least, as a resident), you might not have any basic medical care to rely on, and all medical expenses must be paid out-of-pocket. For full-time\/long-term travelers and people living abroad, expat insurance is the answer.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Expat Health Insurance is more than Travel Insurance; think of it as a full-service health and medical plan that provides for you around the world<\/b>. It will cover you for medical emergencies, but it also has the ability to cover regular doctors\u2019 visits, prescription medication, sometimes dental maintenance and prescription eyeglasses, and even visits to healthcare practitioners like massage therapists and acupuncturists. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In some countries where the cost of living is low or where medical tourism boons, self-insuring can be viable. But if a medical emergency is dire enough or if you are traveling somewhere this isn\u2019t the case (or where medical care is inappropriate and you need to be taken to a place where you can receive the care you need), you could find yourself in a crippling financial bind.<\/span>

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Travel Insurance vs Expat Health Insurance<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve written about <\/span>the dirt on travel insurance<\/span><\/a> before, including reasons why you need it and when you don’t, and even what it\u2019s like to endure a serious illness requiring hospitalization on the road. <\/span>Let’s take a closer look at the difference between traditional travel insurance and ex-pat health insurance.

See also: The Ironies of Expat Life<\/a><\/em>

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Travel Insurance<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You would get travel insurance when you travel for a short period of time, usually up to three months, but it could be up to a year. It covers situations such as medical treatment, travel delays, and even loss of baggage or personal belongings. It can also provide repatriation coverage in the event of an emergency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to medical emergencies, travel insurance covers travel-related injuries or illnesses, such as travel accidents, food poisoning, and other travel-related illnesses. It can also cover pre-existing medical conditions (it depends on the policy) and provide coverage in the event of an emergency requiring evacuation or repatriation. But it is important to note that travel insurance will not cover routine healthcare costs outside of travel-related needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Typically, travel insurance costs around 2-6% of the total travel cost. This of course also depends on what company you choose, the travel destinations, your age and personal circumstances, and the duration of travel. In addition, it also depends on the coverage you select as travel insurance packages can range from basic to comprehensive with various options in between.

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Expat Health Insurance<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Expat health insurance on the other hand covers long-term stays in a different country as well as long-term nomadic travel. It can provide medical coverage for pre-existing conditions, regular check-ups, prescription drugs and even evacuation services if you need to be taken back home due to a medical emergency. Depending on the insurer, there are usually several plans available with varying levels of coverage and deductibles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike travel insurance, expat health insurance is typically more expensive but it can be well worth the cost if you are planning on being abroad for an extended period of time. It is important to note that you may still be required to pay out-of-pocket costs even with expat health insurance as some plans may not cover any travel-related illnesses or injuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since expat health insurance mainly covers medical related costs, it is important to consider if travel insurance is necessary in addition to expat health insurance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As mentioned above, expat health insurance policies are more expensive than travel insurance policies and the cost can range from a few hundred to thousands of dollars depending on the level of coverage. It is important to compare different plans and providers to ensure that you get the best coverage for your needs. Usually, the more comprehensive the plan, the higher the cost will be. It can cost around 10-20% of travel costs for a comprehensive plan. More on this in a minute.

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Types Of Expat Health Insurance<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Expat health insurance plans vary from basic to comprehensive with different levels of coverage depending on the provider.
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Basic Expat Health Insurance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This type of insurance is designed to cover essential medical needs such as doctor visits and hospital stays. It usually does not provide coverage for travel-related illnesses or injuries and may have a limited coverage area.

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Comprehensive Expat Health Insurance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This type of insurance covers a wider range of medical services including travel-related emergencies, evacuation services, and pre-existing conditions. It typically includes higher limits on coverage and larger travel areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is also important to consider if you need travel insurance in addition to expat health insurance as travel insurance may provide some additional coverage for travel-related medical issues. It is best to compare different plans and providers to ensure that you get the best coverage for your needs. Most expat health insurance providers offer several different packages that can be tailored to fit your budget and travel needs.

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Do I Need Expat Health Insurance?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To answer that question, let us first discuss who needs it and why. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Expat health insurance is mainly for those who travel long-term or move abroad on a permanent basis. It is also important to note that expat health insurance can be used in conjunction with travel insurance as there are some situations where travel insurance alone would not provide the necessary coverage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, expat insurance won’t cover travel-related claims like lost baggage, or the cost to travel home if a family member falls ill; these are usually travel insurance-related claims. Then again, if you need medical assistance related to mental health or pregnancy, travel insurance will likely fall short; this is something expat insurance is more likely to provide. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additional factors to consider are the travel destination and duration of travel. If you are planning on a stay of more than three months, travel insurance may not provide sufficient coverage and expat health insurance would be beneficial. It is also important to consider if there is a public healthcare system available in the travel destination and if it can cover your medical expenses while abroad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So the answer would be YES if you are planning on staying abroad for an extended period of time and travel insurance would not provide the necessary coverage.

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Best Expat Health Insurance Companies<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When looking for the best expat health insurance, it is important to consider all the factors mentioned above and also look into different providers and plans to ensure that you are getting the most comprehensive coverage at the best possible price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following list is some of the best expat health insurance providers. In some (but not all) cases I have used affiliate links which earn me a small commission if you end up making a purchase.

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Genki (best comprehensive long-term coverage with no coverage limits)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Genki<\/a> offers both travel health insurance and international health insurance for digital nomads and long-term travelers, and is the insurance company I have most recently chosen to use for my own long-term travels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Genki Traveler policy is a flexible policy that renews each month for up to 12 months, and is open to all citizens of any residency up to age 69.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Genki Native<\/a> plan is a proper “expat health insurance policy” with annual coverage that has no age limit<\/strong> and covers not only emergency medical care but also preventative care, and is designed to be a health plan for long-term or even life-long coverage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am impressed by Genki’s comprehensive coverage of sports and activities (eg: all kinds of skiing is covered; most policies have strict terms of where and how you can get coverage while skiing). You also have access to Telemedicine that doesn’t require submitting a claim, and other thoughtful benefits. While I haven’t had to make a claim with Genki (knock on wood I won’t need to<\/em>), I needed some assistance setting something up, and Genki’s customer service was fast and very helpful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n