When you are going to work abroad or you are arranging for your employees to work abroad, make sure that you, and they, have health insurance cover. It is essential to ensure there will be adequate cover in place prior to travelling.

In the UK we are lucky to have the NHS. There are many countries around the world that do not have any state-subsidised solution. All treatment, consultations, medicines and hospital care must be paid for. Pre-planned or emergency medical treatment has to be funded by the patient. In some parts of the world the costs of medical treatment can be high and many people would struggle to make the payments required to receive the treatment they need.

Key things to consider are:

What is your destination country?

When you are going to work abroad, remember that cover for policies in the USA will be expensive. This is due to the high cost of medical treatment. Cover for the USA will be more expensive than a European policy.

How long do you expect to be working abroad?

Some providers will offer short term policies from 3–11 months. You can also buy 12 month term international health insurance cover. Flexible cover periods make it easy to arrange cover for working abroad.

Do they have any specific rules in place relating to healthcare?

Many destinations have very specific requirements that must be in place prior to travelling. It is essential that you check your cover complies with the rules of the country you are working in.

Will you need cover that may include benefits towards childbirth and pregnancy whilst working abroad?

Not all policies would cover pregnancy as standard. You will need to upgrade your cover to include routine pregnancy and childbirth benefits.

Do you need to have cover for pre-existing medical conditions?

Some company schemes will allow you to cover medical conditions that already exist. This is not necessarily the case for individuals, as most policies are only available with full underwriting.

How can Ascend Health help people working abroad?

We can help if you are looking for International Health Insurance as an individual, family or a company scheme for your employees. There are many variations and providers on the market. We recommend that you compare international health insurance policies from different providers. Our free market review can help you make the right choice.