Travel Health vs International Health Insurance – What Do You Need And FAQs
Long–term travel or living the digital nomad lifestyle can bring fun, eye-opening experiences, and a lot of adventure. Diving into new cultures, and meeting local communities while working remotely is a desirable way for online entrepreneurs to become freelancers.
One thing that should be considered, besides business registration, tax residency, or long-stay visas, is health insurance.
There are so many terms being used simultaneously for all the different types of insurance that it can be really stressful and time-consuming to figure out which insurance is best for individual circumstances.
We prepared a short guide on how to choose your health insurance.
Travel health insurance
This insurance type covers short-term travelers, from a few days up to a few years. The policy is limited to a specific length and can not be extended. In many cases, travel health insurance providers allow you to renew the plan which means you agree to a new contract.
Covered services include emergencies, sometimes medically necessary treatments, and evacuation flights back to your home country. Limitations are for pre-existing conditions, chronic illnesses that require long-term treatments, preventive care, and home country cover.
If you get chronically ill during your travel coverage, and you want to renew your travel health insurance after the current one ends, please be aware that this chronic illness counts as a pre-existing condition and will not be covered by the new travel health insurance.
Travel health insurance is for you if you have access to a national health system, for example in your home country, as travel health insurance has limitations on the home country coverage. But because of these limitations, travel health insurance is a lot more affordable than international health insurance.
International health insurance
If you travel long-term, for example, longer than 2 years, or you move abroad, international health insurance is a good fit. This type of insurance should cover many medical services. For example, preventive care. Pre-existing conditions, pregnancy, dental and vision care, mental health treatments, and vaccines are among the included services.
International health insurance is designed to cover you life-long and because of its broad included services, the subscription fees are much more than travel health insurance subscription fees. A foundation for the calculation of the subscription fee is mostly a medical questionnaire you need to fill out before you can sign up for this type of insurance.
Genki World Explorer is a travel health insurance with worldwide cover up to 2 years. You can easily renew after 2 years. Home country is covered for up to 42 consecutive days within 180 days. Included services are emergencies and medically necessary treatments, for example, an ear infection or the flu, pregnancies, initial mental health, or COVID-19 treatments.
The monthly subscription fee is between 35.70 and 128.70 Euro a month, depending on your age, the chosen region of coverage (incl. or excl. USA and Canada), and the deductible you choice. You can sign up while on the road, and it takes less than 1 minute.
Genki World Resident is an international health insurance designed to cover your life-long. The length of the coverage depends on how long you want to be covered. If you need to visit your home country due to medical treatments, the insurance coverage ends as well. Home country coverage is included for 180 days within 1 year but only when visiting your home country for any purposes except for medical purposes.
Genki World Resident included services are all included services of the World Explorer plus telemedicine, medically necessary search and rescue, inpatient psychotherapy, alternative treatments, osteopathy, chiropractic, physiotherapy, dental and vision care, prenatal care, and childbirth as well as COVID treatments.
Genki World Resident Premium provides more included services. For example, vaccinations, medical checkups, eyesight correction surgeries, glasses and contact lenses, dental cleaning twice per year, outpatient psychotherapy, outpatient rehabilitation measure, or first-trimester screening and amniocentesis.
The subscription fee depends on your age, the region of cover (incl. or excl. USA and Canada), and the chosen deductible. You need to fill out a medical questionnaire beforehand and send it to our insurance partner. The minimum subscription is one year with a monthly payment plan.
Genki is a German registered company, offering tailor-made insurance for digital nomads together with DR-WALTER, Allianz, and Barmenia.
some common questions and Answers people have about travel insurance
Can you get travel insurance for a pre-existing medical condition?
How do I choose the right health travel insurance policy for my needs?
It is essential to follow many precautions while picking the correct health travel insurance policy to guarantee that you have enough coverage for your requirements while abroad.
Make a list of the coverage choices you desire, such as coverage for medical emergencies, travel cancellation, or lost luggage, to begin determining what coverage you need. This list will be useful for comparing policies.
It’s also a good idea to examine any existing insurance plans you have to see whether they provide travel coverage, since this may minimise the amount of travel insurance you need to buy. You may compare insurance if you have a thorough grasp of your needs and current coverage. Examine the coverage limits, deductibles, and exclusions to see what each policy provides.
Understanding the terms and conditions of coverage requires reading the fine print of the policy. Take note of any exclusions, limits, or restrictions that may apply to your policy. While choosing an insurance, you need also consider your budget. While a higher-priced insurance may provide more complete coverage, a lower-priced policy may nonetheless meet your needs.
Finally, while choosing a travel insurance coverage, it is advised to browse for user reviews. Reviews from consumers who have filed claims under the policy might give significant information into the insurance company’s coverage and customer service. By following these steps, you will be able to make an educated decision when choosing the best health travel insurance coverage for your needs.
Do I need travel health insurance for a domestic trip?
It is determined by where you reside and the details of your domestic journey. In general, if you have domestic health insurance, you may not need to obtain supplementary travel health insurance for a domestic trip.
However, you should always verify with your health insurance carrier to ensure that you are covered for medical expenditures when travelling inside your nation. Certain health insurance policies may have coverage limits outside of your normal location or network.
If you are travelling to a different state or territory inside your nation, you should also check to see if your health insurance covers medical care there.
What is included in a comprehensive health travel insurance policy?
A comprehensive health travel insurance policy will normally cover a wide variety of medical expenditures and hazards associated with travel. The particular coverage and benefits provided by a policy may differ based on the insurer and the kind of policy, however the following are some frequent aspects of a comprehensive health travel insurance policy:
This covers the expense of emergency medical treatment and hospitalisation, including hospitalisation, operations, and diagnostic testing.
Emergency medical evacuation –Â This covers the expense of transportation to the nearest medical facility in the event that you require emergency medical treatment and the local medical institution is unable to offer acceptable care.
Repatriation of remains –Â If you die while abroad, this covers the expense of returning your remains to your home country.
Travel cancellation and interruption insurance covers the expense of cancelling or reducing your vacation due to unforeseen events such as illness, injury, or natural catastrophe.
This covers the expense of replacing lost or stolen luggage and personal belongings such as passports, credit cards, and travel papers.
Personal liability – This protects you for any damages or injuries you may cause to others while travelling.
This enables you access to emergency support services such as medical advice, emergency financial transfers, and travel aid 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
It’s worth noting that not all insurance will contain all of these benefits, and coverage restrictions and exclusions may apply. It’s essential you thoroughly check the policy terms before buying travel insurance.
What are the coverage limits for health travel insurance?
The coverage limitations for health travel insurance vary based on the policy you select, as well as the insurer and the place you are visiting. Yet, below are some examples of frequent coverage limits.
The medical expenses can include hospitalization, surgeries, prescription medication, emergency dental treatment, and more. The coverage limit can range from a few thousand dollars to several hundred thousand dollars or more.
For the emergency medical evacuation and repatriation which can help you get back home if you become seriously ill or injured while traveling can cover from $50,000 to $1 million or more.
If you must cancel or stop your vacation due to a covered cause, such as illness or a family emergency, this coverage will compensate you for non-refundable charges such as flight and hotel reservations. The coverage limit might range anywhere from a few thousand dollars to the complete cost of your vacation.
Accidental death and dismemberment can cover a lump sum payment to your dependents if you die or lose a limb or other bodily part while travelling. The coverage limit might range from $10,000 to $500,000 or more.
Can I buy health travel insurance while already abroad?
Depends on the individual insurance policy and the terms and conditions of the insurance provider. Certain insurance policies may enable you to get coverage while you are already overseas, but others may require you to buy coverage before leaving your home country.
If you are currently overseas and need to get health travel insurance, the first thing you should do is contact your existing insurance provider to see whether they provide a purchase option while abroad. If they do not, you might look for travel insurance companies that provide coverage for people who are already on the road.
When getting insurance when travelling overseas, make sure you thoroughly read the policy terms as well as any limits or exclusions that may apply. You should also assess the policy’s cost and if it covers the coverage you require for your unique travel situation.
Pre-existing medical issues may be excluded from coverage under a travel insurance policy. As a result, it’s critical to declare any medical issues you have before getting travel insurance to guarantee adequate coverage.
Can I extend my health travel insurance coverage while I am abroad?
Extensions are not possible. After the maximum period, a new contract will be signed. This is called renewal but no extension. Important note: If you develop a medical issue while you have travel health insurance (lets say cancer) and you want to renew after the maximum is reached for a new contract, this is cancer or other medical / chronic / long term condition is then counted as pre-existing condition and is therefore NOT included any longer. This is in every travel health insurance. If you want to dive deep in this, you can read more here.
What are the exclusions in a health travel insurance policy?
If you have pre-existing conditions (diabetis, chronic disease, then you must check individual condition with every insurer if you will be convered. Unfortunately, most are not. With pregnancies, it depends highly on travel health insurance. Most of the time, pregnancy is only covered when woman was not pregnant when signed she up.
Do you do sports? You must check this too. For example, diving is not covered but you can get an extra option for it.
Are there any age limits for buying health travel insurance?
The age restriction for purchasing health travel insurance varies based on the insurance company and the exact policy you want to acquire. Certain insurance companies may have age restrictions on their plans, but others may provide coverage to people of all ages.
It’s crucial to keep in mind that the cost of travel insurance may rise as you become older, because the probability of needing medical treatment while travelling rises with age. Also, certain policies may contain restrictions or exclusions for pre-existing medical illnesses or other health issues, so carefully read the policy specifics before purchasing.
If you are concerned about age limitations or have specific health problems, speaking with a travel insurance provider directly to review your options and select a coverage that suits your needs may be beneficial.
Last words about travel and health insurance
Surely, there are many incredible opportunities and unique experiences that come with long-term travel. However, when considering embarking on this journey or making it your lifestyle, prioritizing health insurance is key.Â
Doing your research beforehand helps to make sure you’re getting the coverage you need for living and working abroad. Hopefully, our guide has cleared up some confusion on which type of international insurance will be right for you. And hopefully cleared a light on an important step of securing your digital nomad journey: choosing the right insurance.Â
Now it’s time to get traveling! So pack your bags and don’t forget to choose carefully your insurance before exploring the world–after all, an adventure like this is one worth protecting!
