Top Insurance Options for Expats Working Overseas

Every year, many individuals embark on exciting journeys abroad for work and improved opportunities for their families. However, adapting to a new healthcare system can pose significant challenges for expats. Fortunately, work-abroad insurance can ease this transition. Explore our top five insurance options tailored for digital nomads, expatriates, and adventurous backpackers, ensuring peace of mind while you navigate your new adventure.

Why getting insurance for working abroad is important

Accidents and health issues can strike at any moment, especially while traveling or relocating for work abroad. This is where insurance becomes crucial—it provides financial protection in case you encounter an illness or accident. In fact, some visas, such as digital nomad visas, require you to show proof of medical insurance to ensure you’re covered during your stay.

Private insurance offers an affordable way to access high-quality healthcare from private providers. It’s especially beneficial if you’re relocating to countries with long wait times for public healthcare, such as Canada and the UK, ensuring you receive timely medical attention when you need it most.

Types of insurance for working abroad

Whether you’re a digital nomad exploring the world or relocating abroad for a long-term position with a multinational company, there are insurance options tailored to meet your specific needs.

1. Travel insurance

Travel insurance acts as your safety net for short overseas adventures, often providing coverage for up to a year, and in some cases, even longer. It’s particularly beneficial for individuals planning to work abroad for brief durations. This type of insurance safeguards you against unexpected incidents that could disrupt your travel plans, including:

• Sickness or injury
• Evacuation
• Lost or damaged luggage
• Delayed or canceled transportation
• Damages to the rental property

The cost of your policy depends on your age, destination, and what the coverage entails.

2. Digital nomad insurance

While many digital nomads opt for standard travel insurance, there’s a growing trend towards specialized digital nomad insurance. This tailored coverage often includes protection for common health concerns faced by remote workers, such as carpal tunnel syndrome and eye strain, ensuring you stay healthy and productive while on the go.

This kind of insurance might include:

• Damage to your electronics
• Repatriation
• Illness or injury
• Lost baggage
• Trip cancellation

Ensure that your provider offers personal liability coverage tailored for digital nomads. This protection is crucial, as it safeguards you in case you unintentionally injure someone or cause damage to property while you travel.

3. International health insurance

International health insurance goes beyond the standard health benefits of travel insurance. It’s an ideal choice for individuals moving abroad for work and seeking long-term coverage as they settle into their new life.

These plans usually include:

• Hospital stays
• Treatment of pre-existing medical conditions
• Treatment of chronic illness
• Regular doctor visits
• Prescription medication
• Dental care
• Vision care
• Maternity care

While standard plans often exclude certain coverage areas like maternity or vision, it’s important to discuss your specific needs with your insurer. They can tailor a plan that suits you perfectly.

4. Working holiday insurance

Working holiday insurance is specifically tailored for individuals who intend to work or intern abroad to support their travels. This type of insurance typically includes coverage for:

• Sports and other types of adventure activities
• Medical expenses (usually not including pre-existing conditions)
• Trip delays and cancellations

While this type of insurance is less prevalent than travel or global health insurance, it may still be worth considering. You might want to explore standard travel insurance options or consult your insurance provider for guidance.

Watch this insightful video for essential tips on choosing the perfect travel insurance for your journey. Discover why it’s crucial to purchase your policy before you depart and ensure that your coverage lasts for the entirety of your trip.

5 best insurance providers to consider

1. Allianz Care: Best for international health insurance overall

• Countries covered: 78 total, including Brazil, Japan, Thailand, Australia, France, Netherlands, Portugal, Egypt, and more
• Coverage details: Diagnosis, emergency medical treatment, post-treatment care, and more depending on your plan
• Pricing: Fill out an online form to get a quote
• Years in business: 130+

Allianz Care stands out as a leading health insurance provider, offering a range of international plans tailored to meet the needs of everyone—from students to professionals. In addition, they provide flexible options like nomad and short-term plans, ensuring comprehensive coverage for diverse lifestyles.

Explore a range of apps and services designed to boost your mental health! Plus, if you’re an expat family with two or more children, you can take advantage of special discounts.

Their expat health insurance policy includes:

• Doctor visits
• Hospital stays
• Prescription medication
• Emergency care
• Preventative care
• Wellness

As a member, you’ll enjoy round-the-clock access to telehealth services and customer support in six languages. To get started, simply request a call back from the Allianz sales team!

2. Cigna Global: Best for comprehensive coverage

• Countries covered: Worldwide
• Coverage details: Hospitalization, rehabilitation, emergency treatment, cancer, and more
• Pricing: Fill out an online form to get a quote
• Years in business: 40+

Cigna Global provides two distinct international health insurance plans: Global Health Options and Close Care. Close Care is designed for those who need coverage solely within their home country and current residence. In contrast, Global Health Options offers comprehensive coverage that extends across the globe, ensuring you’re protected no matter where you travel.

The basic Global Health Options plan includes:

• Hospital stays
• Rehabilitation
• Mental health treatment
• Emergency outpatient care
• Cancer treatment
• Preventative surgery

You can add vision and dental coverage too.

Cigna provides flexible payment plans, allowing you to choose between annual, quarterly, or monthly options. If you select the annual or quarterly payment plans, you can enjoy a discount, making it a cost-effective choice.

To get a quote and sign up, visit the Cigna Global website.

3. Insured Nomads: Best for digital nomads

• Countries covered: Worldwide, except for OFAC Sanctioned countries (North Korea, Iran, Burma, and Cuba)
• Coverage details: Hospitalization, doctor’s appointments, medication, and more depending on your plan
• Pricing: Typically $239.82 per month for health insurance and $90.31 for travel insurance per 10-day trip
• Years in business: 5

Insured Nomads is your go-to solution for comprehensive travel and health insurance tailored for digital nomads. They offer four distinct plans, with the World Explorer being the most straightforward option, while the World Explorer Hotspot provides essential coverage even in conflict areas. Whether you’re exploring new destinations or working remotely, Insured Nomads has the protection you need.

The Connect health plan takes care of big stuff like:

• Hospital stays
• Surgical costs
• Psychotherapy and psychiatry
• Medical evacuation

Interested in signing up? Book a consultation to dive into your health insurance options. If you need travel insurance, simply fill out our online form for a free quote or purchase your coverage instantly!

4. Heymondo: Best for travel insurance

• Countries covered: Worldwide
• Coverage details: Trip delay, cancellation, medical assistance, and more
• Pricing: Fill out an online form to get a quote
• Years in business: 8

Heymondo is a global leader in travel insurance, offering a user-friendly app that simplifies access to customer support, streamlines the claims process, and connects you with healthcare professionals when you need it most. Whether you’re planning a trip or already on your journey, their app ensures you’re always covered and supported.

Their coverage includes:

• Emergency dental and medical interventions
• Lost, stolen, damaged, or delayed baggage
• Bringing home remains
• Emergency evacuation
• Trip delays, cancellations, and interruptions
• Lost, stolen, or damaged electronics
• Adventure sports

Sign up online and get insured for your trip. It’s as simple as that!

5. April Insurance: Best for working holidays

• Countries covered: 180 total, including Estonia, Portugal, Denmark, Turkey, Indonesia, Argentina, and more
• Coverage details: Medical expenses, personal liability, repatriation
• Pricing: Starting from 40€ per month for the emergency package and 55€ per month for the comfort package
• Years in business: 36

April Insurance is an excellent choice for those embarking on a working holiday lasting from three to twelve months. With this insurance, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing you’re protected against:

• Medical emergencies, like accidents and dental work
• Outpatient care
• Repatriation
• Personal liability

Just use the online form to sign up.

Improve your communication skills before you move

Your adventure as an expat began with exploring international job boards. As you near your destination, securing insurance is crucial to safeguard against travel and medical emergencies. Having health insurance not only ensures you’re covered during unforeseen situations but also brings peace of mind, knowing you can access healthcare easily in your new country whenever you need it.

As you get ready for your move, don’t forget to include language lessons on your to-do list! Why is this important? Enhancing your vocabulary and honing your speaking skills will facilitate better communication with medical professionals. Plus, it will boost your confidence as you explore and adjust to your new surroundings!

At LingualNeeds, our online language tutors are dedicated to providing personalized lessons tailored to your unique goals, all while maintaining a friendly and supportive atmosphere. Whether you want to enhance your speaking abilities or improve your grammar skills, our tutors are here to guide you every step of the way, ensuring you achieve noticeable results in no time.

With a diverse network of over 30,000 tutors proficient in 50 languages, LingualNeeds ensures that you’ll find the perfect match for your language learning journey, no matter which language you wish to explore!