You may be ready to book your next vacation, but you should consider purchasing a comprehensive health insurance policy to protect you from financial losses you may experience due to unforeseen problems while traveling. Learn more about the benefits of insurance, what it covers, and what to consider when choosing a health insurance policy

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Health insurance is an important part of any trip, especially if you plan to stay outside your country of residence for a long time. The policy is able to provide the expat with medical assistance in any emergency situation, and therefore to give peace of mind. The second advantage is the opportunity to save a lot of money, because in many countries of the world, treatment is quite expensive.

Insurance agents offer many types of health insurance policies. How to choose the best of them? We have prepared a detailed guide that will answer all your questions about health insurance.

What is health insurance?

Medical insurance is an insurance policy that provides protection to travelers who plan to stay abroad for a long time. Most of them cover the following costs:

- aid;

- emergency medical evacuation;

- trip cancellation;

- trip interruption;

- other emergency situations that may occur during a stay abroad.

The term of the policy is different, it can be from several months to a year or even more.

What are the benefits of health insurance?

A health insurance policy has many advantages:

- peace of mind – a traveler who has taken out a medical insurance policy can travel without unnecessary worries, because he knows that he is insured in case of an emergency;

- cost savings – if a foreigner needs medical assistance, the trip is canceled or an emergency situation occurs during the trip, the traveler will be able to receive compensation for expenses;

Who needs to issue a health insurance policy?

Health insurance must be taken out by those who plan to stay abroad for a long time:

- foreign students;

- digital nomads;

- pensioners;

- businessmen for long foreign business trips.

What does a health insurance policy cover?

Most health insurance policies usually cover:

- medical assistance – outpatient treatment, inpatient treatment and medical evacuation;

- cancellation or interruption of the trip – compensation for expenses that you may incur if you cancel or interrupt your trip due to illness, personal or family circumstances;

- loss of luggage or personal belongings – coverage protects travelers' belongings in case of loss, theft or damage during the trip;

- personal responsibility – compensation for damage caused to another person or someone else's property.

Are you planning to move abroad? USA, Japan, Australia, South Africa - look for entry rules to any country in the world on the Visit World portal.

What should be considered when choosing a health insurance policy?

When choosing a health insurance policy, it is important to pay attention to the following factors:

- risks covered by the insurance – the policy should cover exactly your needs, for example, medical assistance, trip cancellation, personal liability, etc.;

- duration of coverage – choose a policy that will be valid throughout your stay abroad, and which can be easily extended even from another country;

- deductible - be sure to pay attention to the amount of the deductible - this is the amount that you will have to pay out of your own pocket in the event of an insurance event;

- exceptions – analyze the circumstances under which the policy does not apply;

- the reputation of the insurance company - choose only insurance agents who have been working on the market for a long time, have experience working with clients and respond quickly to claims.

What is important to remember when buying a health insurance policy?

Before buying health insurance, read the following useful tips:

1. Start looking for an insurance policy early, because you will need time to compare prices and study the components of the policy.

2. Compare policies – To find the best coverage for your needs and budget, compare policies from multiple insurance providers.

3. Expand your insurance - many insurance agents offer to supplement the basic policy with additional risks, such as extreme sports or insurance of valuable items.

4. Read the fine print - before buying a policy, be sure to familiarize yourself with each of its clauses. The fine print often indicates what is covered and possible policy limitations.

5. Ask questions - do not be afraid to ask the consultant everything that interests you and seems unclear.

6. Check your own cover – Check your insurance policies to see if they provide any cover for international travel.

Daria Rogova, Head of Insurance at Visit World

To move, travel or work safely in a new country, you will need health insurance. You can apply for an extended policy on our website here.