Travel Insurance or International Medical Insurance: Which one do I need?

Are you going on vacation? Are you starting a new job in a foreign country? Maybe going to college abroad? Or perhaps backpacking around Europe? Moving with your whole family to another continent?

Even though all these scenarios have one thing in common- moving from one place to the other- when it comes to health insurance, they require different plans. We know that looking for, and choosing the best health insurance plan for your trip can be a bit confusing. Therefore, we have prepared this article so that you know why, how, and where to find the best insurance for a safe trip. 

Length of Stay ⌛

The first thing that differentiates a travel insurance from an international health insurance is the amount of time that you are planning on staying abroad. Generally, travel insurance plans are for short stays, vacations or a specific trip which will last a couple of weeks or days.

On the other hand, international health insurance plans are designed to be used for longer periods of time. It’s not a one time service, for one specific trip, coverage is permanent and it’s usually hired when an individual wishes to stay a couple months or years out of their home country.

Types of Coverage 🩺

The main difference between travel insurance and international health insurance is the type of coverage that each of them offer.

Travel insurances cover, as its name suggests, events related to your trip, for example:

• Theft or loss of baggage or important documents.
• Any issues with your flights, such as delays or cancellations.
• Emergency health related costs.
• Legal assistance and repatriation.

Meanwhile, international health insurances focus on providing a much more robust and comprehensive health care plan. Their mission is to cover your daily medical needs, just as if you were in your home country.

There are basic plans which cover hospitalizations in case of serious illness or injuries. Then there are medium plans which cover hospital and outpatient care, and finally full plans which include all the above plus ophthalmology and dental health.

In some cases, these insurance plans may also include coverage for transplants, maternity, transfer services, accidents that occur during high- risk sports, hospital accommodation, medical devices such as external prostheses, orthotic devices and implants, alternative treatments, among others.

Geographic Location 🌎

Another characteristic of international health insurances is that they can be used both in your home country and abroad. However, travel insurance can only be used during your trip.

Some people, even without moving to another country, use these insurance plans to get treatments in some of the best health centers in the world like John Hopkins Hospital or the Mayo Clinic. Some people also find better coverage and costs than the health insurance offer they have in their own country.

So..

If you are taking a short trip for work or vacation, most likely the best option for you is to get a travel insurance plan.

However, is you are going to study or work permanently abroad, or for an extended period of time, if you are moving with your family to another country, or even if insurance plans in your country are not great and you want the option of getting treated at the best health centers in the world, the best thing you can do is hire an international health insurance. 

Where can I find good insurance?

It's your lucky day! At International Health we bring together the full range of international medical insurance and travel insurance so that you can easily find the option that best suits your needs and budget. Just enter our price comparison tool, fill in your data, and our algorithm will rank the best alternatives for you, and show you the values ​​and coverage of each one 100% online.

Why should I hire Health Insurance at InternationalHealth.com?

☑️ You can find and hire the best alternative for you and your family.

☑️ It is completely free. You will find the same value as hiring it directly with the company, but adding all the IH after-sales service.

☑️ We work with all insurers. You will have the best alternatives to quote and compare.