It is a well-known fact that healthcare systems vary across the world. It’s a good idea for a traveler going abroad to know how international health insurance works at the destination. This information is especially useful for short-term visitors who plan to reside at the destination for more than a month.
For a vacationer, international medical costs will, in most cases, be paid by the plan holder and later reimbursed. However, checking how reimbursement works before leaving on the trip will save later trouble. Some countries work with an exclusive private system, but most countries have some partnership with the government.
The U.S. healthcare system is mostly private-apart from two programs-Medicare and Medicaid. If you are visiting the United States, you must purchase international health insurance. The country’s healthcare system is a matter of passionate debate, because 16% of the GDP is spent on healthcare, and people feel the system is inadequate.
In the United Kingdom, however, 89% of the population depends entirely on public insurance, which usually excludes eye and dental treatment. Some purchase additional private coverage for expanded coverage. If you are an international visitor to the United Kingdom, you must purchase international health insurance prior to landing.
France follows a social health insurance system, which covers all residents, whose paychecks are automatically charged. Supplemental private health insurance is common. Public hospitals are managed by a government agency. Visitors to France may require a Schengen visa and the international travel health insurance purchased should meet visa requirements.
Singapore’s healthcare system has come in for much praise. The country spends a mere 3.8% of its GDP on healthcare and has adopted a dual system, where government and private healthcare compete with each other. While primary healthcare is mostly taken care of by the private sector (80%) in-patient care is taken care of by public hospitals (80%). Travelers to Singapore must read the terms carefully before seeking care under international travel health insurance.
Many other countries may have systems similar to, or in-between, the systems mentioned above. International travel health insurance and knowledge of coverage are a must for international travel. In India, healthcare is free for everyone at public hospitals, but the quality of care is questionable.
For coverage abroad, there are a range of short-term and long-term international health insurance plans, underwritten by renowned companies such as Lloyd’s, Nationwide, and AIG.
