International Private Medical Insurance

International Private Medical insurance [ IPMI ] is primarily designed for people living outside of their home country for an extended period or for example on a placement, secondment or contract and can be extended to any family members that may relocate with them.

Cover can be tailored, allowing individuals or organisations to create a plan that best suits their needs. IPMI plans can include cover for day-to-day medical expenses e.g. visits to the doctor, as well as planned surgery, emergency treatment, maternity cover, outpatient care and dental. Plans can also include cover for chronic and congenital conditions and a wide range of pre-existing conditions, often without any additional exclusions or additional cost. 

The provision of IPMI can form part of an attractive recruitment and retention proposition for organisations with employees, contractors or volunteers and their families overseas.

Often Life assurance, sometimes through Death in Service benefits, and Travel insurance may also be purchased by an organisation – and it is important to understand how they dovetail in order to avoid any cover gaps or unnecessary duplication of cover and therefore cost. Travel insurance for example provides emergency medical cover only and individuals are usually not eligible for the product if their in country residence is classed as permanent. Insurers apply different interpretations to what “permanent” means so it is advisable to check.        

Getting into the Detail

IPMI plans can be arranged in a number of different ways, all of which will have an impact on the cost and the cover available:

• Moratorium – generally pre-existing medical conditions known up to five years prior to inception will be excluded and then, after a period of two continuous treatment and symptom free years, an individual would be able to claim for treatment for these conditions
• Full medical underwriting – applicants will be asked to provide details about their health and the information will be used by insurers to decide whether or not cover can be included for any past diagnosis or medical condition
• Continued personal medical exclusions – can be offered to those that are transferring from other PMI programmes and where current underwriting terms are followed
• Medical history disregarded – most pre-existing conditions can be covered subject to the approval of a group declaration (usually available for groups of more than 10 people).

Many IPMI policies also provide additional benefits such as screened blood service, doctor and medical facilities information that can be invaluable to personnel living abroad.

Purchasing International Private Medical Insurance

IPMI can be designed and purchased from providers in the UK, where plans are subject to UK law and regulation and often easier to understand.
If you purchase cover from an overseas provider, there are some pitfalls to look out for when purchasing private medical cover. Whilst the premiums may be cheaper in a local market, you may find that the benefit levels are much lower potentially resulting in insufficient cover and there may be restrictions on the medical facilities that can be used. Sometimes the cover can’t be used outside the selected country and inflation can impact both cover levels and future premiums. You may also find the complaints and compensation structures are not as customer focussed as the UK.

Where aid, charity and mission personnel do take a portable global International Private Medical Policy it allows employee, contractors, volunteers and their families from the UK to ensure they also have full cover in place should they be declined primary and secondary care on the NHS when they return to the UK under the government’s new Ordinary Residency rules.

Is Your Organisation Considering Sourcing International Private Medical Insurance?

Organisations have differing needs, so if you would like to discuss how IPMI can work for your organisations then please don’t hesitate to call Banner.
For over two decades Banner has been looking after the international medical needs of customers by bringing together a range of high quality insurance solutions and personal service.

If you would like some more information or would
like to talk through some scenarios please get in touch.