Specialist help comparing suitable options
Free, no-obligation service
Options from leading international insurers
Private medical cover for your life overseas
Living in another country can change how you access healthcare. International health insurance is designed to provide longer-term private medical cover for people who live or plan to live abroad, helping them access eligible treatment under the terms of their policy.
Whether you are moving overseas for work, already settled abroad, retiring to another country or living a more internationally mobile life, choosing cover can feel complicated. Insurers may offer different geographical areas, treatment networks, excesses, limits and optional benefits. The right combination depends on where you live, who needs cover and what matters most to you.
Best Expats Cover makes that process easier. Tell us about your circumstances and we will connect you with a specialist in expat medical insurance. They can discuss your requirements, consider policies from insurers they work with and help you explore suitable options.
Our service is free to use and there is no obligation to purchase a policy.
A simpler way to explore suitable cover
International medical insurance is not one-size-fits-all. A policy that suits a family settling permanently in one country may look very different from cover for someone who travels regularly for work or wants the option of treatment in more than one location.
Rather than trying to work through the differences alone, you can explain what you need to an expat health insurance specialist. They can consider factors such as your country of residence, preferred geographical area of cover, healthcare priorities, excess and budget, then compare suitable policies available through the insurers they work with.
Depending on your circumstances and the policies available, the specialist may discuss different levels of cover or optional benefits with you. This gives you the opportunity to understand the choices before deciding whether you want to proceed.
100,000+
expats helped every year
10+ years
helping people explore cover
Who is expat health insurance for?
Expat health insurance may be relevant if you are planning to live outside your home country for an extended period or already live overseas and want access to private medical treatment. Our service can help people at different stages of life abroad, including:
Individuals moving overseas or already living abroad
Couples and families who want private medical cover
People relocating internationally for work
Retirees planning a long-term move overseas
Digital nomads and internationally mobile individuals
Existing policyholders considering alternative international cover
The main policyholder must be aged 18 or over. Policy availability and acceptance depend on factors such as age, location, medical history and the insurer's terms.
What can international medical insurance cover?
Cover varies by insurer and policy. Depending on the option selected, international health insurance may provide cover for some of the following:
Inpatient treatment, including eligible hospital stays and surgery
Outpatient appointments and treatment
Specialist consultations
Diagnostic tests and scans
Cancer treatment and care
Mental health treatment
Maternity care
Dental and optical benefits
Medical evacuation or repatriation
Eligible treatment in more than one country or in your home country
Not every benefit is included automatically. Some may be optional, subject to limits, waiting periods or exclusions, or unavailable in particular locations. A specialist can explain the options relevant to your circumstances, but you should always check the policy documentation carefully before purchasing.
Cover shaped around where and how you live
International cover does not always mean unrestricted treatment everywhere in the world. Policies commonly define a geographical area of cover, and the countries included can affect both availability and cost.
You may want cover primarily in your country of residence, across a wider region or in several countries if you travel regularly. Some policies may also provide eligible treatment in your home country, while cover in higher-cost locations may require a particular option or may not be available at all.
It is also worth considering how treatment is accessed. Insurers can use different hospital networks, pre-authorisation rules and claims processes. Discussing where you expect to receive care can help the specialist focus on suitable options rather than simply comparing headline prices.
How our service works
Tell us about you
Complete the short enquiry form with details such as where you will live and who needs cover.
Talk to a specialist
A specialist from a partner broker will usually contact you within 24 hours to discuss your needs.
Explore suitable options
The specialist can compare relevant policies from insurers they work with and explain the options available to you.
Using the service does not commit you to buying insurance. You can consider the information and decide whether any of the options discussed are right for you.
Why people use Best Expats Cover
Over 100,000 expats helped every year
Giving people a clearer route towards health cover for life abroad.
More than 10 years' experience
Helping people connect with specialists who understand international medical insurance.
Human specialist support
Your requirements are discussed with a person who can do the comparison work for you.
Leading international insurers
Partner brokers work with recognised providers, with availability varying by territory and applicant.
Free and no obligation
There is no charge for using our service and no requirement to buy a policy.
Prompt contact
After submitting your details, you will usually hear from a specialist within 24 hours.
Our service is free to you; our specialist partners pay us a marketing fee when we refer enquiries to them.
Request My QuotePolicies from leading international insurers
Our specialist broker partners work with leading international health insurers. Depending on your location and circumstances, these may include the providers listed below. Insurer and policy availability varies by country, age, health information and other eligibility criteria.
What to consider when choosing international health insurance
Price matters, but it is only one part of choosing cover. A lower premium may come with a higher excess, narrower geographical area or fewer outpatient benefits. Before purchasing, consider:
Where you need to be covered and where you expect to receive treatment
Whether you want inpatient-only cover or outpatient benefits as well
The excess or cost-sharing you would be comfortable paying
Hospital and medical-provider networks
Limits, exclusions and waiting periods
How pre-existing conditions are treated
Optional benefits such as dental, maternity or evacuation cover
Whether the policy remains suitable if your circumstances or location change
A specialist can help you work through these considerations and identify available policies that reflect your stated requirements. The final decision remains yours, so review the policy terms, exclusions and costs carefully.
Find health cover for your life abroad
Tell us where you will be living and who needs cover. We will connect you with an expat health insurance specialist who can discuss your requirements and compare suitable options from leading international insurers.
It is free to use, there is no obligation to purchase, and you will usually be contacted within 24 hours.
Request My QuoteFrequently asked questions
What is international health insurance?
Is expat health insurance the same as travel insurance?
Can I apply before moving overseas?
Can I include my partner or family?
Can I use the service if I already have international health insurance?
Does every policy provide worldwide cover?
Are pre-existing medical conditions covered?
How much does expat health insurance cost?
How does your comparison service work?
Is the service free?
What happens after I submit my details?
Comprehensive expat health cover from leading providers
Expat policies that ensure treatment at the best private hospitals
Affordable cover for yourself and your family
Free, no obligation quotes