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Moving abroad is much more than just a change in lifestyle; it’s an upheaval of the comfort zone and safety net that grows around citizens the longer they live in their home country. As you begin to make the transition to your new life abroad, it’s important to take some temporary steps that will keep you safe in case of an emergency.
For all intents and purposes, the second a US citizen leaves the jurisdiction of the United States, they are no longer covered in an emergency. Travel insurance is an absolute necessity as you move from your old home to your new home. The sizable gap in uncertainty as you travel is widened by the fact that very few traditional domestic insurance companies provide health insurance internationally. There is also the possibility of encountering instances of burglary or theft that may cripple your travel plans.
In order to close the gap between your home country’s health insurance and the new health insurance you can get after receiving your visa or residency, we at Expat Empire recommend signing up for travel insurance before leaving your home country. SafetyWing provides travel insurance for long-term nomads and remote workers and is a great choice for those intending to be on the road for a while. For those traveling or planning for the short term, we recommend travel insurance from Insured Nomads to make sure you’re insured wherever you travel. The last thing you need during your move is to have to pay out of pocket for a debilitating emergency.
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Long-Term Insurance Plans: Satisfying Requirements for Visas and Residency
If you plan to live in another country long-term, purchasing an insurance plan before moving is important for many reasons. First and foremost, nearly every country requires some form of health insurance in order to apply for a long-stay work or student visa or a residency permit. Some countries require health insurance to even cross the border. If your goal is to stay in another country for the long term, then you will likely need to be enrolled in a health insurance plan to be able to apply for your visa.
Keep in mind that finding the cheapest travel insurance in a quick online search isn’t guaranteed to satisfy the requirements of your destination country. Many countries, including those in the European Union, have a minimum insurance coverage requirement. There must also be insurance for the duration of your transition period, which may take several months. Some countries also restrict access to their public healthcare systems only to citizens, requiring all non-citizens living in the country to maintain private healthcare plans until receiving citizenship.
Next, even if your intention is to use your new country’s comprehensive state-run health insurance system instead of paying for a private health insurance plan, you’ll usually need a social security number from the government in order to get coverage. As you may have guessed, this social security number is typically only provided to foreigners after they receive their residency permits. Therefore, it’s likely that you’ll have to wait many months to register for the local public healthcare system, so it is smart to have a separate insurance plan covering you during that time.
If you are ready to purchase long-term insurance that covers you as a remote worker or nomad, we recommend SafetyWing. They offer two main plans that match the insurance needs of two different international lifestyles: Nomad Insurance for travel medical coverage and Remote Health for global health insurance for remote workers and nomads.
The Nomad Insurance package covers all travel outside of the United States starting at $40 per month for those under 40 years old and comes with a $250 deductible. This includes $250,000 coverage, which easily satisfies the €30,000 requirement for applying for visas in the European Union. While Nomad Insurance covers medical emergencies, the Remote Health package offers full, comprehensive health coverage including certain pre-existing conditions and cancer treatments with a $250 deductible and an annual maximum limit of $1,000,000. This starts at $153 per month for the same age group. The prices are current as of May 2021.
Even better, both of SafetyWing’s insurance plans cover all COVID-19-related expenses, so you can pursue your travel passions with a greater sense of security and peace of mind. No matter what happens between your home country and your visa or residency, you’ll be covered.
Short-Term Health Insurance Plans: Leisure Travel & Digital Nomad Lifestyles
Regardless of the length of your travel, sometimes things are bound to happen and you don’t want to be stuck footing the bill. Whether you’re traveling for a few weeks or a few months or a few years, having reliable travel insurance could be the difference between a simple hospital visit and some serious financial consequences. You can’t predict the different emergencies that may affect your travel as you have fun and live it up on the other side of the world.
If you’re looking for a travel insurance-focused alternative, check out Insured Nomads. They are a company providing travel insurance for travelers and nomads around the world. They offer three plans that offer differing levels of coverage, deductibles, benefits, and more. Their coverage is sure to get you out of a pinch in any corner of the world!
Transferring Your Medical Care & Pre-Existing Conditions
You don’t need to be tied down to your home country if you require regular medical care or have a pre-existing condition. Those with pre-existing conditions can attest that many insurance companies will discourage or outright refuse to cover them in any travel around the world. It’s even more difficult and near impossible to persuade insurance companies to transfer medical care abroad. Nevertheless, we still recommend asking your home insurance company about their international coverage before talking to someone else; you might be missing out on some benefits you didn’t know you had.
If you are looking for more comprehensive global health insurance coverage, you may also want to check out Cigna’s international health insurance plans. With 24/7 access to English language service centers, a global network of 1.65 million hospitals and healthcare professionals, and access to medical support in over 200 countries and territories, Cigna will have your back if you run into any health issues abroad. They can provide you with a quote in two minutes, so be sure to take the time to compare your options!
Start Your Expat Journey
Whether you are looking to move abroad or just country hop for a while, Expat Empire is here to assist you with those big questions. Take a look at our consulting services and Expat Tools to see which of them will take you to the next step in your journey abroad!
