Eligibility Requirements of International Insurance Plan

By Ray Sondeo

For people planning any travel, especially outside the home country, it is an absolute must to be covered by an international insurance package for a safe and secure trip. Any travel involves risks like stolen baggage, health complications and emergency scenarios demanding immediate evacuation. An international insurance policy is the answer to all these possible nightmares during a trip.

International insurance policy not only covers you in your home country but across many countries of the world. Unlike travel insurance policy, health insurance for international travel covers maternity, preventive care and also pre-existing conditions after a pre determined waiting period.

But before you make the most out of the benefits provided by international insurance health providers, you have to meet the eligibility requirements that they have set. You may be of any age and of any nationality and of any status, but you must still comply with certain requirements.

For example, many of the international insurance policies place restrictions on the duration spent by the US citizens in their home country. Some of the policies state that US citizens must reside outside their native country or leave the United States on a particular date and live abroad for a period of at least 6 months. However, these restrictions are relaxed in the case of non US citizens.

You may be as young as 14 days or as old as 74 years. You can apply for international health insurance with worldwide coverage. However, most international insurance providers do not allow those who are older than 74 years to apply for a new policy. People older than 74, could continue to be covered by the same policy if they have been covered continuously by the international insurance policy for several years before they turn 74.

You can cover your entire family under a single medical insurance for international travel policy plan. It works out beneficial for you if you cover your spouse and kids under the same plan as some of the international health insurance providers offer free coverage for the children if both the parents opt for the same insurance plan.

In the case of newborn babies, if the mother is covered by insurance and also has opted for pregnancy coverage, the babies are also covered for any illness right from their birth. But you need to include the newborn under the insurance plan of the parents within 31 days of birth.

International Health Insurance enrollment permits both individual and family coverage. Many plans offer incentives for family coverage. A few benefits like maternity coverage and preventive care may require a 12 month wait before becoming available to the enrollees. - 23211

About the Author:

Ray Sondeo often writes about international insurance.