Options for Reducing Premium:

It is possible to reduce your annual premiums by limiting your area of coverage, and / or having deductible / excess. Let us know what you want and we will help you find the best options accordingly; to get you covered – One World Cover’ed!

Geographical Coverage

There are a numerous "areas of coverage" offered by the insurers, however these are the two main types purchased by expatriates.

Worldwide including North America (higher premium), let’s you choose to visit any hospital, doctor or clinic anywhere in the world for treatment.

Due to the high cost of treatment in North America, premiums are higher if you select this option.

Worldwide excluding North America (Lower Premium), lets you choose anywhere in the World excluding North American facilities.

Which should you select? Both options are available to North American and Non-North American citizens, and most members select coverage according to where the live and travel. For clients NOT needing elective coverage in North America, most plans purchased are the lower priced Worldwide excluding North America.

Note that some plans that do not cover North America for elective treatment will still cover you for emergency or unscheduled treatment for a short periods such as a business trip or vacation. Let us know if you require short term or long term cover to North America when you contact us and we will advise accordingly.

Deductibles or Excesses

Using a form of deductible allows you to reduce premium costs by "sharing" part of the risk. Each insurer generally offers just one of the below forms of deductibles.

If you would like one of these options please advise us your preference, so we can select the right insurer for you.

Discounts offered usually range between 5% to 40% of premium according to the risk share.

"Deductible" (per Year), commonly offered by US-insurers, where all “eligible medical expenses” are added together throughout the policy year and after the "deductible" is reached all further “eligible medical expenses” are paid in full.

For example, if the annual deducible is USD300, the member will pay the first USD 300 of “eligible medical expenses”, then all further “eligible medical expenses” incurred during the year thereafter are paid in full by the insurer.

Excess" (per Condition), commonly offered by European insurers, where the "excess" is applied once for treatment of a condition (once per condition, not per visit) for “eligible medical expenses”.

For example, a USD50 "excess" will be applied to a course of treatment for the flu. If the “eligible medical expenses” total bill is USD110, the member will pay USD 50, and the insurer covers USD60.

Furthermore, if the same condition requires 3 visits and the total bill for “eligible medical expenses” is USD330, the member pays USD 50, and the insurer will cover USD280.

Co-pay Percentage (share % of each expense), commonly seen in "corporate group" programs where the member pays a % of the “covered medical expenses”.

For example, if the co-pay is 20%, and the “covered medical expense” is USD100, the member will pay USD 20, and the insurer will cover USD80.

*Note “eligible medical expenses” refers to conditions covered by your insurance policy.

Back to “Cover Us” Tab according to which cover they are looking for (Ind, Corp, schl, teacher)

Typical features of an international medical insurance plan

Emergency evacuation

Typically covers costs of evacuation, ambulance or “medivac” transportation of the policy holder to the nearest medical centre where adequate facilities are available.

Also covered by most insurance companies is the cost of travel, accommodation and return airfare expenses for a family member or close companion of the policy holder to the place of treatment, and the return journey to country of residence for the evacuee after treatment.

Hospitalization (inpatient)

Typically included in all levels of international medical insurance plans.

Typically covers:

1. Ambulance fees (usually to the hospital and/or surgeon of your choice)
2. Hospital accommodation (private room), intensive care and operating theatre costs
3. Prescribed medicines, drugs, nursing, medical expenses and ancillary charges
4. Surgeons', consultants', anesthetists' and/or medical practitioners' fees
5. Diagnostic tests and procedures, X-rays, pathology, MRI, PET and CT scans
6. Oncology tests, drugs and consultants' fees for chemotherapy and radiotherapy
7. Reconstructive surgery, prostheses, and/or physiotherapy
8. Accommodation for one parent to accompany a child receiving in-patient hospital care
9. Dental repair for accidental damage to natural teeth

Clinic visits (out-patient)

Typically included in mid-level international medical insurance plans.

Typically covers

1. Consultations and treatment including medical practitioners' and specialists' fees (usually at the hospital and/or medical clinic of your choice)
2. Prescribed medicines, drugs and dressings
3. Diagnostic tests and procedures, X-rays, pathology, MRI, PET and CT scans
4. Oncology tests, drugs and consultants' fees for chemotherapy and radiotherapy
5. Out-patient surgical operations
6. Post-hospitalization treatment
7. Some plans also include physiotherapy, osteopathic, chiropractic, homeopathic, acupuncture, traditional Chinese herbal medicine, and/or psychiatric treatment

Maternity (child birth)

Typically included in mid to high level international medical insurance plans, or as an optional add-on / upgrade.

Typically not active until the second “maternity insured year”. Therefore the waiting period for conception typically means conception should take place three to 12 months after the medical plan (that includes maternity cover) starts. In this case we recommend waiting until after the first 12 months cover, as then the full maternity benefits are actively available.

Maternity coverage typically includes:

1. Normal pregnancy and childbirth comprising normal pre-natal treatments and examinations, normal childbirth, normal post-natal treatments and examination
2. Treatment of complications of pregnancy that may arise during childbirth
3. Some plans also cover congenital abnormalities.

Dental

Typically included in mid to high level international medical insurance plans, or as an optional add-on / upgrade

1. Dental Emergency typically covers costs of emergency and/or hospitalization for the repair of teeth damaged after an accident.
2. Dental Routine Treatment typically covers treatment for the restoration of natural teeth including x-rays, fillings, extractions, root-canal treatment, gum treatment. Sometimes the cost of cover polishing and scaling is also covered.

Concierge Services

Typically included in high level international medical insurance plans only

Some of the leading insurance companies (typically the most expensive plans) offer a concierge "case management" service for clients when needed, such as in emergency or hospitalization situations. Although most insurers provide a reasonable level of case management, the "concierge services" are certainly appreciated for those who don't mind paying an extra premium.