Not having health insurance abroad exposes you to medical and administrative risks. And these can lead to financial problems sooner or later. Keep in mind that social security medical assistance if you are outside your country is very limited or non-existent.
Here you will see the risks of not having health insurance abroad and what you should look at to choose the one that suits you best.
Going abroad without health insurance means going unprotected
There is no medical assistance abroad by Social Security
One of the main reasons for taking out medical insurance abroad is that Social Security does not cover healthcare expenses outside your country, except for posted workers.
For short stays abroad, refunds are not mandatory or automatic: they must be justified and are very rare. As for repatriation, it is never covered.
After three months outside the country of origin, the insured usually lose their Social Security affiliation.
Without health insurance abroad, the patient must pay all expenses, as well as administrative procedures.
Medical insurance abroad covers you against all kinds of risks
Unexpected health problems are not the only reason to take out health insurance abroad: an accident that causes damage to a third party, the cancellation of a flight, the loss of luggage or a lawsuit are more frequent risks than what you think.
Therefore, it is more prudent to cover yourself to avoid administrative concerns or associated expenses.
Some countries require health insurance abroad
In some countries, having insurance may be mandatory to obtain a visa, and in the case of expatriation, affiliation to the local health insurance scheme may be mandatory. Therefore, it is necessary to inform yourself about these obligations.
However, subscribing or adhering to a local insurance plan is rarely enough, as guarantees can be limited and only work in the country of stay. Therefore, it is advisable to take out medical insurance abroad with international coverage.
Medical insurance abroad “from the first euro”
This type of insurance abroad is offered by some private companies.
Health insurance abroad with full coverage
Unlike complementary policies, the so-called “insurance from the first euro” (or “first dollar”) covers healthcare expenses from the first euro spent. Therefore, it is not necessary for them to join any Social Security system.
The levels of coverage are defined in the contract and are adapted to the country of residence and the cost of on-site assistance.
Healthcare insurance abroad designed for expats
These insurances are specifically designed to meet the needs of expats. Thus, the contacts are from your country of origin and are used to answering questions from Spanish speakers living abroad.
In addition, they include repatriation insurance and cover medical assistance provided during stays in your country.
Experience abroad
Generally, companies that market health insurance abroad “from the first euro” partner with local professional networks.
Thus, policyholders benefit from advantageous rates, reduced repayment terms and even the waiver of advance payments in the event of hospitalization.
Finally, the relationship between the amount of the contributions and the guarantees is, in general, more interesting than in other cases.
Health insurance management abroad simplified
The 1 euro (or 1 dollar) contracts are often recommended for their flexibility and good value for money.
Designed by international insurance specialists, overseas health insurance policies respond to the specific needs of expatriates. The management of the contracts is simple and is carried out in Spanish.
Companies offer interesting services such as:
- Assistance in Spanish accessible from anywhere in the world
- Associations with local health networks
- Mobile applications that offer useful tools, such as medical translators or health professional directories.
Health insurance abroad for all budgets
The 1 euro contracts cover health expenses from the first euro produced.
They follow policyholders around the world, including in the country of origin, and are available in a wide variety of plans to suit all needs, budgets and length of stay.
Special guarantees can be added to health care insurance abroad to enhance protection. Of course, the more extensive the coverage, the more expensive it will be, but the competition allows you to benefit from advantageous rates.
However, be careful, since taking out this type of policy is subject to a medical questionnaire which, in the case of pre-existing conditions, can lead to higher premiums or exclusion from coverage.