When you boil it down, international private health insurance is a policy that will help to take care of your health, should anything go wrong, when you are spending large amounts of time abroad.
In the UK we are used to the safety net of the NHS covering us for most medical problems for free. This is not the same the world over. The cost for medical attention & treatment can be very expensive in other countries. The quality of the care can as be largely varied. International private health insurance takes away the financial worry of medical expenses, giving you peace of mind when you are away from home.
What about travel insurance, aren’t they the same?
Travel insurance is a basic form of cover people take out when they go on holiday. This will cover you for any emergency medical expenses, for example if you had a car crash. Any further treatment or care afterwards is not covered. Also, most people, after an accident while on holiday will want to get home as soon as possible.
When you work or live abroad, you are much more likely to require medical expertise more often, even for day to day well being. This is where international private health insurance is different. It is a much more complete package that allows you to be covered for most things.
Whether it be from a routine GP check up or something more serious, you will need health insurance to cover the costs. You will be covered for most types of treatment, such as prescriptions and vaccinations as well as out patient appointments and long hospital stays. If the need arises, you can also be evacuated to your home country or the nearest safe country (as long as you have this as part of your policy).