Any US citizen residing outside US would need an international medical insurance policy. An international health insurance policy is by far the most comprehensive policy as compared to any standard travel insurance policy, and also has equal number of benefits to any private health insurance policy. No private insurance policy would cover you outside US. This happens because such domestic insurance companies do not have networks out of US. Also, it is quite a tough task to predict the medical expenditures outside US, and hence makes it difficult for the companies to assess the monthly or yearly premiums from there. Furthermore, the claims made from outside the US may not be feasible to these domestic companies. Another reason is that an individual living outside US may not be eligible for the health insurance in that particular country. There are many countries that allow health insurance plans only to their own citizens or permanent residents of that country.

As against to the domestic health insurance policies, the international health insurance polices have no boundary constraints. There literally no geographical limits to where the policy could cover you. Many companies not only provide you cover outside US but also in US, unless you decide to return to US on a permanent basis. International health insurance policies would make lot of sense to individuals who travel the world on regular basis. For instance, you may travel for business, or your employer may send you overseas for an onsite project. In such cases, it is wise to keep yourself covered.

You can renew the international health insurance policies annually. This implies that you are covered for a year, and you can also not be denied for a cover on the expiry of the policy period. The interesting part is that although your premiums could increase at the end of the year, your coverage would remain the same even if you had made many claims in the previous year.

The foreign health insurance requires you to have a foreign residence. Also, you need to be residing at this residence to be eligible for the policy. You could certainly apply for the policy just before you reallocate to a foreign location. However, the policy would be active only once you have shifted.

It is not mandatory to be a resident of the country to apply for an international insurance policy there. You could apply for the policy from any country you desire. Majority of the companies provide the policies to the individuals belonging to any countries. However, the coverage amount, and the premiums amounts will vary from the company to company.

These international insurance policies provide all or more benefits that a domestic policy provides. Be it the doctor’s visits, emergency room visits, hospitalization, ambulance service, prescription drug coverage, and preventive health care and maternity benefits; it is all covered under the policy.

An international insurance policy may not be as important to you, if you are unlikely to move overseas. However, if you frequently move out of US, you must opt for one.