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Medicare and Medical Insurance If You Are Working Overseas

There’s plenty of space for concern when you’re planning to live and teach in a place you’ve never been to. Before embarking on an adventurous trip, you must brace for different risks involved along the way. It won’t matter if you forget your favorite clothes, but being without health insurance coverage while working overseas can be catastrophic.

Fortunately, there are several robust healthcare packages available to serve your specific needs. In some cases, your health care may already be provided by your employer. The best thing is that international health insurance is expected to be less than your domestic health coverage in the United States.

Is it necessary for me to buy international health and travel insurance?

  1. In case of Medical Emergencies

    This is perhaps the most important reason to buy health insurance, particularly in a nation like the United States, where healthcare is incredibly costly without it. In the event of a medical emergency, ambulance and medical care will cost well over $10,000 a day. Emergency evacuation, hospital cost restrictions, emergency dental work, and so on are the areas of coverage.

  2. If Your Trip Is Canceled

    If something pops up that you weren’t planning (and the trip is already on schedule), this policy will cover you with all of your bills (such as lack of revenue, transportation, or funeral costs in the case of a medical emergency, crash, or death). That may encourage you to purchase travel insurance when you buy your ticket. You may find your travel insurance doesn’t entirely protect your plans if you buy your insurance after your journey has already begun.  If you need to cancel pre-purchased insurance, you may experience “non-refundable,” “pre-booked costs,” etc.

  3. If You Have Lost Your Baggage & Personal Belongings

    Although personal belongings can be replaced, it is often the least significant reason people buy travel insurance. In reality, your situation may be mostly out of your hands when you get sick away from home. Insurance firms want you to take good care of your possessions because if you leave your camera in a hostel room or your car overnight and it is stolen, your claim can be rejected.

    Some of the travel insurance policies encourage you to protect your laptop, camera, and other valuables at higher coverage limits. Pay attention to the insurance policy limitations and scope as well as the list of coverage and exclusions, especially for high-value products, cash, and sporting goods.

  4. Your Personal liability

    Insurance for liabilities when driving a vehicle differs from international and travel insurance. Insurance companies can pay your liabilities and court costs when you are involved in an accident or unintentionally causing harm and are found responsible. Be mindful that not all travel insurance providers have this form of coverage.

  5. Duration of Trip or Early End of Trip

    Travel insurance typically expires the day you return, so you do not get a refund on the remaining part if you purchased a policy for twelve months and come home at four. There are some policies where you can continue your journey under the same policy; and others where you won’t be protected when you are on your back at home.

Region-wise Coverage For Health Insurance

If you are teaching ESL in Asia

To be precise, it depends on where you are heading and what school you’ll be teaching. Your health care coverage will be provided by your employer in most Asian nations, including China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, and Thailand. You will be expected to contribute $20 to $50 of your monthly salary to cover health benefits in some instances. You could be responsible for your own healthcare in smaller schools and less developed regions.

If you are teaching ESL in Europe

Employment permits and work visa restrictions are very strict in many European countries, including Spain and Italy. Due to this, many off-the-the-record English teachers would have to purchase their own health plans. If you have an employment visa to lawfully teach ESL in Europe, your health insurance should be included in your wages with a co-pay. The well-known government-run teaching assistantship services in France and Spain, on the other hand, would cover your health care.

If you are teaching ESL in Latin America

Often, in Latin America, if you teach English off-the-the-record (i.e., without a work permit), you must have your own health insurance. It is more likely that bigger entities in Chile or Mexico will offer health care to teachers who have valid job visas.

If you are teaching ESL in the Middle East

Finally, if you teach English in Middle Eastern countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, or Kuwait, your healthcare is completely taken care of. In less developed countries like Egypt and Morocco, though, you may have to purchase your own health insurance.

In general, always raise questions about your health care when teaching ESL abroad to your employing schools or work placement companies. If not insured, you will have to purchase your own to provide evidence of health care to obtain a visa and be accepted during your planned stay in that country. If your destination country has some requirements, your coverage must also satisfy their criteria. So now is the time to look at your choices!

Travel Insurance and International Health Insurance

What do you get when you buy Travel Insurance?

Travel insurance is intended for tourists who want to spend a brief amount of time in a foreign country. Your normal travel insurance policies include cancellations, lost/stolen/damaged baggage, or emergency medical costs. Long-term medical coverage is not covered by travel insurance, as it is limited to only a few conditions that should be properly read in the fine print before purchasing.

What do you get when you buy International Health Insurance?

This is the one you’ll need if you’re living and teaching ESL in another country! It is meant for ex-pats who will be staying in another country for an extended period of time. It deals with all aspects of healthcare such as emergency services and regular check-ups. 

Things you should know about travel insurance

  1. Insurers who can be trusted

The insurance provider must be supported by a consortium of high-quality, committed, reputable travel insurers who can provide you with friendly treatment, outstanding coverage, and 24/7 swift assistance and support.

  1. Coverage and cost-effectiveness

When you are overseas, you may want to explore the providers that serve most of the countries. Be worried no more, WorldNomads.com is a place where you can find peace of mind that covers adventure activities and also helps you make the most of your travels.

  1. Flexibility

Have your plans changed? You can purchase additional coverage when you are on the road. And if you’re already traveling, you can buy a policy.