Topic · 41 guides

Health & insurance abroad.

Health systems, international health insurance, emergencies and everything that keeps you and your family covered while you live abroad.

5sub-topics

41guides

20countries

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The three questions almost everyone asks first.

01International health insurance (IPMI)

All sub-topics

5 sub-topics, 41 guides — each answers one question, starting with the short answer.

International health insurance (IPMI)

15 guides

Do I need international health insurance if I move abroad?Full guideIn most cases, yes.What is the difference between travel insurance and international health insurance?What does "worldwide excluding USA" mean?Can I keep my German public health insurance when I leave?What is an Anwartschaft and when do I need one?Full guideAn Anwartschaft (Anwartschaftsversicherung) puts a German health insurance contract on hold: you pay a reduced contribution, receive no benefits, and keep the right to return to your insurer or tariff later.How are pre-existing conditions handled by international insurers?Do I need international health insurance in Spain?Full guideIt depends on how you live in Spain.Do I need international health insurance in Thailand?Full guideThailand has no single rule requiring every foreign resident to be insured, but several long-stay visas do.Do I need international health insurance in the UAE?Full guideYou need health insurance, but not necessarily an international policy.9 more questions

Public health systems by country

5 guides

Can I use the public health system as a foreigner?Do I need private cover alongside the public system?How do I register with a doctor abroad?What is the quality of public hospitals in [country]?How does social health insurance work for expats in [country]?

Health insurance for specific situations

10 guides

Health insurance for stays up to 5 years Health insurance for stays longer than 5 years Health insurance for emigrants (Auswanderer)Health insurance for foreign nationals in Germany Health insurance for international students Health insurance for short stays 4 more questions

Further insurance for life abroad

6 guides

Do I need liability insurance (Haftpflicht) abroad?International accident insurance: who needs it?Legal expenses insurance (Rechtsschutz) for expats Unemployment insurance for the self-employed abroad Supplementary hospital cost insurance (Restkostenversicherung)Sick pay insurance (Krankentagegeld) for the self-employed

Emergencies and assistance

5 guides

What to do in a medical emergency abroad Does my insurance cover emergency evacuation?How do I find a hospital that accepts my insurance?What is direct billing and which hospitals offer it?24h emergency hotlines: what to know before you need one

Health & insurance by country

Country-specific guides for 20 countries — same structure everywhere.

All 30 countries

PTPortugal ESSpain AEUAE CYCyprus MTMalta THThailand IDIndonesia MXMexico DEGermany CHSwitzerland FRFrance NLNetherlands GBUK GRGreece ITItaly USUSA CACanada AUAustralia SGSingapore JPJapan

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Health & insurance abroad.

Start here

Do I need international health insurance if I move abroad?

Can I use the public health system as a foreigner?

Health insurance for stays up to 5 years