REQUIREMENTS TO ENROLL FOR INTERNATIONAL INSURANCE
Whenever you’re traveling, you’ll feel more secure if you have international insurance. You never know what could happen. You might lose your luggage or encounter health problems and need immediate medical attention or even evacuation. Having an international health insurance policy with worldwide coverage is better than just having a travel policy.
Unlike with a travel policy, with your international insurance policy you will be covered anywhere in the world including your home country! Preventive care, maternity and pre-existing conditions are also generally covered after a waiting period with medical insurance for international travel, unlike travel insurance.
But before you make the most out of the benefits provided by international insurance providers, you have to meet the eligibility requirements that they have set. You may be of any age and of any nationality and of any status, but you must still comply with certain requirements.
Many medical insurance for international travel policies have restrictions on the amount of time spent in the United States by US citizens. Some policies require that if you are a US citizen, you must reside abroad or leave the United States on the effective date and live outside the US for about 6 months. For non-US citizens, most plans are less restrictive and do not require the 6 month stay outside the US.
You may be as young as 14 days or as old as 74 years. You can apply for international insurance with worldwide coverage. However, most international insurance providers do not allow those who are older than 74 years to apply for a new policy. People older than 74, could continue to be covered by the same policy if they have been covered continuously by the international insurance policy for several years before they turn 74.
The medical insurance for international travel policy that you opt for can also be available for your family. If you are married and have children, your family can be covered under the same international insurance plan. Some plans offer free coverage for children if both parents are covered under the same plan.
Children are typically covered from birth for illnesses provided the mother of the baby is covered by the insurance policy and qualifies for pregnancy coverage under the policy. Newborns are required to be included under their parents plan within 31 days of the date of birth.
International health insurance enrollment permits both individual and family coverage. Many plans offer benefits for family coverage. A few benefits like maternity coverage and preventive care may require a 12 month wait before becoming available to the enrollees.
