Individual clients and families as well as private client advisors worldwide trust our professional advice in private international health insurance. In this field, our expertise and experience are second to none.
International health insurance makes sense - not just for expatriates
Some two thirds of all expatriates with private health insurance are covered by a company or group insurance policy arranged by their employer. Those not eligible for this benefit or who prefer to make their own arrangements may take out an individual international health policy.
Even if you have no intention of moving abroad, and even if you believe you have sufficient financial means to cover medical expenses yourself, you would do well to choose a private international health insurance policy.
The public health service of many countries is inadequate, in many cases offering only basic services with no free choice of doctor worldwide. Many hospitals do not accept patients without a private health insurance policy. In a medical emergency, the right decisions and immediate assistance can be critical and can often only be provided by a properly staffed 24-hour service centre of an international health insurance provider. Comprehensive cover is therefore strongly recommended and can often be better assured by an international health plan than by local health insurance.
Insurance cover independent of your country of residence
In many countries, health insurance cover is restricted to local residents. This is normally lost when they move abroad. They are left with a choice of finding another local insurer in their new country of residence or of turning to an international health insurer.
While good local health insurance is available in many countries, it can be difficult to find a policy that permits a truly unrestricted choice of doctors and hospitals worldwide. An international insurance policy that provides such cover irrespective of the period of stay in the respective country naturally tends to be more expensive than local insurance.
Nevertheless, experience shows that the (often only slightly) higher cost of an international policy is more than balanced by its many advantages.
Wherever your life may take you only with good health insurance can you ensure that all your expenses are paid and you receive the best treatment in the event of illness and an accident – anytime, anywhere.
Take out private health insurance as early in life as possible
Anyone over the age of 60 or who has health problems may find it difficult to find new health insurance cover. So it is already advisable to think about an international insurance policy at an early age before the first signs of age-related health problems begin to appear.
How do I select the right insurance plan?
There are many health plans to choose from whose benefits and prices vary widely. Policies differ in their cover of standard services and not only of optional extras. Thus some providers include cover for transplants and chronic illnesses, whereas others exclude them. Some have excellent medical emergency assistance services, others do not. This makes it relatively difficult to compare the various insurance plans available internationally.
We spend a lot of time continuously monitoring the market of high-quality international health insurance to gain an overview of all key features, benefits, exclusions, options and premiums.
Comparisons are often limited to current payments and neglect the higher cost of premiums in higher age categories. Many insurers charge tiered premiums based on bands of five years and their premiums rise significantly with increasing age. These extra costs are usually justified by pointing out that the need for medical care becomes more likely with increasing age. Only a few insurers offer more balanced premium curves. The consultants at Swiss Insurance Partners keep a watchful eye on this complex situation.
The provider is no less important than the policy
If you need long-term cover, you should not look only at the benefits and premiums but also at the company itself. There are many insurance products on the market and many of them are attractively priced. However, it is advisable to check out the actual performance of the company as well as to consider what the situation might look like in ten years time – whether the health plan, or even the company itself, is still likely to be around.
Read the article about the Benefits of Private International Health Insurance authored by Swiss Insurance Partners for Newsweek.
Why use a consultant or broker?
Almost all health insurers operate through consultants and brokers who give advice and information to those seeking insurance. In return, the brokers receive a commission for each concluded contract. However, the premium is exactly the same if the policy is purchased directly from the provider, as there is no reduction for direct clients. So it makes a lot of sense to conclude the policy via a broker, provided he is independent, has the necessary expertise and experience in the insurance business and is not bound to a single insurer but can offer products from various providers. Independent insurance consultants also have experience in identifying potential problems because they constantly monitor the health insurance market worldwide and compare the premiums and services on offer.
What advantages do Swiss Insurance Partners offer?
We offer health insurance policies with worldwide cover from the leading and longest established health insurance companies. They provide comprehensive cover and a free choice of doctors and hospitals for medical treatment worldwide.
Swiss Insurance Partners allow you to choose between the best carefully selected insurance plans that suit your individual needs. Special health plans designed to top up and complement existing local insurance are also available, but it is in most cases preferable to switch directly to an international insurance policy.
We also have plans with no restrictions on hobbies or sports of any kind. We also cover sport professionals.
By arranging your international insurance through Swiss Insurance Partners, you pay no more in premiums than going directly to the insurance company. In fact, you save time and money because you benefit from our comprehensive independent advice and support.
Not only can you be sure to get a product that dovetails optimally with your needs, you also benefit from our continued assistance and advice.
Swiss Insurance Partners offer more international insurance products from a wider range of providers than any other consultant or broker. We are in business for more than 10 years and are recognized as the world’s leading consultants for high-end private international health insurance.
We work exclusively in the interest of our clients. We do not work for any particular insurance company, and hold a government license from the Swiss Government’s Federal Office of Private Insurance (FINMA) as independent insurance consultants and brokers. Thanks to our extensive knowledge and experience, we are your ideal partner for all questions relating to private international health insurance.
