Back to list 2020-01-20 10:27:44

Travel insurance is often mistaken for international health insurance, but they differ in very significant ways. For example, for expats living in Asia, health insurance does not necessarily cover you when you are traveling back home for a short trip. It is therefore important to know the differences in order to avoid an unpleasant surprise.

What is travel insurance?

Travel insurance is only applicable for short trips abroad or over a pre-determined period of time. Usually a travel insurance only covers you for 90 consecutive days maximum. However, some companies like MSH China can provide a travel insurance that will cover you on an annual basis if the maximum length of each insured trip is less than 30 days. If you don’t choose an annual plan, each journey’s maximum duration must be less than 183 days.

What does travel insurance cover?

Travel insurance is designed to cover unexpected events before your departure and once you're abroad [what does it mean once you’re abroad? So covers before departure and during the trip, but the trip back to home is not covered?]. It's usually triggered by the cancellation of a trip prior the departure due to medical emergency (hospitalizations, etc.), repatriation, and luggage theft, as well as if any third-party liability is incurred. It is important to note that you can’t be covered with a travel insurance for your own country of residence.

MSH China travel insurance covers:

-          24h worldwide emergency travel and medical assistance

-          Travel inconvenience such as travel delay

-          Personal effects coverage: bank card fraudulent charges, phone, luggage…

-          Travel emergency assistance: evacuation, repatriation etc.

-          Personal accident and medical protection: death, medical reimbursement, daily hospital income etc.

-          Personal liability

What is international health insurance?

International Health Insurance is designed to cover long-term trips abroad and/or expatriation. Some companies may propose you plans with 30 days waiting period [u need to explain what is waiting period coz I don’t understand] minimum while some other plans don’t require such delay.

What does international health insurance cover?

International Health Insurance reimburses your healthcare expenses abroad almost as the same level as you are accustomed to in your home country. Sums assured are usually way higher than a travel insurance (millions of dollars) as well as offering an extended coverage. Unlike travel insurance, which only provides a limited coverage to unexpected events and emergency, International Health Insurance covers medical visits, hospitalizations and medication, and can include medical assistance/repatriation, death & disability and/or third-party liability as well. Some other benefits can be added such as maternity, vision, dental and wellness.

The International Health Insurance designed by MSH China offers different options of geographic coverage from Mainland China to Worldwide.