Report Emphasizes Expats' Need For Insurance

by Carla Johnson, Investors Offshore, London

04 May 2007

According to the results of the recent MediCare International Industry Report, 95% of those living and working overseas consider international health insurance to be essential for peace of mind.

In fact, 70% of those questioned still regard international private medical insurance as representing good value for money. Medicare says these results demonstrate that, while the UK market for health insurance has its problems, the market for specialist insurers such as MediCare International is still buoyant and expected to remain so.

David Pryor, Senior Executive Director, MediCare International comments, “Peace of mind is essential for expatriates and it pays to have sorted out your policy before you go overseas. We have comprehensive health policies covering every situation and eventuality, with the essential benefits that clients are looking for top of our list. Obviously a given essential in any policy, irrespective of the level of cover, is emergency evacuation in case of severe health problems along with repatriation of mortal remains should the need arise. However, other benefits that may not always have been included are being asked for by clients, such as cover for chronic care, choice of treatment location and war cover for those working in troubled hot spots.”

Included in all policies as an essential requirement, but not often thought about, repatriation costs vary from country to country and situation to situation. A typical case involving a 75 year old male who fractured his hip with complications in Spain, required air ambulance costs of GBP7,250 and other flights at GBP5,000 involving stretcher repatriation.

Repatriation of mortal remains is understandably a sensitive subject, but sadly one that also involves complex administration and a financial burden if you don’t have insurance in place to smooth the way. A recent client case for MediCare International involved the repatriation of mortal remains from France following death in a car crash, which cost GBP3,200. While another case, which involved repatriation of mortal remains from Singapore after a 73 year old client died as a result of respiratory problems, cost GBP6,600. Costs included arrangements for an overseas Funeral Director, documentation, embassy fee, coffin, mortuary fee, transfer costs within the country, flight costs to the UK and collection costs from a UK airport to local funeral parlour.

David Pryor continues: "At MediCare International we work very closely with our assistance service, the CEGA Group, to provide effective medical assistance, with round-the-clock global medical services such as repatriation. Through CEGA, who operates its own fleet of air ambulances, we are able to repatriate travellers from anywhere in the world back to the UK. What's more our claims handling service is one of the fastest in the market with 10 day claims settlement as normal and 7 day settlement in many cases. This also helps when it comes to the sensitive subject of repatriation of mortal remains, when we are understandably dealing with grief-stricken family and colleagues and we like to do all we can to help ease the whole process."

For details of MediCare’s international health insurance plans visit www.medicare.co.uk, email medicare@medicare.co.uk or call +44 (0) 20 7816 2033.

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