There are many different ways people choose their provider; one way is to simply spend hours and hours doing the research on what the different insurance providers offer, and then get in touch with a sales agent or contact the insurance directly.
This first option is very time consuming and hard to get right, as you might end up missing out on specific requirements applicable to your specific situation, such as insurance continuity when you will be moving back to your home country, or ensuring you choose a provider that offers a specific treatment that you might need.
In case you do not have enough time or you want to really make sure not to miss out on such important details it can be a good idea to look for an independent insurance broker who is specialised in consulting expats that are moving countries.
Agent or broker - what’s the difference?
An insurance agent is someone who’s contractually obligated to work with certain providers. They’re often part of a health insurance company and as such work on their behalf. This means that they only offer you insurance plans from that particular provider, even if those plans don’t necessarily fit your needs perfectly. However, if you already know which insurance provider you want, then an agent can potentially get you a better tailored plan, than if you book it directly with the insurer without additional consulting. Agents are paid by the insurance provider directly.
A health insurance broker on the other hand is an independent organisation or person who works with several different insurance providers. They’re able to offer multiple plans from different providers and for this reason can help you to choose the right provider and plan best fitting to your specific needs. A health insurance broker isn’t paid by the person buying the insurance - they’re paid on a commission basis from the insurance providers.
How to choose a health insurance broker
To ensure that you will get independent and professional advise, these are things you should look for:
- Their licence: Are they licensed to offer insurance plans?
- Their expertise: How long have they operated?
- Their reach: How many countries do they cover?
- Their style: Do they communicate in a way you understand?
- Their consultants: Can you reach your consultant easily in an emergency?
If you choose an international health insurance broker that ticks the above boxes for you, then it is often the best way to go towards ensuring that you will have the coverage you need, and not having to worry about the insurance causing hassle at the time when you really just need to receive help.
As an added benefit, when you choose an insurance broker you will many times get a personal insurance consultant who will help you with anything you need and provide dedicated support.
Also remember that some countries will require that you have insurance as a prerequisite for a visa application, so it can make sense to reach out to a reputable international broker such as ASN before you get ready to move.