INTERNATIONAL HEALTH & TRAVEL INSURANCE FAQ

AOC Insurance Broker international health and travel insurance plans - general

1. Questions

a) Who is AOC Insurance Broker?  Answer
b) What’s the difference between travel insurance and expat health insurance?  Answer
c) Am I eligible for an expat health insurance plan?   Answer
d) And my family members and other significant for me persons, will they be insured too?   Answer
e) Do you require a medical checkup before applying?  Answer
f) I am a young and healthy expat. No need for health insurance, right?  Answer
g) Do I really need an expat health insurance? Isn’t a local healthcare plan enough?   Answer
h) My company provides my health insurance, but I’m not sure what I ‘m covered for.  Answer
i) If I am no longer working for my company, will I still be covered?  Answer
j) Can I upgrade/downgrade my policy at any time?  Answer
k) How to switch my insruance broker?  Answer

2. Answers

a) Who is AOC Insurance Broker?

AOC Insurance Broker is one of the world’s largest online international health insurance brokers and is part of Groupe Cadre (http://www.cadrass.com), the 18th broker in France.
AOC Insurance Broker benefits from a large experience in Asia with offices located in Bangkok and Shanghai and we are the master broker for MSH International (Rothschild group) in SE Asia with a 24/7 TPA /alarm center in Bangkok.
We are not only a comparator in the fields of International expat health insurance, but as well in Liability and Individual accident insurances.
AOC Insurance broker is a partner of all major insurance providers and advices our individual and corporate clients with global solutions.

b) What’s the difference between travel insurance and expat health insurance?

A travel insurance is meant for those travelling less than a year (no renewal option) and provides mainly emergency and evacuation treatment benefits and lost luggage insurance.
An international health insurance is intended for expatriates, providing long-term and more comprehensive levels of coverage.

c) Am I eligible for an expat health insurance plan?

Expatriates of all nationalities are eligible for an international health insurance.
Basically they are designed for those living overseas. Minimum age is 18 and most insurers restrict the applicants’s age of entry to around 60-75 years.

d) And my family members and other significant to me persons, will they be insured too?

Yes. They will be covered as dependents (and you will be the main insured).
In general eligible for our insurance plans are:
 - spouse or adult partner (different or same sex) permanently living with you.
 - unmarried child(ren) under 18 and living with you.
 - unmarried child(ren) under 23 and in full-time education.
 - some insurers automatically cover newborn up to 90 days.  

e) Do you require a medical checkup before applying?

No. Only a medical questionnaire has to be completed in case of full medical underwriting.
These questions adress your medical history. And you will be asked for a recently visited or family physician’s details.
For major pre-existing medical conditions, a recent medical report has to be enclosed.

f) I am a young and healthy expat. No need for health insurance, right?

You do need a health cover in case you fall critically ill due to an unexpected disease like an endemic infection.
That’s why we are inclined to cover at least inpatient medical care so you can receive all necessary and sometimes live-saving medical attention without worrying about the financial repercussions.
Some expat health plans are tailored to meet the specific needs of young and healthy people. Contact AOC for more information.

g) Do I really need an expat health insurance? Isn’t a local healthcare plan enough? 

If you are well informed and you feel reassured that the local/national medical infrastructure is up to Western standards, easily accessible (waiting queue) and without serious restrictions regarding to possible treatments, you might be inclined to say a local health plan is ok.
However, keep in mind that most local plans have no global nature, this implies two things: 
 - First of all, when you travel to your home country there’s no coverage during that time.
 - Second, most local health plans can’t be transferred once decided to move to another country: if you get sick and your condition turns chronic, future medical care can’t be given as your new health plan in another country will not cover pre-existing diseases.
We feel that living the life and virtues of an expat beholds a personalized expat health plan.

h) If I am no longer working for my company, will I still be covered?

It depends of your corporate health plan.
Some insurance providers only cover group and corporate insurances and your cover will end the moment you leave the company. Other insurers might keep covering you (and benefits may remain).
So it might be valuable when you negotiate your salary to discuss advantages like a good individual health plan with guaranteed renewal coverage even after leaving the company and regardless of your state of health.

i) My company provides my health insurance, but I’m not sure what am I covered for.

Please ask your human resource department a detailed table of benefits and medical provider list. Then you can read and find out which treatments you are covered for and where.

j) Can I upgrade/downgrade my policy at any time?

As soon as your membership documents have arrived, you have 14 to 30 days (insurer dependent) during which you can change your level of coverage or cancel your policy. After this interval terms and conditions can’t be changed until annual renewal. Some insurance providers allow you to cancel quarterly.

k) How to switch my insurance broker?

At no additional cost, you can always choose to switch to AOC Insurance Broker.
Underwriting, benefits, terms & conditions of your current plan remain unchanged and sometimes your premium might even decrease.
Fill in our Agency Transfer form, enclose a copy of your passport and your current insurance certification.