Medicare and most US plans do not cover you abroad. Options: travel insurance ($50-$200/trip), expat plans ($150-$500/month), global plans ($300-$1,000+/month).
9 steps across 2 sections
1. Steps Process
- Determine needs — Short-term travel vs. long-term expat. Emergency vs. comprehensive.
- Check destination healthcare — Many countries have public systems accessible to visa holders.
- Compare plans — Travel medical, expat health, global health, local country insurance.
- Get quotes — Cigna Global, SafetyWing, IMG, GeoBlue, Allianz, Aetna International.
- Purchase and keep documents accessible.
2. Key Details
- SafetyWing: ~$45/month, popular with digital nomads
- Cigna Global: $200-$600/month, comprehensive expat plans
- Evacuation coverage essential (emergency evacuation costs $50K-$250K+)
- Schengen visa requires minimum 30,000 EUR coverage
Pro Tips
- Plans excluding US coverage are significantly cheaper
- Join local healthcare system AND keep international backup
- Credit card travel insurance insufficient for long stays