Nowadays more and more people are deciding to move on to pastures new, this could be in many ways, but one such way is the life changing decision of starting a new life in one of the many inviting countries around the world.
Living abroad can be enjoyable, rewarding and exciting but it is important to step back and think of the all important, practical formalities that need addressing and organising in order for you to live carefree and easy in your chosen country.
One important formality is acquiring Expat Travel Insurance, by doing this you are ensuring that you are fully covered for any possible circumstances that may occur in your new country whether it be health or theft related and even curtailment issues.
Here are a few handy tips to help you on your way:
*Firstly do not opt for the cheapest cover you can find, as tempting as it is to save money, it is not a wise decision as the policy will most likely not cover you for all the eventualities that you wish to be covered for and as you are living there long term the chance of needing insurance is dramatically increased. So, although some insurance companies may look cheap normally it is because you are getting less cover for your money.
*If you, your partner or family members have any health problems or illnesses, make sure that the insurance companies are informed about these, as missing these all important details off the policy will lead to your policy being void or payouts not honoured, as no insurance company will pay out if these details have been withheld from them. Also some insurance companies will not insure you if you have certain illnesses or health problems.
*Before purchasing a policy make sure you check to see what the excess charges will be, as some of the cheaper policies may have higher excess charges should an unfortunate incident take place. You may prefer to pay more money out for the policy so that later on if any event did occur you would have a smaller excess to pay out for.
*Some companies offer discounts on couples or family insurance policies, so shop around and do the homework to see if it is cheaper for you to get a joint insurance policy or whether single ones are best suited for you.
*Some banks or other companies you are associated with may have special offers on insurance or reduced price policies, due to you being an existing customer of their main service, these are not always ideal as they may not have all the cover you need to live abroad permanently.
*Ensure that your policy covers you for all healthcare abroad, as if you have a problem and need hospital care some countries may accept you into their hospitals but will not let you leave until you have paid for you care and treatment, whereas others may not even accept you into their hospitals without the relevant paperwork in place and healthcare can be very expensive to pay out for without the relevant insurance.
*Remember that any extreme activities that you may take part in may not be covered on your insurance policy so either ensure you have the required insurance or don’t take part in anything that you are not insured for.
*There are a few insurance companies that will cover you for working abroad as long as it is certain professions, some are excluded.
However most insurance companies can tailor make you a policy to suit your needs so don’t be afraid to ask and let them know your exact requirements.
By following these tips and by taking out the relevant expat travel insurance you can be confident and have the peace of mind that you are fully covered for any predicaments that come your way.
Kim Kashmere writes for an expat community blog that provides calling cards to Italy and Swiss calling cards. As well as writing she enjoys Travelling, Photography and Walking with her Husband and Dogs.
