What is an international health insurance broker
Looking for international medical insurance but not sure where to start. A health insurance broker can help you to find the right insurance for you, all for free.A health insurance broker is a person or a business that sources a private health insurance plan for you and helps to organise the most suitable cover for your medical needs based on your country of interest.
Rather than having to find international medical insurance for yourself or having to settle for insurance that does not fit your needs, you can work with an international health insurance broker who can use their contacts and expertise to find coverage that works best for you.
The best health insurance brokers have been working alongside recognised insurance providers for a long time. They will also have agreements to global insurance providers in locations that are relevant to your needs, for example if you are looking for international health insurance in the USA but live in Switzerland.
What is the difference between a health insurance broker and an insurance agent
An insurance agent is someone who is contractually obligated to work with certain insurance providers. They are usually part of a health insurance company and work on their behalf. They only offer you insurance plans from that provider, even if those plans do not necessarily fit your needs. They are paid by the insurance provider directly.
A health insurance broker is an independent organisation or person who works with several different insurance providers to create specialised packages for clients. They can offer multiple plans from different insurance providers. A health insurance broker is not paid by the person buying the insurance, they receive a commission from the insurance providers.
What are the main benefits of a health insurance broker
There are many benefits to having an insurance broker on your side when arranging your coverage, but here are the main ones:
1. You benefit from our expertise
Insurance policies and the type of features and benefits they offer often vary from one insurance provider to another which may mean you pay more for one type of benefit that would come as standard from another insurance provider. With so many insurance providers out there, you can get lost searching for precisely what you want or need.
Do not waste your valuable time to compare international health insurance providers, get a broker who will do the legwork for you. Better still, you will get all the benefits of having a specialised healthcare insurance expert who can get you exactly what you need.
2. You have access to personal insurance consultant
With professional health insurance brokers, you will get a personal insurance consultant who is there to help you with anything you need and provide dedicated support. They will talk to you in your preferred language and in terms you understand. Insurance can be complicated and having someone you can trust to explain what you need to know is helpful for getting the right coverage.
Best of all, whenever you are in need, you can speak to your consultant and get a human response. Your consultant is like your personal insurance concierge, helping you get the most out of your experience.
3. You do not have to struggle through the small print
Typically, buying international medical insurance means you will have to sign legal documents, and these can involve a lot of small print. Rather than trying to understand everything by yourself, you can ask your health insurance broker to help take care of the paperwork.
How much does a health insurance broker cost
Perhaps the best reason for choosing health insurance with worldwide cover through a broker is that it does not cost you anything. That is right, using a health insurance brokers like ASN means that you can get a highly tailored insurance package and personalised service, all for free.
Find out more about how ASN is services directly benefit you and at no extra cost.
Should I use a health insurance broker
The answer is yes, we genuinely think that a health insurance broker can help you to access and pay for only the insurance that you need. Do not settle for mediocre insurance cover that will not help you when you most need it, get health insurance that gives you peace of mind and solves your problems in difficult situations.
You might want to use a health insurance broker if you are:
- A professional worker who needs health insurance for living abroad temporarily
- An expat who has permanently moved abroad
- A professional who is relocating, or has just relocated for work for a long period
- A commuter whose job is across a country border
- A high-risk professional, such as an athlete, pilot, dignitary, etc.
- A digital nomad
In terms of when to use a global health insurance broker, the best time is right now. You can either use their services before you move or after, it is up to you but some countries may require that you have your insurance in place in advance as a prerequisite on their visa application.
Register your details with us to find out more about international health insurance for your specific destination.
How to use a health insurance broker
It is simple to get started with a health insurance broker. Once you have decided on which broker to use, and we hope that you choose ASN, you should be put in contact with a consultant who can help you decide what you need, when you need it and how much it will cost you.
You will need to provide information such as:
- Where do you live now, and where will you need to be insured?
- Is this your first-time buying health insurance?
- Do you have insurance coverage already, and are you looking to switch insurance providers?
- How frequently do you see healthcare professionals?
- Will you need to see a specialist, or do you wish to continue with your current care team?
- What medication do you currently take?
- What is your budget for healthcare insurance?
- Will you need to add anyone else to your plan, such as a spouse or children?
- Where do you normally fulfil your medical prescriptions?
Once your consultant knows what you need, they can source potential plans and give you options. They will explain exactly what you need to know and how much the different plans will cost.
When you are ready to proceed, your consultant will help you through the process and make sure you that you are happy at every stage of the way.
How to choose a health insurance broker
When choosing your health insurance broker, you should look out for:
- Their license: Are they licensed to offer insurance plans and in your country?
- Their expertise: How long have they been operation for?
- Their reach: How many countries do they work across and the number of insurers?
- Their added extras: What else do they offer besides arranging your insurance?
- Their communication style: Do they communicate information in a way you understand and prefer?
- Their consultants: Can you reach your consultant easily in an emergency?
Why choose ASN?
ASN has long-standing agreements with the leading insurance providers of health insurance worldwide. With 25 years of experience providing premium insurance to our clients, we are the leading arranger of expat insurance in Switzerland and beyond. We like to think of ourselves as a Swiss broker with a global insurance mindset.
We have been arranging the best international medical insurance for our clients for many years now, all for free. We have helped thousands of clients to safely navigate difficult medical situations such as cancer and heart disease, serious accidents and much more with the reassurance that their insurance plan will cover all these eventualities.
We believe our success lies in our people-first approach and our trusted agreements. We care deeply about our clients, their safety and peace of mind, this is our main goal.
Want to learn more about how we can help you arrange premium international medical insurance? Click here to find out more, or get in touch.
