Frequently asked questions

Every plan covers inpatient hospital treatment and surgery (surgeon, anaesthetist and theatre), intensive care, kidney dialysis, emergency treatment, inpatient cancer care, local ambulance and a daily hospital cash benefit. Included as standard on all four levels: 24-hour emergency assistance, 24-hour psychology counselling and personal coaching, virtual personal training and nutrition advice, a $10,000 life cover benefit, and Global Security cover. Higher levels add everyday outpatient care, physiotherapy, chronic condition management, preventive checks, dental and optical. The “See exactly what each level covers” section on the homepage sets out the full detail for every level.

Each level builds on the one below. Major Medical covers serious inpatient events and emergencies. Standard adds everyday outpatient care — GP and specialist visits, prescriptions and diagnostics (up to $750 a year each). Comprehensive adds rehabilitation, organ transplant, physiotherapy, chronic condition cover, preventive checks, vaccinations, an eye test and dental. Fully Comprehensive upgrades everything to full or unlimited cover, gives you a private room, doubles many limits and adds routine dental.

Major Medical suits younger, healthy people who want protection against serious events but are happy to cover day-to-day costs themselves. Standard is the most popular choice — emergency and everyday healthcare both covered. Comprehensive is for those wanting broader cover including rehabilitation, preventive care and chronic conditions. Fully Comprehensive is the all-in option, with a private room, unlimited surgeon's fees, full dental and optical and the highest limits throughout. The instant quote lets you compare the exact price of all four in seconds.

Every plan includes Global Security benefits — cover for incidents beyond ordinary medical situations. This includes terrorism (from $50,000 on Major Medical up to full cover on Fully Comprehensive), hostage negotiation (full cover on every plan), hijacking ($100–$500 a day depending on level) and mugging ($100 a day for five days on all plans). It's included automatically, at no extra premium.

Yes. All four plans include 24-hour psychology counselling and personal coaching as a standard benefit at full cover — not an add-on. It gives you access to mental health and wellbeing support at any time.

Yes, on every plan at no extra cost. You get unlimited access to qualified personal trainers and nutritionists by video or phone, with personalised fitness and meal plans.

International medical evacuation and repatriation (up to $100,000) is an optional add-on rather than being built into a plan. It costs $275 a year per person, whatever your age or location, and you can add it when you get your quote. It's well worth considering if you live or travel where medical facilities are limited.

No. Maternity-related expenses — antenatal care, childbirth, postnatal care and pregnancy complications — aren't covered on any level. If you are pregnant or planning to be, this should be declared on your application.

Yes — COVID-19 is treated as any other illness on all four plans, subject to the usual policy terms, with a 14-day waiting period from your policy start date.

More than 190 countries and territories worldwide - everywhere except the 50 US states. That includes all of Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and Oceania - and cover applies wherever you're treated, including your country of residence.

US healthcare costs are far higher than anywhere else in the world, which makes it a fundamentally different risk. Leaving out the 50 US states is what allows genuinely comprehensive worldwide cover at a sustainable price. The policy is designed for people who don't need cover for treatment in the USA.

Anyone from 1 day to 70 years old, of any nationality, resident in almost any country (subject to local rules). It's built for expats, digital nomads and anyone wanting proper worldwide medical cover outside the USA. 70 is the last age at which you can apply or renew.

Yes — individual, couple or family policies are all available. Everyone to be covered is named on the application and must be aged between 1 day and 70. Where the insured person is under 18, a parent or guardian is named as the legal owner of the policy while the child is the insured person.

No — any condition, illness or injury that existed before your policy start date isn't covered. If you're unsure whether something counts as pre-existing, an adviser can talk it through before you apply.

No — and this matters. If you apply after a condition has already developed, that condition becomes pre-existing and is excluded. Most medical problems arrive without warning, and once you have one, no insurer will cover treatment for it. The time to arrange cover is before you need it.

Use the instant quote tool on the homepage or the apply page. Enter your age, where you're based and who needs cover, and you'll see the exact price for all four levels straight away — no sign-up or email needed. You can compare payment frequencies, pick a level and apply online, or ask an adviser to guide you.

Yes. The prices shown come straight from the official rate table and are your exact premium — there are never any surprise additions or increases.

By three things: your age (rated by exact year), your location (Area 1 = Europe; Area 2 = rest of the world; Area 3 = China, Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore) and the level of cover you choose. The quote tool pulls directly from the rate table, so the figure you see is your actual price rather than an estimate.

You can pay monthly, quarterly, six-monthly or annually. Monthly is the standard rate, and paying less often earns a discount: quarterly saves 3%, six-monthly saves 7%, and annually saves 14% — the best value. The quote tool shows the exact instalment and total for each option.

Yes — it runs for a year and is renewable annually. You'll be emailed about a month before renewal, and to renew you simply click to confirm; nothing is taken from your card unless you do. Renewal prices rise with age, and you can check the price for any age using the quote tool. Cover can be renewed up to and including age 70.

Yes — you're not tied to a network. You can use any licensed hospital or specialist in any covered country. For planned treatment, asking for pre-authorisation in advance makes claims smoother, but it isn't required in an emergency.

For inpatient treatment, the underwriter pays the hospital directly — you don't have to find the money upfront. This “direct billing” matters, because some hospitals won't start expensive treatment without payment. For outpatient treatment a reimbursement model may apply — you submit receipts and are usually refunded within 72 hours. Always contact the claims team before planned treatment so direct billing can be arranged.

Wherever possible, yes. Three reasons: for your health, the claims team can tell you which local hospitals have the best facilities and reputation for your condition — and which to avoid, since in some places facilities are known to recommend unnecessary tests or stays to inflate bills; for your finances, it lets direct billing be arranged so the insurer pays the hospital, not you; and for simplicity, they handle the paperwork so you can focus on recovering. In a genuine emergency, get treatment first and contact them as soon as you can.

For planned treatment, request pre-authorisation in advance — that's the simplest route. In an emergency, get treatment straight away and tell the claims team as soon as you can (within 48 hours where possible). Full claims instructions and emergency contact numbers come with your policy documents. There's a step-by-step guide on the How to Claim page.

Your health comes first — get treatment immediately; pre-authorisation isn't needed in a genuine emergency. Keep all records, reports and invoices for your claim, and contact the claims team as soon as you're able. Your policy documents include a 24-hour emergency assistance line.

Travel insurance is built to protect trips — cancellations, lost luggage and emergency treatment to get you home. But accident and emergency is only around 5–10% of real medical needs. Most treatment is planned, non-emergency care: scheduled surgery, specialist consultations, cancer treatment, diagnostics — none of which travel insurance covers. It also works on reimbursement (you pay first), resets your cover each renewal, and isn't designed for living abroad full-time. International medical insurance is a different product built for primary healthcare.