New to Singapore - Where to find Health Insurance for Expatriates

[greenhornet]

Greetings to ALL,

Anybody know of any international health care for expatriates such as myself who is a frequent traveller? I know there is the New York Group but I prefer local offices where I could get assistance for myself and my family.

Would really appreciate if somebody would be kind to advise me if there is such a worldwide coverage which also covers pre-existing conditions. To add to the problem, my wife is expecting and it will be great if the plan could also cover maternity and child birth.

Is there such a plan or am I too demanding ? 

Thanks.

[Pangloss]

Greetings to ALL,

Anybody know of any international health care for expatriates such as myself who is a frequent traveller? I know there is the New York Group but I prefer local offices where I could get assistance for myself and my family.

Would really appreciate if somebody would be kind to advise me if there is such a worldwide coverage which also covers pre-existing conditions. To add to the problem, my wife is expecting and it will be great if the plan could also cover maternity and child birth.

Is there such a plan or am I too demanding ? 

Thanks.

You are being too optimistic in respect getting cover for pre-existing conditions or pregnancy if you wife is already pregnant. 

As for other requirements, there are several companies.  BUPA, AXA, AVIVA, CIGNA...

[look here]

someone was talking about a plan that covers women if they apply after conceiving... it's on here somewhere... have a look...

Usually you need to have had the plan for a number of months before getting pregnant...

e.g. Aviva IFS Global health (which is a great plan.... if you plan)

[Go Global]

There is no top notch local health insurance plan for expats. Go with a global company or one  from your home country. All of them have 24 hour telephone access. The BM will love me to point out that Medibroker handles expat insurance. They usually advertise on this site as well. Last time I looked, they had info on lots of different options.

[FIS!]

Check out Allianz worldwide health.  It's basically the best insurance plan in the world.  It covers 100% of almost everything, including evacuation if that becomes necessary.  Allianz is based in Germany, and the Health office is in Ireland, but they have local offices in almost every country in the world.  You can buy the insurance online, so you don't need an agent.  Go to Allianz.com and it will direct you.  I can't guarantee it will cover the birth of a child that has already been conceived, but other than that it pretty much covers everything.  I think orthodontia is 80% instead of 100%.

[FIS!]

Oh and here's the other thing -- don't freak out if you can't get insurance for the birth of your child.  Medical care here is very inexpensive compared to the U.S. at least (I don't know where you're from).  The day I got here, I tore a ligament in my ankle.  Went to a private clinic, saw a doctor, got sent to Raffles Hospital, got x-rays and then had a consultation with an orthopedic surgeon.  Got a brace for my ankle, two different kids of medicines, and the total bill was around S$275.00.  I was shocked!  In the U.S., that would have been thousands. 

[titan]

It's going to be difficult to get a policy that covers a baby that is already expected and as FIS said a lot of medical expenses are surprisingly less than they are back in the USA if that is where you are from.

Being here has made me realize the USA health system is clearly broken and doesn't serve the people very well, it's a system driven by greed & profit more than anything else.

[$Pripps]

Oh and here's the other thing -- don't freak out if you can't get insurance for the birth of your child.  Medical care here is very inexpensive compared to the U.S. at least (I don't know where you're from).  The day I got here, I tore a ligament in my ankle.  Went to a private clinic, saw a doctor, got sent to Raffles Hospital, got x-rays and then had a consultation with an orthopedic surgeon.  Got a brace for my ankle, two different kids of medicines, and the total bill was around S$275.00.  I was shocked!  In the U.S., that would have been thousands. 

I have a colleague who has a debt of 200k in medical bills so I reckon it really depends how serious your illness is. Medical care seems very expensive here as soon as it involves surgery and other more extensive treatments.

[still cheaper]

Wife had emergency c-section, about 10k. I had disk surgery, similar amount. My mother is about to have the same in UK, 20k gbp so more than 4 times the price.