• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
GO TO EXPAT LIVING SINGAPORE
GET OUR NEWSLETTER

Expat Living Hong Kong HomepageExpat Living Hong Kong

Moving to Hong Kong and not sure where to start? Expat Living is the essential lifestyle guide to living in Hong Kong.

Menu
  • Living In Hong Kong
      • Living Here
      • Where To Live
      • Schools
      • For Guys
        • Sailing in Hong Kong - inclusive sailing courses by charity SailabilityMaking sailing accessible to everyone
        • We chat with two GSIS families
        • 6 super reasons to visit sky100
        • A New Home in The New Territories
      • View all
    Close
  • Things To Do
      • Things To Do
      • What’s On/Calendar
      • Competitions & Offers
        • Reclusive Means Exhibition at Pearl Lam Galleries Hong KongTop 35 Best Things To Do In Hong Kong This Weekend
        • 6 super reasons to visit sky100
        • Best playgrounds & parks for the kids
        • What to watch this month – Netflix & more!
      • View all
    Close
  • Kids
      • Activities & Things To Do
      • Education & Enrichment
      • Health & Wellness
      • Mums & Babies
      • Podcasts
        • We chat with two GSIS families
        • A boarding school with wildlife on the doorstep!
        • Children's teeth and bracesKids and braces – all you need to know
        • Child reading for web article on Books and Brains - helping children with reading and phonicsHelp for children struggling with reading
      • View all
    Close
  • Homes
      • Home Décor
      • Readers Homes
        • A New Home in The New Territories
        • Transforming an old Hong Kong junk
        • Image of Altfield home furnishings showroomWhere to get designer home furnishings
        • Hong Kong People: Meet Laura Pezza
      • View all
    Close
  • Travel
      • Short Breaks
      • Further Afield
      • Travel News & Offers
        • Mount KinabuluClimbing Mount Kinabalu in Sabah
        • Son Doong CaveJourney into the world’s largest cave
        • Famous movie locations in Asia - Hong Kong - Gage Street8 Famous Movie Locations in Asia
        • Gaining access to an EU passport
      • View all
    Close
  • Wine & Dine
      • Recipes & Groceries
      • Bars & Restaurants
        • 6 super reasons to visit sky100
        • Popcorn Shrimp with Spicy Honey Mayo
        • Indulgent chocolate cake - recipeRecipe: Indulgent Chocolate Cake
        • Spicy Asian Coleslaw - recipeRecipe: Spicy Asian Coleslaw
      • View all
    Close
  • Style & Beauty
      • Fashion
      • Hair & Beauty
        • where to get botox in hong kongBotox in Hong Kong – All you need to know
        • Where to buy (and sell!) watches
        • Face masks, spa products, body scrubsWe test body scrubs, creams, masks & more!
        • Hong Kong Spas - Spa at Four Seasons Hong Kong - facial and body treatmentTried and Tested: 2 Luxury Spa Treatments
      • View all
    Close
  • Health & Fitness
      • Medical & Dental
      • Fitness
      • Wellness
        • family dental clinics and dentists in Hong KongFamily Dental Clinics and Dentists in HK
        • Children's teeth and bracesKids and braces – all you need to know
        • Safe & healthy eating during pregnancy
        • Couples therapy for divorce and separation, MindNLife Hong KongDivorce: how to break up with dignity
      • View all
    Close
  • Shop
    • Magazine
    • Advertise With Us
    • Close

Do you need international private medical insurance?

1 November, 2018 by Expat Living 2 Min Read

https://expatliving.hk/international-private-medical-insurance-hong-kong-expats-cigna-global/

Hong Kong offers great healthcare – public hospitals provide full services, from emergency treatments to inpatient facilities, and the private system is world-class. While having international medical insurance isn’t essential, International Private Medical Insurance (IPMI) policies ensure you’re covered for all eventualities – at home and abroad. We asked the team at Cigna Global, a specialist in expat healthcare, to explain some of the reasons why an expat should choose an IPMI.

An International Private Medical Insurance policy can cover all eventualities for expats
An International Private Medical Insurance policy can cover all eventualities for expats

1. It makes hospital care more affordable

Hong Kong’s healthcare system is good. Doctors undertake rigorous training that is on par with what medical professionals receive in Western countries; they must keep up-to-date with current research and practices, have clinical audits, and continue their education. Private hospitals in Hong Kong are available to those with health insurance but many don’t offer long-term or chronic care. Public hospitals are very expensive without a Hong Kong ID card (which you can apply for after staying for more than 180 days), and often require you to pay cash. International Private Medical Insurance can help cover that expense.

2. It gives you worldwide coverage

Globally mobile citizens often require an international plan to cover them in the many countries they frequent. Some expats leave home with travel insurance in place, but the problem with travel policies is that these are designed for short stays, and cover only for medical emergencies. International Private Medical Insurance policies are also a great help against the language barrier. Understanding your policy documentation and being able to talk to a customer service representative is vital when dealing with your health queries. Many expats are more comfortable with an international health insurance company that offers support in English or another familiar language.

3. It makes up for gaps in your company health insurance plan

Your move to Hong Kong might coincide with a new job package – complete with company health care coverage. Yet with such policies, it’s often the needs of the organisation rather than the individual employee that are prioritised. Does the package include family coverage? Are pre-existing conditions covered? An International Private Medical Insurance plan can be ideal for filling in the gaps.

4. It allows for International Medical Evacuation

International Medical Evacuation provides coverage for reasonable transportation costs to the nearest centre of medical excellence in the event that the treatment is not available locally in an emergency. This option also includes repatriation coverage, allowing you to get back home if necessary. This benefit can also include the cost of flying a loved one over to provide you with support.

5. International Private Medical Insurance plans are flexible

An IPMI policy usually allows you to choose a plan to accommodate particular needs. Benefits vary from supplier to supplier, but they can include unlimited annual benefit limits, inpatient care, day-patient care, cancer care and maternity care. Cigna Global offers packages specifically designed for expats, with flexible, tailored plans with three distinct levels of cover, and five optional additional benefits, including outpatient care, medical evacuation, and vision and dental care. Full cancer care is included as standard in Cigna Global plans, and the top two levels of cover include maternity benefits.

For more information or to get a free, no-obligation quote, visit cignaglobal.com

This article first appeared in the Apr/May edition of Expat Living magazine. Subscribe now so you never miss an issue!

Want more advice on Living in Hong Kong?

Where to live in Hong Kong

Categories: Living Here Living In Hong Kong Tags: Cigna Global Finance Health Health Insurance Medical Insurance Personal Finance Private Health Insurance

Get the latest events, stories and special offers
sent to your inbox.

By signing up, you'll receive our bimonthly newsletters and offers, which you can unsubscribe to anytime.

You May Also Like

Sailing in Hong Kong - inclusive sailing courses by charity Sailability

Making sailing accessible to everyone

A New Home in The New Territories

Helping our communities learn to swim

Primary Sidebar

  • COMPETITIONS & OFFERS
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Subscribe

© 2023 Expat Living Hong Kong, All Rights Reserved.