In response to rising health care costs, expat health insurer ALC Health has raised the policy limits for three of its international health plans: Premier, Classic and Iberica. The annual limit for Premier policyholders doubled from £1 million to £2 million, and rose from £750,000 to £1 million for both Classic and Iberica customers. Emergency cover outside the benefit area is now £50,000 under all three plans, and organ transplant cover £200,000.
Director of ALC Health Andrew Epps said, “with the cost of health care increasing globally, we are continually keeping a close eye on the scope of cover offered by our programmes to ensure that they meet the exacting needs of our policyholders. As a result we have increased a number of key benefits.”
According to the Towers Watson Global Trends Survey, medical costs are to rise an average 10.5% in 2011 – 13.7% and 11.6% in Latin and North America, 9.1% in Europe. The study found medical inflation outpaced general inflation in nearly all of the 37 countries surveyed.
High costs have driven a number of Eastern European countries to demand proof of health insurance from non-EU citizens. Other countries, such as Malaysia, exclude foreigners from public health systems outright. Hence, rising health care costs make it more important than ever for international travelers and expats to obtain adequate health benefits prior to their departure.