According to recent reports, flying home or receiving treatment in another country other than that of your residence may no longer be an option for business travellers and expats. The global pandemic is having an adverse effect on the access to local healthcare; therefore, every country is experiencing unprecedented pressure on its healthcare services. Consequently, some hospitals are prioritising healthcare from insurance companies over private patients.
Many countries have closed their borders to tourists and business travellers including those travelling for medical reasons. Though other countries may allow travel, you are likely to suffer many delays before being permitted to travel.
Before you can travel you will first need get appropriate clearance on your covid tests with the airlines before you can fly – assuming flights and seating is available, – then you will need to comply with local quarantine regulations once arriving at your destination. All this time and inconvenience can add up to several days if not weeks before you can finally get access to the medical treatment you sought after in your home country or country of choice. For some the pain and suffering can by minor and for others unimaginable, often created because they do not have an international medical insurance policy in place, or they have a basic domestic plan with very limited cover.
Often in situations like this you may be better off receiving the treatment immediately and accessing the finest medical facilities in the same country at the time of your accident, sickness, or illness by using your international medical insurance plan to pay for this treatment. But this of course means you need to be insured and covered before you need to make a claim and the level of benefits you select specific to your needs.
Many countries are now making health insurance compulsory for those applying for a business, employment, residence, and retirement visas. Indonesia is one of many countries now imposing this regulation. At GMS we are experiencing a 300% increase for health and life insurance enquiries from both expatriates and local nationals who want to protect their families and themselves against the uncertainties of rising medical costs and assured access to the best medical facilities usually reserved for the wealthy and those with high quality medical insurance protection. By transferring the financial burden to their medical insurance providers makes both financial and logical sense.
If you need a quote the best health insurance in Indonesia for expats, why not visit our health insurance page and get a quote.