Private Medical Insurance for UK Expats
If you’re moving abroad, for work, retirement, or family; your UK private medical insurance won’t follow you for long. International private medical insurance (IPMI) is the version designed for life outside the UK, and the right policy depends on where you’re going and how you’ll live there.
Insured Health helps UK expats compare global cover. Call 0800 131 0400 or email info@insuredhealth.co.uk.
What changes when you leave the UK
Your UK PMI policy is built around private treatment in UK hospitals. Most policies cover overseas trips up to 90 or 180 days a year, but they’re not built for residency abroad. Once you’re a tax resident outside the UK, you typically need to switch to international cover.
You’ll also be making decisions you didn’t have to make at home; primarily around how local healthcare works, whether you need access to private hospitals or can rely on a state system, and what happens if you need to be flown home.
What expat IPMI usually covers
- Inpatient hospital treatment in your selected region
- Outpatient consultations, diagnostics and treatment
- Cancer care, including advanced therapies
- Maternity care after a waiting period (usually 10-12 months)
- Mental health treatment
- Emergency medical evacuation and repatriation
- Direct billing with major international hospitals so you don’t pay upfront
Choosing your geographical cover
The single biggest factor in IPMI premiums is where you want to be covered.
- Worldwide excluding USA; the most popular tier. Covers you everywhere except the US, where healthcare costs are exceptionally high.
- Worldwide including USA; needed if you live in the US or spend long periods there. Premiums can be two or three times higher.
- Region-only; Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East. Cheapest, but restrictive if you travel.
If you only visit the US for short trips, many insurers offer a US “trip cover” add-on at a fraction of full inclusion.
Country-specific points
- EU and EEA; UK expats may qualify for state healthcare in some EU countries; IPMI usually sits on top, giving you a private route alongside.
- USA; US healthcare costs are very high. Expats typically need a US-inclusive plan or local US health insurance.
- UAE and Gulf states; most have mandatory local health insurance. Expats often top up with IPMI for wider hospital choice and evacuation cover.
- Asia and Latin America; private hospital quality varies widely. Evacuation cover matters more than usual.
Returning to the UK
If you move back, you’ll usually want to switch from IPMI to UK PMI. Some IPMI insurers offer a UK transfer route that preserves cover for any conditions accepted on the international plan, but not all. We help you plan switches before you book the flight.
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep my UK PMI when I move abroad? Usually only short-term. Most UK insurers won’t continue cover once you’re a tax resident overseas. We help you switch to IPMI before the move.
What’s the difference between IPMI and travel insurance? Travel insurance is for short trips and emergencies, with a hard cap on individual claims and no cover for ongoing treatment. IPMI is full medical cover for people living abroad.
Do I need cover from the day I arrive? Yes; start cover from the day your UK residency ends to avoid any gap. Underwriting on a new condition only applies if the condition arose before cover started.
Is IPMI worth it if my new country has good public healthcare? Often yes. IPMI gives you faster access, English-speaking specialists, and the option to be treated in another country if local options aren’t right. Evacuation cover alone is worth the premium for many expats.
Moving abroad or already there? Call 0800 131 0400 or email info@insuredhealth.co.uk.
