How much does average expat health insurance cost?
In 2023, our average premium for an individual for a single year of cover was US$4,871. How much you pay though, will depend on things like your age, cover needs and location.
Find out how much international health insurance can cost, and ways you can save money on your health insurance premium to make sure you’re not paying more than you need to.
The cost of private health insurance is rising around the world
Find out what you can do to help reduce your premium
What impacts expat health insurance cost?
The cost ofexpat health insurance varies so dramatically because there are so many factors affecting how we calculate premiums. The most important factors are:
- Where you need cover–Private healthcare is more expensive in certain countries and regions.
- Your age– Generally speaking, the older you are the more healthcare you’re likely to need. Premiums get more expensive as you get older.
- Medical history– Health insurance doesn’t typically cover pre-existing medical conditions. Sometimes, you may need to pay an additional premium to get cover for such conditions.
- Optional extras– Perhaps you need cover for complex dental treatment or temporary cover in the USA.
Unlike other providers, your claims history while you’re a member with William Russell won’t affect your renewal premium. Unlike other providers, we don’t think it’s fair to penalise members based on legitimate claims they’ve made in the past.
Further, it discourages people from receiving the medical treatment they need because they are concerned about the cost of their renewal premium.
The premium is what you are charged for your health insurance policy
Here’s how we calculate premiums for health insurance
How much does average expat health insurance cost in different countries?
Your location is one of the key factors in calculating a premium. The cost of private healthcare varies dramatically in different countries, even when they’re geographically close to one another.
For example, in 2023 the average cost of health insurance in Singapore is US$7,764, nearly double the cost compared to its not-too-distant neighbor Vietnam, where expat health insurance costs on average US$3,934.
We look into what influences the costs of healthcare and health insurance in the USA, a nation where per capita health spending is almost twice the average seen in other wealthy countries.
Because the prices vary so drastically we use a sophisticated pricing model that weights countries according to how much private healthcare costs there.We have over 100 different country weightings, which means we can provide members living in diverse countries an accurate and fair premium for their private health insurance in that country.
Most expensive countries for international health insurance
So which are the most expensive countries for expat health insurance? According to a2023 report conducted by Pacific Prime, the USA was the most expensive country for expat health insurance premiums. You might guess the other countries making up the top five most expensive.
Each figure in the table below shows the average cost for a single member, priced in US dollars.
Rank
Country
Cost (US$)
1
USA
$9,817
2
Hong Kong
$7,810
3
Singapore
$7,028
4
Dubai
$5,687
5
Taiwan
$5,532
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So, which countries are cheapest for expat health insurance?
The same survey concludes that the cheapest country for expat health insurance is Thailand. Surprisingly, European countries make up the rest of the ‘cheapest’ countries for expat health insurance.
Rank
Country
Cost (US$)
69
Romania
$3,921
69
Croatia
$3,921
69
Slovakia
$3,921
70
Poland
$3,847
71
Thailand
$3,594
What is health and how does insurance protect it?
We look at what international health insurance actually protects
Ways to save money on your health insurance premium
Whilst an international health insurance policy isn’t usually cheap, there are things you can do to ensure you’re not paying more than you need to when finding the right policy for you and your family.
Here are some of our top tips:
- Ensure your cover is for the right location(s)– most expat plans are tailored to specific areas (or zones) of cover. You can save money by ensuring you pick the right zone for you.
- Choose a provider with modular/customised plans– Some providers lump several benefits together into one bundle. We know that one size will never fit everyone and that our members deserve tailored products. When you choose a provider who offers modular plans – you can decide whether you want to pay extra for things like dental cover. Find out more aboutour health plans here.
- Pick the right ‘base plan’ for your needs– Once you’ve found an insurer with modular options, you can focus on picking the best base plan for your needs. It’s worth comparing more comprehensive plans and basic plans with added benefits.
- Pick the right excess– Finally, it’s worth exploring different excess options. For example, if you’re only interested in a policy that covers you for serious illnesses you may be better off with a Bronze plan and a higher excess. At William Russell we don’t use call centres and instead, have an award-winning team of product specialists who are dedicated to helping you find a cost-effective health plan, tailored to your needs.
Do you actually need international health insurance abroad?
Explore the top ten reasons it’s important for you and your family
The busy family
The young couple
The solo nomad
A family of four who wants their routine dental care covered but don’t need the additional the coverage our Gold plan would provide.
A couple who are planning on starting a family and want to ensure they have great maternity cover when they are living abroad.
A frequent traveller and digital nomad who wants to have medical evacuation and a good level of cover without a huge premium.
Country of nationality
UK
USA
Norway
Country of residence
Vietnam
Indonesia
Thailand
Age(s)
35, 40, 5, 2
29, 34
34
Plan selected
Silver
Gold
SilverLite
Excess (per annum)
US$250
US$250
US$250
Payment frequency
Yearly
Half-yearly
Monthly
Monthly premium
US$556
US$699
US$225
Need help?
Request a callback
Call our UK experts on
+44 (0) 1276 486477
Email us at
Notes on our health plans
All the benefits on this webpage are per member per policy year, unless we state otherwise. We show the benefit limits in US dollars, but we can also denominate your policy in pounds sterling or Euros. You won’t find complete information for our plans on this webpage, nor the full T&Cs, limitations, and exclusions that would apply if you purchase a health insurance policy. You can find complete information in the plan agreement, which we suggest you read together with this webpage. We work hard to ensure the information we provide on this webpage is accurate and up-to-date, but inaccuracies are possible. We rectify errors as soon as we become aware of them. The T&Cs that apply to your policy are those found in your plan agreement.
Wherever you go, go with total peace of mind
At William Russell, we have over 30 years’ experience of helping expatriates move abroad and settle into their new lives overseas by providing world-class international health insurance.
Joe Holden
Global Relationship Manager
If you’re ready to see prices for health insurance, click on ‘Get a Quote’ below to head on over to our online quote tool.
We’ll ask you a few details (your age, your location), and then we’ll show you prices—it only takes a few minutes!
A couple of days after you’ve received you quote, Joe will email or call you to find out how we can help you further. Joe won’t bug you, and you can opt out at any time.
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We were one of the first insurance providers to cover people living abroad, and we’ve earned a reputation for our wonderful customer service.
The insurer behind our policies is part of the Allianz group
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