
TL;DR
As an experienced broker that has arranged over 900,000 policies of various kinds, WeCovr specialises in helping UK citizens and expatriates navigate the complexities of private medical insurance. This guide offers an authoritative look at AXA Global Healthcare, one of the world's leading international private medical insurance (IPMI) providers. An in-depth guide to AXA Global (AXA Global Healthcare) – plan structure, underwriting, hospital networks, exclusions, claims and how to compare AXA IPMI International Private Medical Insurance (IPMI) is a specialised type of health cover designed for individuals and families living or working outside their home country.
Key takeaways
- Geographical Scope: IPMI is designed for international use. Plans have defined "areas of cover," such as 'Europe' or 'Worldwide excluding USA,' allowing you to receive treatment in multiple countries. Standard UK PMI is typically limited to treatment within the UK.
- Comprehensive Cover: IPMI plans are generally more comprehensive than their domestic counterparts. They often include benefits like medical evacuation, repatriation, and wellness checks as standard or as easily added options.
- Designed for Expats: These policies are built for the expatriate lifestyle, covering everything from routine GP visits and dental care to complex cancer treatment and in-patient hospital stays, wherever you are in your chosen region.
- Portability: A key feature is portability. If you move from one country to another (within your area of cover), your policy moves with you, providing continuous cover without the need to re-apply.
- Global Reach: AXA has a vast, directly-billed network of hospitals, clinics, and medical professionals worldwide.
As an experienced broker that has arranged over 900,000 policies of various kinds, WeCovr specialises in helping UK citizens and expatriates navigate the complexities of private medical insurance. This guide offers an authoritative look at AXA Global Healthcare, one of the world's leading international private medical insurance (IPMI) providers.
An in-depth guide to AXA Global (AXA Global Healthcare) – plan structure, underwriting, hospital networks, exclusions, claims and how to compare AXA IPMI
International Private Medical Insurance (IPMI) is a specialised type of health cover designed for individuals and families living or working outside their home country. Unlike domestic private medical insurance in the UK, which is designed for use within the UK, IPMI provides comprehensive medical cover across geographical borders.
AXA is one of the most recognised names in global insurance, and its specialist division, AXA Global Healthcare, offers a range of sophisticated IPMI plans. This guide will break down everything you need to know about their 2026 offerings, helping you decide if AXA is the right choice for your global health needs.
What is International Private Medical Insurance (IPMI)?
Before diving into AXA's specific plans, it's vital to understand what IPMI is and how it differs from standard UK health insurance.
- Geographical Scope: IPMI is designed for international use. Plans have defined "areas of cover," such as 'Europe' or 'Worldwide excluding USA,' allowing you to receive treatment in multiple countries. Standard UK PMI is typically limited to treatment within the UK.
- Comprehensive Cover: IPMI plans are generally more comprehensive than their domestic counterparts. They often include benefits like medical evacuation, repatriation, and wellness checks as standard or as easily added options.
- Designed for Expats: These policies are built for the expatriate lifestyle, covering everything from routine GP visits and dental care to complex cancer treatment and in-patient hospital stays, wherever you are in your chosen region.
- Portability: A key feature is portability. If you move from one country to another (within your area of cover), your policy moves with you, providing continuous cover without the need to re-apply.
Key takeaway: IPMI is for covering new, acute medical conditions that arise while you are living abroad. It is not for travel insurance (short trips) or for covering pre-existing or chronic conditions.
Who is AXA Global Healthcare?
AXA Global Healthcare is the international health insurance arm of the AXA Group, a French multinational insurance firm with a presence in over 50 countries. They specialise exclusively in providing health cover to people living and working overseas.
Key Facts about AXA Global Healthcare:
- Global Reach: AXA has a vast, directly-billed network of hospitals, clinics, and medical professionals worldwide.
- Experience: They have decades of experience managing the complexities of international healthcare, from navigating different medical systems to handling multi-currency claims.
- 24/7 Support: Their multilingual support teams are available around the clock, providing a crucial service for members who may be in different time zones and facing stressful medical situations.
- Digital Tools: AXA provides members with access to a secure online portal and app for managing their policy, finding healthcare providers, and submitting claims. This includes access to their Virtual Doctor service.
AXA's reputation is built on financial strength, a global footprint, and a deep understanding of the expatriate market, making them a top-tier choice for many individuals, families, and corporate groups.
Understanding AXA Global's 2026 Plan Structure
AXA structures its offering around a core plan that covers essential, high-cost treatments, with the option to add further benefits. For 2026, their individual and family plans are tiered to suit different needs and budgets.
There are five main levels of cover:
- Foundation: Essential, budget-friendly cover for in-patient and day-patient treatment.
- Standard: A mid-range plan balancing comprehensive cover with affordability.
- Comprehensive: Extensive cover including out-patient benefits like GP and specialist visits.
- Prestige: A premium-tier plan offering very high benefit limits and extensive cover.
- Prestige Plus: The highest level of cover with minimal limitations for ultimate peace of mind.
Core Cover: What's Included as Standard?
All AXA Global plans are built on a foundation of in-patient and day-patient cover. This is the most critical part of any health insurance policy, as it covers costs associated with being admitted to a hospital.
Here’s what you can typically expect as standard on all plans:
- Hospital Accommodation: A semi-private room is standard on most plans, with private rooms available on higher-tier plans.
- Surgeon and Anaesthetist Fees: Covered in full up to the annual plan limit.
- Specialist Consultations: When you are admitted to hospital.
- Diagnostic Tests: MRIs, CT scans, and PET scans related to in-patient or day-patient treatment.
- Cancer Treatment: Comprehensive cover for radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and other cancer-related treatments.
- Emergency Medical Evacuation: If the necessary treatment isn't available locally, AXA will cover the cost of transporting you to the nearest suitable medical facility.
- 24/7 Helpline: Access to a multilingual team for medical advice and emergencies.
- Virtual Doctor Service: Access to a doctor by phone or video call, 24/7, from anywhere in the world.
AXA Global Health Insurance Plans: A 2026 Comparison
To make it easier to understand the differences, here is a simplified breakdown of the main plan tiers. Note that benefit limits are illustrative and should always be confirmed in the policy documents.
| Feature | Foundation | Standard | Comprehensive | Prestige & Prestige Plus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Limit | ~£100,000 | ~£1,000,000 | ~£1,500,000 | Paid in full |
| In-patient Cover | ✅ Included | ✅ Included | ✅ Included | ✅ Included |
| Medical Evacuation | ✅ Included | ✅ Included | ✅ Included | ✅ Included |
| Out-patient Cover | ❌ Not included | ✅ Included (with limits) | ✅ Included | ✅ Included (high limits) |
| Routine Dental | ❌ Optional Add-on | ❌ Optional Add-on | ❌ Optional Add-on | ✅ Included |
| Maternity Cover | ❌ Optional Add-on | ❌ Optional Add-on | ❌ Optional Add-on | ✅ Included |
| Wellness & Check-ups | ❌ Not included | ❌ Not included | ✅ Included (with limits) | ✅ Included (high limits) |
| Area of Cover | Europe or Worldwide Excl. USA | Europe or Worldwide Excl. USA | Europe or Worldwide (incl. USA) | Worldwide (incl. USA) |
Optional Add-ons and Modules
For greater flexibility, AXA allows you to tailor your policy with optional benefits. This is a cost-effective way to get the cover you need without paying for benefits you won't use. Common add-ons include:
- Out-patient Cover: Essential if you want cover for GP visits, specialist consultations, and diagnostic tests that don't require a hospital stay. This is included as standard on Comprehensive and Prestige plans but is a vital add-on for Standard plans.
- Dental Cover: Provides cover for routine check-ups, fillings, and more complex dental work.
- Maternity Cover: For those planning a family, this covers costs related to pre-natal care, childbirth, and post-natal treatment. Note that there is typically a 10-12 month waiting period before you can claim on this benefit.
- Deductible/Excess Options: You can choose to add a deductible (known as an excess in the UK). This is the amount you agree to pay towards a claim. Choosing a higher deductible will significantly reduce your premium.
AXA Global Underwriting Options Explained
Underwriting is the process an insurer uses to assess your health and medical history to decide the terms of your policy. AXA Global offers two main types of underwriting.
1. Moratorium Underwriting (MORI)
This is the most common option for individuals and families. It's a simpler and faster way to get cover.
- How it works: You do not need to provide your full medical history upfront. Instead, the policy automatically excludes treatment for any medical conditions you've had symptoms, treatment, or advice for in the 5 years before your policy starts.
- The 2-year rule: Cover for these pre-existing conditions may be added later, but only if you complete a continuous 2-year period on the policy without experiencing symptoms, needing treatment, or seeking advice for that condition.
- Pros: Quick application process, no lengthy medical questionnaires.
- Cons: Lack of certainty. You may only discover a condition is not covered when you try to make a claim.
Broker Insight: A moratorium is convenient but can lead to disappointment at the point of claim. It's crucial to understand that any condition you've had recently, even minor ones, will be excluded for the first two years of your policy.
2. Full Medical Underwriting (FMU)
With FMU, you provide a complete declaration of your medical history on the application form.
- How it works: AXA's underwriters review your health declaration. They may then offer you cover on standard terms, add a specific exclusion for a declared condition, or in rare cases, charge a higher premium or decline cover.
- Pros: Complete clarity from day one. You know exactly what is and isn't covered before the policy starts.
- Cons: The application process is longer and more intrusive. You must be completely honest and accurate, as any non-disclosure can invalidate your policy.
Which is right for you?
- Choose Moratorium if: You are in good health with no recent medical issues and want a quick and simple application.
- Choose Full Medical Underwriting if: You have previous medical conditions and want certainty about what will be covered from the start.
An expert broker like WeCovr can help you decide which underwriting method is most suitable for your personal circumstances.
AXA's Global Hospital Network
One of AXA's greatest strengths is its extensive global network of hospitals, clinics, and specialists. This network is crucial for a seamless healthcare experience abroad.
- Direct Billing: Within their network, AXA can arrange to pay the hospital or clinic directly. This means you don't have to pay large medical bills out-of-pocket and wait for reimbursement. This is known as a "cashless" service.
- Finding a Provider: AXA provides an online directory of medical providers, easily accessible through your member portal or app, allowing you to find approved facilities near you.
- Out-of-Network Treatment: You are still free to use hospitals or doctors outside of AXA's direct billing network. In this case, you would typically need to pay for the treatment yourself and then submit a claim for reimbursement. Pre-authorisation is still essential for any planned hospital stays.
Key Exclusions: What AXA Global Won't Cover
All insurance policies have exclusions. Understanding these is just as important as knowing what is covered. Like all IPMI providers, AXA will not cover:
- Pre-existing Conditions: As discussed under underwriting, any condition that existed before you joined will be excluded, either temporarily (Moratorium) or permanently (FMU).
- Chronic Conditions: IPMI is designed for acute conditions (illnesses that are curable and respond to treatment). It does not cover the routine management of long-term chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, or asthma. While the policy will cover acute flare-ups of a chronic condition, the day-to-day monitoring and medication are not covered.
- Self-inflicted Injuries: Injuries resulting from suicide attempts or dangerous hobbies not declared to the insurer.
- Cosmetic Surgery: Procedures that are not medically necessary.
- Fertility Treatment: Treatments like IVF are typically excluded unless covered under a specific corporate plan.
- Unproven Treatment: Experimental or non-conventional treatments and therapies.
Always read the policy's terms and conditions carefully. A broker can help you identify any specific exclusions that might affect you.
The AXA Global Claims Process
AXA has a well-regarded and streamlined claims process, designed to be as stress-free as possible.
- Pre-authorisation (The Golden Rule): For any planned hospital treatment (in-patient or day-patient), you must contact AXA for pre-authorisation before treatment begins. This allows them to confirm that the treatment is covered and arrange direct payment with the hospital where possible. Failure to pre-authorise could result in your claim being rejected or only partially paid.
- Emergency Treatment: In a genuine emergency, you should seek medical help immediately. You or a family member should then contact AXA's 24/7 emergency helpline as soon as is reasonably possible.
- Out-patient Claims: For smaller, out-patient costs like a GP visit or prescription, you will usually pay upfront. You can then submit the receipt and claim form easily via AXA's online portal or mobile app for reimbursement.
Insider Tip: Keep digital copies of all invoices, receipts, and medical reports. This makes the reimbursement process much faster and smoother.
AXA Global Pricing: Key Factors That Influence Your Premium
The price of your AXA IPMI policy is highly personalised. Several key factors determine your final premium:
- Age: This is the single biggest factor. Premiums increase significantly with age as the risk of needing medical treatment rises.
- Area of Cover: Where you need cover has a major impact. There are typically three main zones:
- Europe: The most affordable.
- Worldwide excluding USA: More expensive, covering the rest of the world but excluding the USA due to its exceptionally high healthcare costs.
- Worldwide: The most expensive option, providing global cover including the USA.
- Plan Tier: A Foundation plan will be much cheaper than a Prestige Plus plan due to the difference in benefit limits and scope of cover.
- Deductible/Excess: Choosing a higher deductible is one of the most effective ways to lower your premium. An annual deductible of £1,000 could reduce your premium by 20-30% compared to a plan with no deductible.
- Optional Add-ons: Adding modules for out-patient, dental, or maternity care will increase the cost.
Who is AXA Global Health Insurance Best For?
AXA Global is a premium provider, and their plans are best suited for certain types of individuals and groups:
- Expatriate Professionals & Families: Individuals and their families relocating for work who require comprehensive, reliable cover with excellent service and a large hospital network.
- High-Net-Worth Individuals: Those who want the absolute best cover available (Prestige or Prestige Plus plans) with "paid in full" benefits and minimal hassle.
- Digital Nomads: While some budget-focused nomads might seek cheaper alternatives, those who value robust cover and a global support system will find AXA a strong contender, particularly the Standard plan with a worldwide-excluding-USA area of cover.
- Retirees Moving Abroad: Retirees who need peace of mind and certainty about their healthcare in their new country of residence. FMU underwriting is often the best choice here.
- Small & Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs): Companies with employees based in multiple countries can benefit from AXA's group IPMI schemes.
AXA may be less suitable for very budget-conscious individuals who only require basic, emergency-level hospital cover.
How to Compare AXA IPMI with Other Insurers
While AXA is a market leader, they are not the only option. Other major IPMI providers include Bupa Global, Cigna Global, and Allianz Care. When comparing, you need to look beyond the headline price.
Here's how an expert broker like WeCovr would analyse your options:
- Benefit Limits: Don't just look at the overall annual limit. Check the sub-limits for specific treatments like out-patient care, mental health, or alternative therapies.
- Network vs. Reimbursement: How important is a direct billing network to you? Some insurers have larger networks in certain regions than others.
- Underwriting Terms: How does each insurer treat your specific pre-existing conditions under FMU? One insurer might offer cover where another applies an exclusion.
- Service and Claims Handling: Reputation matters. A broker has first-hand experience of which insurers are efficient and fair when it comes to paying claims.
- The Fine Print: We analyse the policy wording for subtle but important differences in definitions, waiting periods, and exclusions.
Comparing IPMI policies is complex. Using a specialist broker ensures you get a like-for-like comparison and advice tailored to your unique needs, at no extra cost to you.
As a WeCovr client, you also get complimentary access to our AI-powered calorie and nutrition tracking app, CalorieHero, and can benefit from discounts on other policies like life or income protection insurance.
Is AXA Global Health Insurance the same as AXA PPP?
Does AXA Global cover pre-existing conditions?
Can I use my AXA Global policy in the USA?
How do I reduce the cost of my AXA Global premium?
Get Expert Advice on Your Global Health Cover
Choosing the right international health insurance is one of the most important decisions you'll make when moving abroad. The options are complex, and the wrong choice can be costly.
The team at WeCovr are independent experts in the IPMI market. We can compare AXA Global's plans against other leading providers to find the optimal solution for your situation and budget. Our advice is impartial, our service is free, and we are here to support you for the life of your policy.
Contact us today for a free, no-obligation quote and a personalised comparison of your global health insurance options.











