
TL;DR
Navigating the world of international private medical insurance (IPMI) can feel complex. At WeCovr, with our experience helping arrange over 900,000 policies of various kinds for UK and global clients, we understand the challenge. This guide offers an expert comparison between specialist provider Expatriate Group and global giants like AXA, Bupa, and IMG.
Key takeaways
- vs. Standard UK PMI: UK private medical insurance is designed for use within the UK only. IPMI provides cover across specified geographical regions, which can be worldwide.
- vs. Travel Insurance: Travel insurance is for short-term trips and focuses on medical emergencies, lost baggage, and cancellations. It is not designed for routine healthcare or long-term residency abroad. IPMI is your comprehensive health plan while you are living overseas.
- Who they are: A specialist provider focusing exclusively on expatriates. They offer a more direct, streamlined service, often with a simpler product structure.
- Best for: Individuals and families looking for comprehensive, no-frills international health cover without the complexity of some larger providers. Their plans are often perceived as being more straightforward and accessible.
- Who they are: A premium, market-leading brand in global health insurance. Bupa Global is synonymous with extensive coverage, high benefit limits, and exceptional service.
Navigating the world of international private medical insurance (IPMI) can feel complex. At WeCovr, with our experience helping arrange over 900,000 policies of various kinds for UK and global clients, we understand the challenge. This guide offers an expert comparison between specialist provider Expatriate Group and global giants like AXA, Bupa, and IMG.
A comparison between Expatriate Group's individual IPMI and other global private medical insurance options like AXA Global, Bupa Global and IMG
Choosing the right global health plan is one of the most important decisions you'll make when planning a life abroad. The policy you select is your passport to quality healthcare, no matter where you are in the world. But the market is crowded, with different providers catering to vastly different needs and budgets.
In one corner, you have the specialist providers like Expatriate Group, known for their focused, often more streamlined offerings. In the other, you have the titans of the industry: Bupa Global, AXA Global, and IMG (International Medical Group), each with decades of experience and vast global networks.
This article breaks down the key differences, helping you understand which provider and plan aligns best with your personal circumstances, destination, and budget.
What is International Private Medical Insurance (IPMI)?
Before we compare the providers, let's clarify what IPMI is and, crucially, what it isn't.
International Private Medical Insurance (IPMI) is an annual health insurance plan designed for individuals and families living or working outside their home country for an extended period (typically one year or more).
Its primary purpose is to cover the cost of private medical treatment for new, acute conditions that arise after your policy begins. This includes everything from consultations and diagnostics to hospital stays and surgery.
Here’s how IPMI differs from other types of cover:
- vs. Standard UK PMI: UK private medical insurance is designed for use within the UK only. IPMI provides cover across specified geographical regions, which can be worldwide.
- vs. Travel Insurance: Travel insurance is for short-term trips and focuses on medical emergencies, lost baggage, and cancellations. It is not designed for routine healthcare or long-term residency abroad. IPMI is your comprehensive health plan while you are living overseas.
Essentially, if you are moving abroad, IPMI is designed to replace the function of your home country's health system, like the NHS in the UK.
The Contenders: A Closer Look at the Providers
Each insurer has a distinct identity and market position. Understanding this is the first step to finding your match.
Expatriate Group
- Who they are: A specialist provider focusing exclusively on expatriates. They offer a more direct, streamlined service, often with a simpler product structure.
- Best for: Individuals and families looking for comprehensive, no-frills international health cover without the complexity of some larger providers. Their plans are often perceived as being more straightforward and accessible.
Bupa Global
- Who they are: A premium, market-leading brand in global health insurance. Bupa Global is synonymous with extensive coverage, high benefit limits, and exceptional service.
- Best for: Senior executives, high-net-worth individuals, and families who want the highest level of assurance, access to a vast network of top-tier facilities, and are willing to pay a premium for it.
AXA Global
- Who they are: Part of the global AXA Group, they are a major force in the IPMI market. They offer a wide range of customisable plans backed by a massive international network and strong brand recognition.
- Best for: Those who value choice and flexibility. AXA provides multiple tiers of cover that can be tailored with various add-ons, making them a strong option for a wide range of expatriates.
IMG (International Medical Group)
- Who they are: A US-based insurer with a significant global footprint. IMG is known for its wide variety of plans, catering to different needs and budgets, from students and missionaries to corporate groups and long-term expats.
- Best for: A broad audience, including US citizens abroad or non-US citizens needing cover that includes the USA. Their tiered plans offer clear pathways from essential cover to comprehensive benefits.
Core Feature Comparison: Expatriate Group vs The Titans
Let's put these providers head-to-head on the features that matter most. An expert broker like WeCovr can provide a personalised comparison based on your exact needs, but this table gives you a clear overview.
| Feature | Expatriate Group | Bupa Global | AXA Global | IMG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market Position | Specialist, streamlined | Premium, high-service | Major global player, flexible | Broad appeal, strong US options |
| Typical Plan Range | Fewer, well-defined tiers | Multiple premium tiers | Highly customisable tiers | Wide range from budget to full-cover |
| Annual Benefit Limit | Good to very good (£1m+) | Very high to unlimited | High to very high | Varies widely by plan |
| Area of Cover | Clear regional options | Worldwide options, often excl. or incl. USA | Flexible zones, incl. USA options | Multiple zones, strong in Americas |
| Underwriting | Moratorium or Full Medical Underwriting (FMU) | Moratorium or FMU | Moratorium or FMU | Moratorium or FMU |
| Out-patient Cover | Usually included in mid- to top-tier plans | Generous limits, often included as standard | Available as standard or an add-on | Varies significantly by plan tier |
| Dental & Vision | Optional add-on | Optional add-on, often with high limits | Optional add-on | Optional add-on |
| Medical Evacuation | Included as standard | Included as standard, high limits | Included as standard | Included as standard |
| Direct Settlement | Growing network | Very extensive global network | Very extensive global network | Large global network |
| Adviser's Insight | A strong contender for those wanting solid, understandable cover without paying for a premium brand name. Their direct approach can be appealing. | The 'gold standard' for a reason. If budget is less of a concern and you want maximum peace of mind, Bupa is hard to beat. | A fantastic all-rounder. AXA's strength lies in its ability to be tailored. You can build a plan that precisely fits your needs. | IMG offers great flexibility, especially if you need cover in the USA. Their variety of plans means there's likely an option for most budgets. |
Underwriting Explained: Choosing Your Path to Cover
When you apply for IPMI, the insurer needs to understand your health history. This process is called underwriting. There are two main types, and your choice has significant implications.
-
Full Medical Underwriting (FMU)
- What it is: You complete a detailed health questionnaire, declaring your entire medical history. The insurer assesses this information and may apply specific exclusions or premium loadings for pre-existing conditions.
- Pros: You have complete clarity from day one about what is and isn't covered.
- Cons: The application process is longer and more intrusive.
- Insider Tip: Choose FMU if you have a known medical history and want certainty. It's better to know upfront if a condition is excluded than to have a claim denied later.
-
Moratorium Underwriting
- What it is: You don't declare your medical history upfront. Instead, the policy automatically excludes treatment for any condition you've had symptoms of, or received advice or treatment for, in the 5 years before your policy started.
- How it works: This exclusion is temporary. If you go for a continuous 2-year period after your policy starts without any symptoms, treatment, or advice for that condition, it may become eligible for cover.
- Pros: Quick and simple application.
- Cons: Creates a "grey area." You may not be sure if a condition is covered until you make a claim.
- Crucial Point: Chronic conditions (like diabetes, asthma, or hypertension) and pre-existing conditions are generally not covered by standard IPMI policies. IPMI is for new, unforeseen, and acute illnesses or injuries.
The Cost Equation: What Drives Your IPMI Premium?
Your IPMI premium isn't an arbitrary number. It's calculated based on several key risk factors. Understanding these helps you see where you can adjust your cover to manage costs.
- Age: This is the single biggest factor. Premiums increase significantly with age.
- Area of Cover: "Worldwide excluding the USA" is a common and cost-effective option. Including the USA can increase premiums by 50-100% due to the high cost of American healthcare.
- Level of Cover: A basic plan covering only in-patient treatment (hospital stays) will be much cheaper than a comprehensive plan that includes out-patient visits, dental, and wellness checks.
- Excess (or Deductible): This is the amount you agree to pay towards a claim before the insurer pays out. A higher excess (£1,000) will result in a lower premium than a small excess (£100).
Illustrative Cost Comparison
To give you a real-world idea, here is a hypothetical comparison for a 40-year-old British national living in Spain, non-smoker, seeking a mid-tier comprehensive plan (Worldwide excluding USA cover).
| Provider | Illustrative Plan Tier | Estimated Annual Premium* |
|---|---|---|
| Expatriate Group | Select | £2,400 |
| Bupa Global | Worldwide Health Options | £4,500 |
| AXA Global | Standard | £3,800 |
| IMG | Gold | £3,200 |
*Disclaimer: These figures are for illustrative purposes only, based on typical market pricing in early 2026. Your actual quote will vary based on your specific details, chosen excess, and underwriting outcome. Contact WeCovr for a precise, personalised quote.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid When Choosing Global Health Cover
As experienced private medical insurance brokers, we see clients make the same costly mistakes. Here are five to avoid:
- Confusing IPMI with Travel Insurance: The biggest error. Moving abroad for a year on a travel policy is a recipe for disaster. It won't cover routine care and may refuse to pay out if they deem you a resident, not a tourist.
- Ignoring the "USA Effect": Opting for a "Worldwide excl. USA" plan to save money is smart, but only if you are certain you won't live, work, or spend significant time there. A single medical incident in the US without cover can lead to financial ruin.
- Misunderstanding Moratorium: Believing a pre-existing condition will automatically be covered after two years. It will only be covered if you have been completely free of symptoms, treatment, and advice for that entire period. For chronic conditions, this is rarely possible.
- Choosing an Unrealistic Excess: A £5,000 excess might make your premium look attractive, but can you comfortably pay that amount if you need treatment? Choose an excess that you can genuinely afford.
- Overlooking the Network: Don't just look at the price. Check the insurer's direct settlement network in your country of residence. A strong network means the hospital bills the insurer directly, saving you from paying large sums upfront and claiming back later.
Why Use a Broker like WeCovr for Your IPMI?
In a market this complex, going it alone can be risky. An independent, FCA-regulated broker like WeCovr adds value at no extra cost to you.
- Market Expertise: We live and breathe private medical insurance UK and global plans. We know the providers, the plans, and the fine print inside-out, saving you dozens of hours of research.
- Personalised Comparison: We don't just give you prices. We listen to your needs—your destination, family structure, medical history, and budget—and recommend the plan that truly fits.
- It's Free: Our service costs you nothing. We receive a commission from the insurer you choose, which is already built into the premium. You get expert advice without paying a penny extra.
- Your Advocate: From helping with the application to providing support if you have a claims query, we work for you, not the insurance company.
- Exclusive Benefits: When you arrange a policy through us, you also get complimentary access to WeCovr's AI-powered calorie and nutrition tracking app, CalorieHero, plus potential discounts on other policies like life insurance.
Frequently Asked Questions about Global Health Insurance
Does IPMI cover pre-existing conditions?
Can I add my family to my IPMI plan?
What is the difference between an excess and a co-payment?
Can I switch my IPMI provider?
Finding Your Perfect Global Health Plan
There is no single "best" IPMI provider. The right choice is the one that matches your unique circumstances.
- Expatriate Group is an excellent choice for straightforward, robust cover.
- Bupa Global is the premium standard for those wanting the highest level of service.
- AXA Global offers unparalleled flexibility to build a bespoke plan.
- IMG provides a vast range of options, particularly for those needing US cover.
The most effective way to navigate this choice is with expert, independent advice.
Ready to secure your health and peace of mind abroad? The friendly experts at WeCovr are here to help. We'll compare the market's leading plans for you, ensuring you get the right cover at the best possible price.












