TL;DR
Planning a gap year, a career sabbatical, or an extended stay overseas is an exhilarating experience. Amidst the excitement of booking flights and planning itineraries, arranging the right health cover is a critical step that’s often misunderstood. As specialists in the UK private medical insurance market, our team at WeCovr has helped arrange cover for over 900,000 individuals, and we know that for long-term travel, standard travel insurance simply isn’t enough.
Key takeaways
- The crucial difference between IPMI and travel insurance.
- The key features to look for in a policy.
- How to navigate underwriting and pre-existing conditions.
- A step-by-step process for securing the best cover.
- Common, costly mistakes to avoid.
Planning a gap year, a career sabbatical, or an extended stay overseas is an exhilarating experience. Amidst the excitement of booking flights and planning itineraries, arranging the right health cover is a critical step that’s often misunderstood. As specialists in the UK private medical insurance market, our team at WeCovr has helped arrange cover for over 900,000 individuals, and we know that for long-term travel, standard travel insurance simply isn’t enough. You need the robust protection of International Private Medical Insurance (IPMI).
This guide will demystify short-term IPMI, helping you choose the right worldwide cover for your adventure.
A focused guide to choosing short-term IPMI for gap years, sabbaticals or extended overseas stays
Embarking on a journey of several months or a year requires a different mindset towards healthcare. You’re not just a tourist; you're a temporary resident of another country. This means you need more than just emergency cover. You need a policy that functions like private health insurance, but on a global scale. This is precisely what International Private Medical Insurance (IPMI) is designed for.
This guide will cover:
- The crucial difference between IPMI and travel insurance.
- The key features to look for in a policy.
- How to navigate underwriting and pre-existing conditions.
- A step-by-step process for securing the best cover.
- Common, costly mistakes to avoid.
What is Short-Term IPMI and Why Do You Need It?
Short-Term International Private Medical Insurance is comprehensive health cover designed for individuals and families living outside their home country for a period of three months to one year. Unlike standard travel insurance, which is designed for short holidays and covers emergencies, lost baggage, and flight cancellations, IPMI is focused purely on your health.
IPMI provides access to private healthcare for both emergencies and routine medical needs. Think of it as a portable version of UK private medical insurance (PMI) that works across borders.
The core purpose of IPMI is to cover the cost of eligible new medical conditions that arise after your policy begins. It ensures that should you fall ill or have an accident, you can receive high-quality medical care without facing crippling bills.
Short-Term IPMI vs. Standard Travel Insurance
Confusing the two is a common and dangerous mistake. A standard travel policy might cover the cost of stitching a wound in A&E, but it won't typically cover the follow-up appointments, diagnostics, or physiotherapy you might need afterwards.
Here’s a clear breakdown of the differences:
| Feature | Standard Travel Insurance | Short-Term International PMI |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Purpose | Covers travel-related mishaps: emergencies, cancellations, lost luggage. | Covers comprehensive healthcare needs while living abroad. |
| Duration | Typically for trips up to 30-90 days. | Designed for stays of 3-12 months. |
| Medical Cover | Primarily for unforeseen medical emergencies. | Covers emergencies, hospital stays, diagnostics, and often routine care. |
| Outpatient Care | Very limited or non-existent. | Can be included to cover GP visits, specialist consultations, and tests. |
| Pre-existing Conditions | Generally excluded or only covered for acute emergencies with strict limits. | Can sometimes be covered subject to medical underwriting. |
| Renewability | Cannot be renewed if you extend your trip. | Policies can often be extended or converted to an annual plan. |
| Best For | Short holidays and business trips. | Gap years, sabbaticals, and overseas work assignments. |
Real-Life Scenario:
Anna, a 24-year-old on a 10-month gap year in Thailand, develops a severe kidney infection. Her basic travel insurance covers the initial emergency hospital visit. However, she needs several follow-up consultations with a specialist and a course of powerful antibiotics. Her travel insurance won't cover these non-emergency costs. With a short-term IPMI policy, all her eligible treatment, from the initial A&E visit to the final check-up, would be covered.
Key Features to Look for in a Short-Term IPMI Policy
Choosing the right IPMI policy involves balancing comprehensive cover with a budget that works for you. Here are the essential components you need to understand and decide upon.
Area of Cover: Getting Your Geography Right
This is one of the most critical choices you'll make. Insurers typically offer several geographical options:
- Worldwide: The most comprehensive option, covering you anywhere on the globe.
- Worldwide Excluding USA: A very popular and more affordable choice. Healthcare in the United States is the most expensive in the world, and excluding it can reduce your premium by 30-50%. If you have no plans to visit the US, this is a sensible way to save money.
- Europe Only: Covers you across the European continent.
- Specific Regions: Some insurers offer cover for regions like Africa or Southeast Asia.
Insider Tip: Be realistic about your plans. If there's even a small chance you might take a side-trip to the US, you must have a "Worldwide" policy. Attempting to claim for treatment in the US on a "Worldwide Excl. USA" policy will result in your claim being rejected.
Level of Medical Cover: Inpatient, Outpatient, and Extras
IPMI policies are modular, allowing you to build a plan that suits your needs.
- Inpatient Cover (Essential): This is the core of any IPMI plan. It covers costs associated with being admitted to a hospital. This includes the hospital room, surgeon's fees, anaesthetists, nursing care, and diagnostic tests performed while you are an inpatient. This is the minimum level of cover you should consider.
- Outpatient Cover (Highly Recommended): This covers medical treatment that doesn't require a hospital stay. This includes visits to a GP or specialist, diagnostic scans (like MRI or CT scans), and prescription medication. For a long stay, this is invaluable as minor issues are far more common than major emergencies.
- Dental and Vision (Optional): This add-on covers routine dental check-ups, fillings, and sometimes major restorative work. Vision cover can help with the cost of eye tests and prescription glasses or contact lenses. Consider this if you are due for check-ups during your trip.
- Medical Evacuation & Repatriation (Crucial):
- Medical Evacuation: Transports you to the nearest centre of medical excellence if local facilities are inadequate. This is vital if you're travelling in remote or developing regions.
- Repatriation: Transports you back to your home country (the UK) to receive treatment if you are medically fit to travel. This provides peace of mind, knowing you can return home if you suffer a serious illness or injury.
Understanding Excesses, Deductibles, and Co-payments
These are the elements of the policy cost that you agree to pay yourself. Understanding them is key to managing your budget.
- Excess (or Deductible): A fixed amount you pay towards a claim or per policy year before the insurer starts paying. For example, with a £500 excess, you pay the first £500 of a medical bill.
- Co-payment: A percentage of the claim cost that you share with the insurer. For example, a 10% co-payment on a £2,000 bill means you pay £200 and the insurer pays £1,800.
Choosing a higher excess will lower your monthly or annual premium. It's a trade-off between a lower upfront cost and a higher out-of-pocket expense if you need to claim.
| Excess Level | Example Monthly Premium | Your Cost per Claim |
|---|---|---|
| £0 | £150 | £0 |
| £250 | £130 | First £250 |
| £1,000 | £95 | First £1,000 |
Premiums are for illustrative purposes only.
The Importance of Underwriting: Moratorium vs. Full Medical Underwriting (FMU)
Underwriting is the process an insurer uses to assess your health risk. For short-term IPMI, you'll typically face two choices.
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Moratorium (Mori) Underwriting: This is a simpler, faster application process where you don't declare your full medical history. Instead, the policy automatically excludes treatment for any pre-existing conditions you've had symptoms, treatment, or advice for in the past 5 years. These conditions may become eligible for cover later, but only after you complete a continuous 24-month period on the policy without any related symptoms or treatment. For a short-term policy of 12 months or less, this effectively means pre-existing conditions will not be covered.
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Full Medical Underwriting (FMU): With FMU, you complete a detailed health questionnaire, declaring all your past and present medical conditions. The insurer's medical team then assesses your application and makes a clear decision upfront. They might:
- Cover you in full.
- Cover you but with a specific exclusion for a declared condition.
- Cover you but with a premium loading (an increased price) to cover the risk of a condition.
Our Expert Advice: For short-term plans, Full Medical Underwriting (FMU) is almost always the better choice. It provides certainty. You know exactly what is and isn't covered before you travel, eliminating any nasty surprises if you need to make a claim.
How Pre-existing Conditions Are Handled in IPMI
This is one of the most misunderstood areas of private medical insurance, both in the UK and internationally.
A core principle of IPMI is that it covers new, unforeseen, acute medical conditions that arise after your policy has started.
- Acute Condition: A disease, illness, or injury that is likely to respond quickly to treatment and lead to a full recovery (e.g., a broken bone, appendicitis, a respiratory infection).
- Chronic Condition: A disease, illness, or injury that has one or more of the following characteristics: it is ongoing, has no known cure, is likely to recur, or requires long-term management (e.g., diabetes, asthma, arthritis, high blood pressure).
Standard IPMI policies do not cover the routine management of chronic conditions. If you have diabetes, your policy won't pay for your regular insulin supplies or check-ups.
What about acute flare-ups of a chronic condition? This depends entirely on your underwriting. With moratorium underwriting, it will be excluded. With FMU, the insurer might agree to cover acute emergencies related to a chronic condition, but this must be explicitly stated in your policy documents.
The Golden Rule: Always declare everything. It is far better to have a condition excluded or pay a higher premium than to have a claim denied and your policy cancelled for non-disclosure when you are vulnerable and abroad.
Comparing Top Short-Term IPMI Providers for UK Residents
Several global insurers offer excellent short-term IPMI plans. While the "best" provider depends on your unique needs and destination, here are some of the leading names in the market. Comparing their offerings can be complex, which is why working with an expert broker like WeCovr can save you time and money.
| Provider | Example Short-Term Offering | Key Features | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cigna Global | Cigna Global Health Options | Highly flexible modular plans. Strong global network. Excellent 24/7 support. | Individuals wanting to customise their cover precisely. |
| Bupa Global | Short Term Health Insurance | Policies from 3 to 11 months. Clear plan structures. Strong brand reputation. | Those looking for a trusted name with straightforward options. |
| AXA - Global Healthcare | Foundation / Standard Plans | Can be purchased for shorter durations. Good value for core benefits. | Budget-conscious travellers needing solid inpatient and emergency cover. |
| Allianz Care | Classic Individual Plan | Often available on a short-term basis. Strong evacuation and repatriation services. | Travellers visiting more remote or less developed locations. |
The Step-by-Step Process of Getting Your IPMI Cover
Securing the right cover is straightforward when you follow a structured approach.
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Define Your Needs: Before you do anything else, write down your plan.
- Where? List every country you plan to visit.
- When? Note your exact departure and return dates.
- What? Decide on your ideal level of cover (inpatient only, or with outpatient, dental etc.).
- Who? Are you travelling solo, as a couple, or with family?
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Gather Your Information: Have your personal details and medical history ready. If choosing FMU, be prepared to recall dates of diagnoses, treatments, and medications for any past conditions.
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Compare Quotes with a Broker: This is the most efficient way to get the best deal. A specialist independent broker, regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) like WeCovr, works for you, not the insurer. We can compare policies from across the market to find the optimal balance of cover and cost, a service that is completely free to you.
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Choose Your Underwriting Method: Based on our advice, you can decide between the certainty of FMU or the speed of a moratorium application. We can help you weigh the pros and cons for your specific health profile.
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Complete the Application: Fill out the application form with 100% honesty and accuracy. Double-check all dates and details before submitting.
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Review Your Policy Documents: Once your application is approved, you will receive your policy certificate and documents. Read them carefully. Check that your name, dates, and area of cover are correct. Most importantly, read the list of exclusions so you are fully aware of what is not covered.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Buying Short-Term IPMI
Our advisers see the same costly mistakes time and again. Avoid them with this checklist.
- Mistake 1: Assuming Travel Insurance is Enough. As we've detailed, it isn't. For any trip over 3 months, you need IPMI.
- Mistake 2: Underestimating Healthcare Costs Abroad. A broken leg requiring surgery and a few nights in a US hospital can easily exceed $50,000. A medical evacuation from a remote location can cost over £100,000. Your policy limit needs to be high (£1,000,000 or more).
- Mistake 3: Choosing the Wrong Area of Cover. Buying a "Worldwide Excl. USA" policy and then deciding on a whim to visit Las Vegas for a week will leave you completely uninsured for that part of your trip.
- Mistake 4: Not Declaring a Pre-existing Condition. This is the number one reason claims are denied. Hiding a past back problem or a bout of anxiety might save you a few pounds on your premium, but it could cost you thousands if you need related treatment. It is classed as insurance fraud.
- Mistake 5: Focusing Only on Price. The cheapest policy is rarely the best. It may have a huge excess, no outpatient cover, or a poor service reputation. Value, not price, should be your priority.
As a WeCovr client, you also get complimentary access to our AI-powered nutrition app, CalorieHero, to help you stay healthy on your travels. Furthermore, customers who take out health or life insurance often qualify for discounts on other types of cover.
What Happens if I Need to Make a Claim?
The claims process with a good IPMI provider is designed to be as stress-free as possible.
- Contact Your Insurer: All major providers have 24/7 multilingual helplines. In an emergency, your first priority is to get medical help. Your second should be to contact your insurer (or have someone do it for you).
- Pre-authorisation: For any planned treatment (e.g., a specialist visit or a non-emergency hospital stay), you must contact your insurer for pre-authorisation. They will confirm that the treatment is covered and can often arrange a direct billing agreement.
- Direct Billing: This is where the hospital or clinic bills the insurer directly, so you don't have to pay out-of-pocket (other than your excess, if applicable). This is common for inpatient treatment.
- Pay and Claim: For smaller costs like a GP visit or prescription, you will often pay yourself and then submit the receipt and a claim form to the insurer for reimbursement. Most now have easy-to-use online portals or apps for this.
Can I get short-term IPMI for less than a year?
Is IPMI much more expensive than travel insurance?
What happens if my gap year or sabbatical gets extended?
Does short-term IPMI cover me for trips back to the UK?
Your Next Step to Secure Global Health Cover
Choosing the right short-term IPMI is a vital part of your travel preparations. It’s the safety net that allows you to explore the world with the confidence that you’re protected against the unexpected. The market can seem complex, but you don't have to navigate it alone.
The team of expert advisers at WeCovr is here to help. We provide independent, no-obligation advice to help you compare the UK's best private medical insurance providers and find the perfect plan for your gap year or sabbatical.
Contact us today for a free, personalised quote and let us handle the complexities, so you can focus on your adventure.
