The demand for short term international private health insurance or IPMI which bridges the gap between travel insurance and longer term cover looks set to keep growing, particularly as events such as Brexit unfold. Brexit could unleash yet more demand as international arrangements such as the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) may no longer cover travelers to and from the U.K. .
The impact of the internet, budgetary pressures and the rapid growth in communication systems have all combined to reduce the duration of many expat assignments. Historically, the typical assignment lasted between three and five years, but now, according to Expatfocus [1], assignments tend to be less than a year long and some are as short as three months.
APRIL International noticed the growing importance of short term expatriate placements and launched a short term product in 2015, designed for multiple short trips or longer stays away for any period of up to a year, with an additional six month extension available. The cost of such cover is far lower than traditional long term expat international health insurance policies, as it is designed to focus on the core essentials. APRIL also offers an option for pre-existing conditions. Its policies include access to Best Doctors (second professional medical opinion) and to red24 (global travel and risk management services).
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) allows anyone who is insured by or covered by a statutory social security scheme of the European Economic Area (EEA) countries and Switzerland to receive medical treatment in another member state free or at a reduced cost, if that treatment becomes necessary during their visit or if they have a chronic pre-existing condition which requires car. The EHIC is issued free of charge.
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