When you’re managing a global team, health insurance is rarely straightforward. Different countries use different systems, costs vary by region, and expectations aren’t always the same. That’s why many employers purchase private health insurance for international employees — not to replace public healthcare, but to provide better access, more substantial benefits, and peace of mind for their teams.
An international health insurance plan enables employers to supplement national healthcare with private coverage that offers shorter wait times, expanded provider choice, and additional services employees value for their well-being.
What’s more, providing comprehensive coverage can help both attract and retain some of the most competitive remote talent.
Key takeaways:
- Global insurance providers tend to differ in nuanced ways that can have an outsized impact on how your employees experience their benefits.
- Where employees live and work is as important as the specific types of coverage when determining how offering international insurance will affect your company’s bottom line.
- Add-on services such as in-home nursing, mental health counseling, and repatriation can significantly affect how employees value the insurance benefits you provide.
What to Look For in a Global Health Insurance Provider
Selecting a company that can administer a global insurance plan isn’t the same as working with a payer to help employees navigate one country’s medical system.
The right plan will be flexible. That means remote and distributed team members can use their coverage no matter where they’re located.
The best plan will benefit both you and your employees, making it seamless for you to administer and scale, and easy for your talent to use.
When you’re choosing a global health insurance provider, make sure:
- You’re clear on the coverage in each country where your employees are based.
- Employees can access both virtual and in-person care.
- The plan limits employees’ out-of-pocket costs.
Here’s a snapshot of some of the leading international health insurance providers to help you decide which one might be the best fit for your team.
1. Cigna Global: Best for an AI-Powered Customer Experience
Cigna Global is a top-tier option for employers selecting a global insurance partner.
The Cigna Global network offers broad coverage, leveraging 1.65 million providers across 200+ jurisdictions. Beyond their size, they have customizable plans for companies of all sizes and 24/7 support.
Depending on your company’s budget, you can select additional options such as vision, dental, and outpatient coverage. Their premium offerings even provide global coverage for fertility treatments.
Pro tip: Cigna recently updated its AI tools to blend with human interaction and help streamline its customer experience model.
2. Allianz Care: Best for Rapid Claims Processing
Allianz Care is another insurance company that boasts a broad global footprint. Their network includes 1.3 million providers paired with high-speed claims administration.
Allianz offers group international health insurance plans with annual benefit limits up to USD 5 million. Optional coverage ranges from professional counseling services to repatriation.
Pro tip: Patients can file “fast-track” claims through Allianz’s digital portal.
3. AXA Global Healthcare: Best for U.S.-based & Hybrid Teams
AXA’s global business health insurance offers a range of options. Plans span from relatively low-cost benefits practical in emergencies to broad coverage with annual benefit limits of up to USD 8 million.
Their broad networks support tiered plans for companies of varying sizes, including up to 74, 75-149, and 150+ employees.
In North America, AXA partners with UnitedHealthcare to provide localized coverage. Notably, their global network pays 88% of eligible claims within five days or less.
Pro tip: Companies concerned about supporting international employees with pre-existing conditions may benefit from conducting additional research.
4. William Russell: Best "Boutique" Service for Remote Nomads
Want to partner with a family-owned service to administer specialized global health insurance?
William Russell is a boutique company that offers high-touch services, with a particular focus on expats and remote workers. Their coverage spans 160+ countries and supports hospital and clinic choice worldwide.
Pro tip: Small- to mid-sized teams in South America and Africa may find William Russell’s data-driven product particularly useful.
5. GeoBlue Global Medical: Best for International Talent in the U.S.
GeoBlue’s international insurance healthcare plans provide coverage to international talent from the United States and to global employees working in the U.S. Employers can expand the coverage they offer to include global services. Or, they can narrow coverage to focus only on locally administered care.
GeoBlue customers have the ability to eliminate pre-existing condition waiting periods. Employers who want to provide premium coverage can choose a plan that leverages Blue Cross Blue Shield’s PPO network.
Pro tip: GeoBlue offers plans with unlimited lifetime benefit maximums.
6. International Medical Group (IMG): Best for Flexibility
International Medical Group (IMG) provides global medical insurance designed for international organizations and remote workforces that require significant flexibility.
The company’s deductible levels range broadly. This allows client companies to manage costs by opting for higher deductibles that can reduce monthly premiums. Plans are also scalable, enabling employers to manage different employee tiers in various global regions.
Pro tip: Employers who choose IMG may find flexible support for employees working in areas with limited “in-network” providers.
7. APRIL International: Multilingual Customer Assistance
APRIL International specializes in scalable health plans for businesses of all sizes. With over 40 years of industry experience and a network spanning 180 countries, the company simplifies HR management by providing consistent benefit limits regardless of an employee’s location.
To support international health insurance customers, APRIL International offers 24/7 multilingual assistance to help navigate its wide-ranging network of providers.
Pro tip: A “flat-level” policy is available for businesses that want to provide consistent coverage regardless of the multinational team members’ global locations.
8. Expatriate Group: Best for Centralized HR Management
The Expatriate Group focuses on delivering comprehensive health insurance policies designed for employees working internationally. Their product combines medical, travel, and well-being benefits under a single policy.
The company offers Medical History Disregarded (MHD) underwriting for larger groups to cover pre-existing conditions. They provide consultation services to ensure plan structures match your company's geographic and demographic needs.
Pro tip: Flexible plan features include options such as coverage for in-home nursing services.
9. RemoHealth
RemoHealth provides tailored health benefits to deliver a comprehensive international health insurance plan for globally distributed teams.
Easy-to-use technology is enhanced by 24/5 multilingual support and insurance coverage options in over 185 countries. Optional wellness coverage includes screenings, preventative tests, and treatment by psychologists. Clients can expand coverage to include hospice and palliative care.
Pro tip: RemoHealth Local lets employers deliver personalized health benefits and simplify benefits management in individual markets.
Additional Options to Explore
If your organization has niche requirements or needs a high-touch brokerage experience, consider these additional options:
- Bupa Global provides premium coverage and is known for its extensive network of international hospitals and increasing access through high benefit limits.
- Now Health International: A digital-first provider with award-winning service centers that excel in regional claims handling and fast turnarounds.
- Specialized Brokers: These partners act as intermediaries to help employers package multiple insurers or negotiate custom terms of offering benefits to a highly diverse or high-risk workforce.
How to Choose
Selecting the right international insurance provider requires a careful evaluation of network coverage, cost efficiency, and ongoing administrative demands. For best results, keep these five factors in mind:
- Coverage zones: Verify that the area the insurance you select covers matches employee locations (e.g., ensuring the U.S. is included only if necessary, as it significantly raises premiums).
- MHD underwriting: For groups of 10–15+, always request a plan that includes terms to disregard medical history and ensure all staff are covered immediately, regardless of past health issues.
- Portability: Confirm that employees can move from one country to another without losing coverage or having to restart waiting periods.
- Renewal stability: Ask the insurer about its history of fee increases, whether due to inflation or otherwise, to avoid being surprised by a significant premium hike.
- Local compliance: Ensure the plan meets local requirements, and check whether a global plan must meet specific local benchmarks to be accepted for work permits (if applicable).
Give Your Employees the Healthcare They Deserve With RemoHealth
RemoHealth helps companies take better care of their global teams, with plans available in more than 185 countries, and guarantees:
- Benefit and pricing transparency
- Worldwide emergency medical assistance
- Multilingual 24/5 Support
- Easy-to-use technology
- Direct point of contact for your company
Healthcare products include:
- RemoHealth Core: Our entry-level option provides in-patient elective and emergency treatments, plus international medical evacuation.
- RemoHealth Standard: In addition to Core benefits, the Standard plan includes coverage for essential day-to-day benefits, such as GP and specialist visits, as well as blood tests, X-rays, and ECGs. There are also provisions for accident-related treatment, hospice and palliative care, and psychiatric treatment.
- RemoHealth Plus: Our Plus plan includes all the benefits of Core and Standard, as well as vision and dental benefits, including preventative tests and checkups, routine dental maintenance, and new glasses/contact lenses.
- RemoHealth Premium: In addition to all the benefits in Core, Standard, and Plus, the Premium plan includes wellness screenings and preventative tests, treatment by psychologists, and complementary medicine practitioners.
- RemoHealth Local: With RemoHealth Local, your company can provide employees with custom health benefits that comply with local regulations and are tailored to local market conditions.
In addition to healthcare plans, RemoFirst also provides Employer of Record (EOR) services, including:
- Compliant hiring in 185+ countries
- Drafting contracts that meet local labor law standards
- Onboarding new employees
- Global payroll
- Employee benefits
We also enable companies to manage and pay contractors in 150+ countries.
Ready to learn more about how RemoFirst can support hiring and wellness for your international remote teams? Book a demo today.
