These plans are for International Health Insurance needs. This covers Foreign Nationals, Expatriates, people going Abroad, South Africans working for a foreign company or a South African company or government organisation Abroad.

We are not legally allowed to cover South Africans living in South Africa with a health insurance and not medical aid plan. If you are South African and living in SA, please use the Medical Aid- Discovery Health link.

Why do we use Bupa International?

About 2 years ago, whilst looking for information on International Health Insurance on the World Wide Web, i realised what a difficult proposition this was.

I found many sites. Most of them had links that offered free quotes, comparison quotes and the like.

This wasn't very helpful, as often there weren't actual comparisons and what really concerned me was actual information about an insurance company. The product quotes would come after the company information. What concerned me first:

• How was i to know which company was best regarded?

• Which company had a set of "ethics" that they abided by? (do they have a set of values/ core purpose that they can weigh up decisions with.)

• How many people was each International Health Insurance Provider covering? (bigger is better in the health insurance game).

• Are the plans sustainable? (can the plan types last for the long haul.)

Needless to say, finding that type of information took some effort and with some companies i simply was unable to access information, other than plan type information. A good plan type is worth nothing if the company itself is foundering.

After much looking around, the decision was made to stick with 3 companies providing International Health Insurance.What follows is why Bupa International has become our main service provider for International Health Insurance:

• Bupa International has won the " Best International Private Medical Insurance Provider Award" 9 times and is the largest international health insurance provider for expatriates. Bupa was founded over 60 years ago and has over 8 million members, including 115 nationalities in 190 countries.
  
• Bupa International has offices in the U.K., Hong Kong, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, India, Australia, USA, Denmark, Egypt, France and Spain. They also have a wide network of international brokers (as ourselves) and business partners.

• As a Bupa member you could be treated in any one of Bupa's 7500 participating hospitals and clinics worldwide, or in any recognised clinic or hospital of your choice. Bupa will even help you to locate the closest suitable hospital and make appointments for your treatment on your behalf - so that you can focus on getting better.

• You have access to multi - lingual, medically trained staff who you can speak to on the telephone 24 hours a day. Or, you could use the web chat facility and talk over the web.

What prompted us to use Bupa International as our main provider was the launch of their new product called Worldwide Health Options (in July 2009).

The contributions/ premiums were more affordable and this type of individually tailored product suited our market (expatriates, inpatriates, companies with staff overseas, people leaving South Africa for overseas work, etc.).

The plan has also been designed in a modular fashion, so you can take only the Worldwide Medical Insurance (hospital cover), if you choose. Which helps to cut costs within your budget.

As a result, the Worldwide Health Options plan type has had more than it's fair share of enquiries.

If you are looking for cover for yourself and your family (as an expatriate for example), you could make use of the Worldwide Health Options.

How do you create your own individualised health plan?

Worldwide Health Options

You start with Core cover (hospital cover), called Worldwide Medical Insurance;

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Then add the options that you require:

Worldwide Medical Plus (treatment where you do not need to stay in a hospital) and / or;

Worldwide Medicines and Equipment ( for prescribed medicines and medical equipment) and / or;

Worldwide Wellbeing (for a range of health screenings, vaccinations, dental and optical treatment) and / or;

Worldwide Evacuation (for when you can't get the treatment you need in a local hospital)

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You can add USA cover if you need it

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You can select an optional deductible that is spread across your cover and options

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A flexible healthcare plan that is tailored to your individual needs.

Premiums for the Worldwide Health Options can be paid in Great British Pounds, U.S. dollars or Euros.

(Please see this article if you are a South African (concerns health insurance and medical aid).You are only able to access these health insurance plans as a South African if you want cover for outside of South Africa).

Bupa International are also unable to offer cover for USA residents in the United States as by law, their cover needs to be provided for by a USA registered health insurance provider.

If you would like to download more detailed information on the Worldwide health Options plan, please use the links provided below.

Alternatively, use the contact form at the bottom of this page if you would like to contact me personally:

• The Summary of Cover offered, the Client brochure (April 2010).

• The complete Membership guide (April 2010),  for the more detailed information.

• Premiums/ Subscriptions in US Dollars (April 2010).
• Premiums in US Dollars from October 2010 onwards.

• Premiums/ Subscriptions in Great British Pounds (April 2010).
• Premiums in GBP from October 2010 onwards.

• Premiums/ Subscriptions in Euro's (April 2010).
• Premiums in Euro's from October 2010 onwards.

• Changes as at April 2010 (for those of you that already have the plan).

• If you would like to compare the benefits between Lifeline, Worldwide Health Options and the ihi Bupa plan IHHP, use this link.

(please note that Bupa International review their subscription rates every 1 April and 1 October).

If you would like to know more about what happens at their rate review .

If, you are already a member, you might find the claim form or the membership amendment form (add dependants,cover options, etc.) useful.

If you are not yet a member and you are wanting to join, this is the application form.

If you are living (residing) in South Africa, you are going to need to sign this indemnity as well.

You can scan and send the application and / or the indemnity back to my email address: "info@businessowner-cover.com". I will personally inform you of receipt and submit the application to Bupa International.

 

Bupa International still use their  Lifeline plans for individuals as well.

These plans were available prior to the launch of the Worldwide Health Options and some of you may still have these plans. They are an "all - in - one" type option.

 

If you are interested in these, or already have a Lifeline type plan...you can access more of the latest information below:

• Plan Changes (April 2010)

• The Client brochure (April 2010)

• The Membership Guide (April 2010)

• Premiums (U.S.Dollars April 2010)

• Premiums (GBP April 2010)

• Premiums (Euro's April 2010)

• Addition of dependants form

• Claim form

• Application form for Lifeline
  

If you would like to compare benefits with the Worldwide Health Options, please use the comparison document above on this page under the Worldwide Health Options section.

For information on Group/ Corporate International Health Insurance plans, or for Maritime or ECIS plans, please click here (takes you to another page).

For any further information, or if you are simply looking to get a quote... please  complete the Contact Form below this.
Please note that i am based in Cape Town, South Africa, so any contact outside of this area will happen via email and phone.
You also agree that by filling in the Contact Form that i can send you my email newsletter when i publish it. I will not however use the information for any other purposes.

Contact Information Please fill in your Name, Address and Email or Phone number, if you would like me to contact you. First Name: Last Name: Address Street 1: Address Street 2: City: Postal Code (RSA): (4 digits) Phone: Email: Comments: Enter comments here!

Please note that any opinions or observations contained in this page are my own (other than official company marketing material).I am an independant broker and not employed by Bupa International.