Outpatient care

An individual (patient) who receives health care services (such as surgery) on an outpatient basis, meaning they do not stay overnight in a hospital or inpatient facility. Many insurance companies have identified a list of tests and procedures (including surgery) that will not be covered (paid for) unless they are performed on an outpatient basis. The term outpatient is also used synonymously with ambulatory to describe health care facilities where procedures are performed.

Generally outpatient coverage costs about the same as inpatient coverage. Outpatient coverage tends to be more frequent but less costly.

In most parts of the world, health insurance plans cover both inpatient and outpatient coverage. Some expats feel that the additional cost of outpatient coverage is not worth it, but we would recommend you to make sure you are covered as extensive illnesses can be dangerous, stressful and costly. Some expats will just obtain an in-patient plan if the costs of out-patient care is inexpensive. Of course, just as there are some inpatient exclusions to plans, there are also a few things excluded from outpatient plans.

Expat Financial offers international health insurance plans that only offer in-patient coverage and also offer plans that offer in-patient and out-patient care for you and your family.