International Major Medical Insurance
Jason Stolz CLTC, CRPC
At Diversified Insurance Brokers, we understand how quickly an overseas medical issue can turn into a logistics and financial problem—especially when you are far from your normal doctors, your domestic network, and the systems you are used to. If you are a U.S. citizen spending extended time abroad for work, study, or long-term travel, international major medical insurance can be the cleanest way to create “real health coverage” while you are outside the United States, not just short-term emergency protection.
This page focuses on Major Medical (for U.S. Citizens Traveling Abroad) underwritten through Lloyd’s of London with online enrollment through PIU. It is built for longer stays, broader medical needs, and situations where you want coverage that functions more like true health insurance abroad. If you are looking for country-specific evacuation planning or higher-risk environments, you can also review examples like travel medical and evacuation from Uganda or travel medical and evacuation from Syria to understand how protection priorities change by destination.
Compare International Major Medical Options
Tell us where you’ll be living and for how long, and we’ll help you confirm the right structure for extended overseas coverage.
What International Major Medical Insurance Does for U.S. Citizens Abroad
International major medical coverage is designed for people who will be outside the United States long enough that “emergency-only” travel medical protection may feel thin. Instead of thinking in terms of a one-off trip, this style of coverage is built for longer timelines and broader medical needs. That can be especially important when you want access to quality care in different countries, want a plan that can address both inpatient and outpatient needs, and want a structure that is intended to keep working as your travel becomes an extended overseas lifestyle.
It also helps protect your finances from the high cost of international medical treatment by creating clearer cost-sharing rules through the deductible and plan design you select. For many travelers, the goal is not just “coverage exists.” The goal is to reduce uncertainty so you can seek care promptly without guessing what the bill might look like in a foreign system.
Major Medical for U.S. Citizens Traveling Abroad
Comprehensive protection overseas for illness, injury, and unexpected medical emergencies—designed for extended time outside the U.S.
Who This Policy Is For
This coverage is a strong fit for U.S. citizens who are outside the country for extended periods and want a more complete medical solution while overseas. That includes professionals on long-term assignments, students studying internationally, frequent travelers who spend significant time abroad each year, and retirees who are relocating internationally or living part-time overseas.
If your travel involves regions where medical infrastructure is limited or where evacuation planning becomes central, your decision should also account for how you would access higher-level care if it is not available locally. In those situations, it helps to understand destination-specific realities and why evacuation planning matters. Examples include higher-complexity destinations like travel medical and evacuation from Sudan or travel medical and evacuation from Somalia, where access, logistics, and timing can matter as much as the medical event itself.
Key Benefits That Matter Most for Extended Overseas Stays
The most important benefit of international major medical coverage is that it is designed to function as a real medical plan while you are abroad. Instead of being limited to short-term emergency protection, it is intended to support broader medical needs over a longer timeline, including scenarios where you need to see physicians, access diagnostics, or manage an unexpected medical event that requires more than one visit.
Hospitalization and surgery coverage becomes especially important when you are living overseas and want the confidence that a serious event will not derail your plans. Many travelers also prioritize emergency evacuation and repatriation features, because the true risk in many countries is not just the bill—it is what happens if the care you need is not available nearby. If you want to understand how protection priorities shift in more remote or complex regions, it can help to review examples like travel medical and evacuation from Sierra Leone or travel medical and evacuation from South Sudan.
Finally, flexibility matters. Extended overseas coverage should allow you to select deductibles and coverage levels that fit your budget, while still protecting against high-cost scenarios. The right structure is the one that keeps premiums reasonable without creating gaps that only show up when you need care most.
Not Sure If This Is the Right Fit?
We’ll help you decide whether international major medical is the right structure, or if a different approach would match your timeline and destination better.
Why Choose Diversified Insurance Brokers
When you are shopping for international coverage, the biggest mistakes usually come from buying the wrong structure for the length of stay, assuming a plan covers every country you will visit, or overlooking how care is actually accessed and paid for abroad. Our job is to make sure the plan matches the real-life version of your travel, not just the idea of it. That includes confirming how the plan treats extended stays, how deductibles and cost-sharing work, and how the plan’s overseas support functions when you need to find care quickly.
If you are also managing coverage transitions inside the U.S., it may help to understand how domestic options can complement your travel strategy. For example, some travelers evaluate how short-term health insurance fits during transitions at home while international coverage handles the time abroad. The goal is not to overbuy. The goal is to prevent blind spots.
We also help travelers understand how destination complexity changes what “good coverage” looks like. If you are heading to regions where access can be difficult, reviewing destination-based guidance such as travel medical and evacuation from Senegal or travel medical and evacuation from Rwanda can help clarify what to prioritize when you compare plan designs.
Get a Recommendation Before You Apply
Send your dates, countries, and the type of stay you’ll have overseas. We’ll confirm the best setup and next steps.
Related International Coverage Pages
Explore coverage resources that help long-term travelers and expats choose the right structure for extended overseas protection.
Related Destination Evacuation Guides
Use destination examples to understand how access, logistics, and medical infrastructure can change what you should prioritize.
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FAQs: International Major Medical Insurance for U.S. Citizens Traveling Abroad
What is international major medical insurance for U.S. citizens traveling abroad?
International major medical insurance is comprehensive medical coverage designed for U.S. citizens who will be outside the United States for an extended period. It is typically broader than short-term travel medical coverage and is intended to help with eligible inpatient and outpatient care while you are overseas.
How is international major medical different from travel medical insurance?
Travel medical insurance is usually short-term and focused on urgent or emergency situations during a trip. International major medical insurance is structured more like a traditional health plan abroad and is commonly used for longer stays where you want more complete, ongoing medical protection while overseas.
Who is this coverage best for?
This coverage can be a strong fit for U.S. citizens living or working abroad, students studying internationally, retirees relocating overseas, and frequent travelers spending significant time outside the U.S. It is especially relevant when you want a more comprehensive plan than a short-term travel medical policy.
Does the plan cover emergencies only, or can it cover more routine care?
International major medical plans are generally designed to be broader than emergency-only travel coverage. Coverage details vary by plan, but many include a wider range of eligible medical services beyond urgent emergency treatment.
Is emergency medical evacuation included?
Many international major medical plans include emergency medical evacuation when medically necessary and coordinated through the plan’s assistance services. The exact triggers and limits depend on the policy, so it’s important to review how evacuation is defined and how authorization works.
How do deductibles and out-of-pocket costs work while I’m abroad?
Most plans use a deductible and other cost-sharing features that determine how costs are split between you and the insurer. Your selections can affect both your premium and what you may pay when you use the coverage overseas.
Are pre-existing conditions covered?
Pre-existing condition rules vary by plan and applicant profile. Some plans may exclude certain conditions, limit coverage, or apply underwriting. If you take ongoing medications or have active diagnoses, it’s important to review the plan details before enrolling.
Will I have to pay upfront overseas and request reimbursement?
It depends on the provider and the type of care. Some situations may involve direct billing arrangements, while other services may require you to pay and then submit receipts and documentation for reimbursement.
What information do I need to apply?
Most applications require basic personal information plus details about your travel timeline and where you will be living or traveling. Some plans may also ask health history questions depending on how the policy is underwritten.
When should I enroll?
Enroll once your travel timeline is clear, especially if you will be outside the U.S. for an extended period. Waiting until the last minute can increase the chance of having a gap in coverage at the start of your time abroad.
How can Diversified Insurance Brokers help before I apply?
We can help you confirm whether international major medical is the right structure for your time abroad, explain how plan design choices affect coverage, and help you avoid common gaps related to destinations, timelines, and how care is accessed overseas.
How do I request help comparing options?
You can request options using our form here: Request Coverage Options. Share your expected travel dates, the countries you’ll be in, and whether you’re relocating, studying, or traveling long-term.
About the Author:
Jason Stolz, CLTC, CRPC and Chief Underwriter at Diversified Insurance Brokers, is a senior insurance and retirement professional with more than two decades of real-world experience helping individuals, families, and business owners protect their income, assets, and long-term financial stability. As a long-time partner of the nationally licensed independent agency Diversified Insurance Brokers, Jason provides trusted guidance across multiple specialties—including fixed and indexed annuities, long-term care planning, personal and business disability insurance, life insurance solutions, and short-term health coverage. Diversified Insurance Brokers maintains active contracts with over 100 highly rated insurance carriers, ensuring clients have access to a broad and competitive marketplace.
His practical, education-first approach has earned recognition in publications such as VoyageATL, highlighting his commitment to financial clarity and client-focused planning. Drawing on deep product knowledge and years of hands-on field experience, Jason helps clients evaluate carriers, compare strategies, and build retirement and protection plans that are both secure and cost-efficient.
