What Is Expat Health Insurance (and Why It Matters When You Move to the U.S.)
If you’re moving to the United States, there’s a moment that usually catches people off guard. You’ve handled the visa. You’ve booked the flight. You might even have housing or a job lined up. And then someone asks, “What are you doing about health insurance?”
That’s when things get real.
Healthcare in the U.S. works very differently from many other countries. Costs are high, systems are complex, and being uninsured, even briefly, can create financial stress.
Expat health insurance exists for this exact situation: people who are building a life in the U.S. but don’t yet fit neatly into the local system.
Our expat health insurance is long-term medical coverage for people living outside their home country, especially those relocating to the United States. It’s not designed for holidays or short visits. It’s designed for daily life. Seeing a doctor, filling prescriptions, and dealing with the unexpected.
Unlike travel insurance, which focuses on emergencies only, expat health insurance covers both routine and unexpected care. That usually includes:
Doctor visits and specialists
Hospital stays and surgery
Emergency treatment
Prescription medication
Many plans also allow optional coverage for things like dental care, maternity, or mental health support.
The key difference is intention. This type of health insurance assumes you’re living somewhere, not just passing through.
Many people arrive in the U.S. with travel insurance, thinking they’ll “figure things out later.” For short stays, that may work. But once you’re living there, the limits become obvious.
Travel insurance usually:
Has time limits
Covers emergencies only
Excludes routine or follow-up care
Doesn’t work well with U.S. healthcare providers
In the U.S., even a basic doctor visit or diagnostic test can be costly. Expat health insurance allows you to access care without needing an emergency, and without flying home for routine treatment!
That difference matters when your “temporary” move turns into a year… or five.
Coverage varies depending on the plan, but most international health insurance policies include a few core elements.
This covers hospitalisation, surgery, and specialist visits. Outpatient care often includes GP visits, diagnostics, and imaging.
Emergency treatment is standard, and many plans also include medical evacuation or repatriation. That can be critical if you’re living somewhere with limited medical facilities.
Many expat plans include prescription coverage, which helps manage costs in countries where private healthcare can be expensive.
Depending on the insurer, you may be able to add:
Dental care
Maternity coverage
Mental health services
Vision care
This flexibility is one of the reasons expat health insurance feels more practical than local or short-term policies.
One advantage of expat health insurance is mobility. Many plans are designed to work not just in the U.S., but also when you travel.
This can include coverage:
In the United States
In other countries while traveling
Sometimes in your home country
For people who relocate, travel frequently, or aren’t sure where they’ll settle long-term, this avoids the need to cancel and restart insurance every time plans change.
Providers like WellAway are structured around this global lifestyle, offering coverage across many countries and access to international healthcare networks.
The U.S. healthcare system can be difficult to navigate, especially for newcomers. While local insurance options exist, they may require:
Complex enrollment processes
Local employment or residency status
Understanding unfamiliar terms and networks
Expat health insurance is often chosen because it’s designed specifically for people new to the U.S. system, with international support. It’s about having coverage that works from day one.
Expat health insurance isn’t just for executives. It’s commonly used by individuals relocating to the U.S., families moving for work or lifestyle reasons, international professionals, remote workers, and students studying in the United States
If you plan to live in the U.S. for six months or more, this coverage is worth considering.
WellAway is one of the providers offering international health insurance designed for people relocating to or living in the United States. Plans are structured for individuals, families, students, and globally mobile groups.
What stands out is:
WellAway coverage in over 180 countries
Access to a large international provider network
Concierge-style support to help find doctors and care
We provide support for global living, which makes sense for expats managing healthcare in unfamiliar systems.
Instead of overthinking it, start with a few basics:
Will you live in the U.S. long-term?
Do you need coverage outside the U.S. as well?
Will you use private healthcare?
Do you want optional benefits like dental or maternity coverage?
Keep in mind, you don’t need the most expensive policy, you need the right one.
Moving to the U.S. comes with enough changes, and healthcare doesn’t need to be another source of stress.
Expat health insurance helps bridge the gap between arriving and settling in, offering access to care, protection from unexpected costs, and peace of mind while you adjust to a new system.
Whether you choose WellAway or another provider, understanding how expat health insurance works and why it matters in the U.S. helps you make calm, informed decisions.
And when you’re far from home, that kind of confidence matters more than you might expect.