As an FCA-authorised private medical insurance broker that has helped arrange over 750,000 policies of various kinds for UK customers, WeCovr provides expert guidance on the complex world of health cover. This guide explores Allianz Care’s international plans, helping you understand if they are the right choice for your global needs.
WeCovr explains Allianz's international policies and who theyre best suited for
Moving abroad or managing an international workforce is an exciting venture, but it comes with a unique set of challenges—chief among them is healthcare. How do you ensure you, your family, or your employees have access to high-quality medical treatment, no matter where you are in the world?
This is where International Private Medical Insurance (IPMI) comes in. Unlike standard UK private health cover or a typical travel insurance policy, IPMI is designed for long-term residence outside your home country. It provides comprehensive, flexible, and global medical cover.
One of the leading names in this specialist market is Allianz Care. In this definitive guide, we’ll break down their offerings, explore who they’re designed for, and explain how you can secure the right level of protection for your international journey.
What Exactly is International Private Medical Insurance (IPMI)?
Before we dive into Allianz Care's specifics, it's vital to understand what sets IPMI apart from other types of insurance you might be familiar with.
- Standard UK PMI: This is designed for residents of the UK to get private treatment within the UK. It typically won't cover you if you move abroad permanently.
- Travel Insurance: This is for short-term trips and holidays. It focuses on emergency medical situations, trip cancellations, and lost luggage. It is not designed for routine healthcare or long-term residency in another country.
International PMI, on the other hand, is your global health safety net. It’s an annual policy that gives you access to both routine and emergency healthcare in your chosen country of residence and often worldwide. It's built for expats, global citizens, and international businesses.
Feature | Travel Insurance | UK Private Medical Insurance | International PMI (like Allianz Care) |
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Purpose | Short-term travel emergencies | Private healthcare within the UK | Long-term healthcare abroad |
Duration | Per trip (up to 90 days usually) | Annual, for UK residents | Annual, renewable |
Cover Scope | Emergency treatment, repatriation | Acute conditions, diagnostics, surgery in the UK | Comprehensive medical care, worldwide |
Routine Care | Not usually covered | Covered (depending on plan) | Covered (depending on plan) |
Best For | Holidays and short business trips | UK residents seeking faster access to treatment | Expats, digital nomads, global businesses |
Who is Allianz Care? A Global Leader in Health and Wellbeing
Allianz is a name synonymous with insurance and financial services worldwide. As one of the world's largest insurers, the Allianz Group has a formidable reputation built on financial strength and reliability.
Allianz Care is the international health and life insurance brand of Allianz Partners. They specialise exclusively in providing health, life, and disability insurance, as well as a range of health and protection services, to international organisations and private individuals living or working abroad.
Key Facts about Allianz:
- Global Reach: A network of over 1.2 million medical providers across the globe.
- Customer-Centric: Serving millions of customers in multiple languages, 24/7.
- Experience: Decades of experience in the complex field of international healthcare.
- Digital Innovation: A strong focus on digital tools to make managing your health and your policy simpler, wherever you are.
Why Choose Allianz Care for International Health Cover?
When you’re choosing an IPMI provider, you’re not just buying a policy; you’re investing in peace of mind. Allianz Care stands out for several key reasons:
- Comprehensive and Flexible Plans: They offer a modular plan structure. You start with a Core Plan covering essential inpatient care and can add Outpatient, Dental, Maternity, and Repatriation plans to build cover that perfectly matches your needs and budget.
- Vast Global Medical Network: With Allianz Care, you have access to a huge network of hospitals, clinics, and doctors. In many cases, they can arrange for direct billing, meaning the hospital bills Allianz Care directly, so you don't have to pay upfront for major treatments (subject to pre-authorisation).
- 24/7 Multilingual Support: Health issues don't stick to office hours. Their expert helpline is available around the clock to assist with medical emergencies, find local providers, and answer policy questions in your language.
- Powerful Digital Tools: The MyHealth Digital Services app and portal allow you to submit claims, find a doctor, and access your policy documents from your smartphone. This is invaluable when you're on the move.
- Health and Wellbeing Support: Allianz Care goes beyond just paying claims. They provide a suite of wellness resources, including an Expat Assistance Programme, offering confidential support for stress, culture shock, and other personal challenges of living abroad.
Understanding Allianz Care's International Health Plans
Allianz Care’s policies are built around a Core Plan, which you can then supplement with optional add-ons. This modular approach is excellent for tailoring cover to your specific circumstances.
The Core Plan: Essential Inpatient Cover
This is the foundation of every Allianz Care policy. It covers the most significant medical costs you are likely to face – those associated with a hospital stay.
Key Inclusions of the Core Plan:
- Hospital accommodation
- Intensive care unit costs
- Surgeons' and anaesthetists' fees
- Diagnostic tests, MRI, and CT scans
- Cancer treatment
- Medical evacuation and repatriation (depending on the plan chosen)
There are different levels of Core Plan, which affect the overall annual limit and specific benefits.
Optional Add-on Plans
Once you have your Core Plan, you can add other modules to create a truly comprehensive package.
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Outpatient Plan: This is a highly recommended add-on. It covers healthcare that doesn't require a hospital stay.
- Consultations with doctors and specialists.
- Prescribed medicines and dressings.
- Physiotherapy.
- Chiropractic and osteopathic treatment.
- Alternative therapies (in some plans).
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Maternity Plan: For those planning to start or grow their family abroad.
- Covers costs related to routine childbirth.
- Complications of pregnancy and childbirth.
- Note: There is typically a waiting period (e.g., 10-12 months) before you can claim maternity benefits, so you need to plan ahead.
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Dental Plan: Covers routine and major dental work.
- Preventative check-ups and cleaning.
- Fillings and root canal treatments.
- Crowns, bridges, and orthodontics (on higher-level plans).
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Repatriation Plan: This provides cover for transporting you back to your home country for treatment or, in the worst-case scenario, covers the costs of repatriating mortal remains.
Here is a simplified overview of how the plan structure might look:
Plan Component | What it Covers | Who Needs It? |
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Core Plan | Essential inpatient and day-care treatment (e.g., surgery, hospital stays, cancer care). This is the mandatory foundation. | Everyone. This protects against major medical expenses. |
Outpatient Plan | Doctor's visits, specialist consultations, diagnostic tests, physiotherapy, prescriptions. | Highly recommended for most people for day-to-day healthcare access. |
Maternity Plan | Pre-natal care, routine delivery, and complications. | Individuals or couples planning to have a baby while abroad. |
Dental Plan | Check-ups, fillings, crowns, and sometimes orthodontics. | Anyone wanting to avoid potentially high dental costs abroad. |
The Critical Rule: Acute vs. Chronic Conditions
It is absolutely essential to understand a fundamental principle of private medical insurance, whether it's for the UK or international cover.
PMI is designed to cover acute conditions. An acute condition is a disease, illness, or injury that is likely to respond quickly to treatment and lead to a full recovery. Examples include a broken bone, appendicitis, or a cataract.
PMI does not typically cover chronic or pre-existing conditions.
- A Chronic Condition is one that is long-lasting and often has no cure, such as diabetes, asthma, hypertension, or arthritis. These conditions need ongoing management rather than a one-off curative treatment.
- A Pre-existing Condition is any illness or injury you had before your policy started.
When you apply for a policy with Allianz Care, you will go through underwriting. This is the process where the insurer assesses your health history to determine the terms of your cover. The two main types are:
- Full Medical Underwriting (FMU): You provide your full medical history on the application form. The insurer may exclude any pre-existing conditions from your cover. This provides certainty from day one about what is and isn't covered.
- Moratorium Underwriting: You don't declare your full medical history upfront. Instead, the policy will automatically exclude any conditions you've had symptoms of, or received treatment for, in a set period (usually the last 5 years). These exclusions may be lifted if you go for a set period (usually 2 years) without any symptoms or treatment for that condition after your policy starts.
Working with an expert PMI broker like WeCovr is invaluable here. We can help you understand the underwriting process and choose the option that best suits your personal medical history.
Who is Allianz Care International PMI Best Suited For?
Allianz Care's plans are flexible enough to suit a wide range of people, but they are particularly well-suited to the following groups.
1. UK Expats and Their Families
This is the core market for IPMI. Whether you're moving for a corporate assignment in Singapore, retiring to the Costa del Sol, or starting a new life in Australia, you need reliable healthcare.
- Real-Life Example: The Harris Family in Dubai
- Mark, an engineer from Manchester, relocates to Dubai with his wife, Sarah, and their two young children. His new employer offers a group health plan, but he wants more comprehensive cover.
- They choose an Allianz Care policy with a Core Plan, an Outpatient Plan for the kids' regular check-ups, and a Dental Plan.
- Six months later, their son develops a severe ear infection. They use the Allianz Care app to find a paediatrician near their home, get an appointment the same day, and have the consultation and prescription costs covered by their Outpatient plan. This seamless experience provides immense peace of mind in a new country.
2. Global Businesses and SMEs
For UK companies with employees working abroad, providing high-quality health insurance is a cornerstone of your duty of care. It's also a powerful tool for attracting and retaining top international talent.
- Why a Group Scheme from Allianz Care is a Smart Move:
- Duty of Care: Ensures your employees are protected and can access care when they need it, reducing worry and boosting productivity.
- Talent Acquisition: A premium IPMI plan is a highly attractive benefit for senior executives and skilled professionals.
- Simplified Administration: Allianz Care offers streamlined management for group schemes.
- Medical History Disregarded (MHD): For larger groups (e.g., 10+ employees), insurers like Allianz Care may offer MHD underwriting, meaning pre-existing conditions are covered. This is a significant benefit.
3. Digital Nomads and Remote Workers
The rise of remote work has created a new class of global citizen. Digital nomads may spend a few months in Portugal, a few in Thailand, and a few in Mexico. A standard travel insurance policy is not fit for purpose.
Allianz Care's flexible geographical areas of cover are ideal for this lifestyle. You can choose a "Worldwide" or "Worldwide excluding USA" plan that moves with you, providing consistent and reliable cover no matter where your laptop is.
How Much Does Allianz Care International PMI Cost?
The cost of an international private medical insurance UK policy varies significantly based on several key factors. There is no one-size-fits-all price.
Key Factors Influencing Your Premium:
- Age: As with all health insurance, premiums increase with age as the statistical likelihood of needing medical care rises.
- Area of Cover: This is a major cost driver. You choose a geographical region where you want to be covered. Common options include:
- Europe
- Worldwide excluding USA
- Worldwide
- Cover in the USA is extremely expensive due to the high cost of healthcare there, so including it will significantly increase your premium.
- Level of Cover: The more modules you add (Outpatient, Dental, etc.) and the higher the benefit limits, the higher the cost.
- Excess (or Deductible): This is the amount you agree to pay towards a claim before the insurer starts paying. Choosing a higher excess will lower your annual premium.
Illustrative Annual Costs for Allianz Care IPMI
The table below provides a rough estimate for a 40-year-old individual. These are for illustrative purposes only. For an accurate quote, you must speak to an adviser.
Area of Cover | Core Plan + Outpatient Plan (with £250 excess) | Core Plan + Outpatient + Dental (with £250 excess) |
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Europe Only | £2,500 - £3,500 | £3,000 - £4,200 |
Worldwide ex. USA | £4,000 - £5,500 | £4,800 - £6,500 |
Worldwide inc. USA | £8,000 - £12,000+ | £9,500 - £14,000+ |
To get a precise figure tailored to your needs, it's essential to get a personalised quote. WeCovr can provide this for you, comparing Allianz Care against other leading international providers to ensure you get the best value.
Living a Healthy Expat Life: Wellness Tips
Moving abroad can be stressful, and it's easy to let healthy habits slip. Here are some tips to stay well, supported by the kind of wellness resources Allianz Care provides.
- Prioritise Sleep: Jet lag and new routines can disrupt your sleep. Aim for 7-9 hours per night. Create a relaxing bedtime routine and avoid screens for an hour before bed.
- Stay Active: Explore your new home on foot, join a local gym, or find an exercise class. Physical activity is a powerful mood booster and essential for long-term health. According to the NHS, adults should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity a week.
- Eat a Balanced Diet: Discover local markets and fresh produce. Cooking at home can be healthier and more affordable than eating out. A balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is key.
- Manage Stress: Culture shock is real. Stay connected with friends and family back home, but also make an effort to build a new social network. Use mindfulness apps or the resources in Allianz's Expat Assistance Programme to manage feelings of stress or anxiety.
- Stay Hydrated: Particularly if you move to a warmer climate, make sure you drink plenty of water throughout the day.
At WeCovr, we believe in a holistic approach to wellbeing. That's why when you take out a private medical or life insurance policy with us, we provide complimentary access to CalorieHero, our AI-powered calorie and nutrition tracking app, to help you stay on top of your health goals.
How WeCovr Makes Choosing Your IPMI Simple
Navigating the international health insurance market can be daunting. The jargon is complex, the options are vast, and the stakes are high. This is where an expert, independent PMI broker adds immense value.
At WeCovr, we are specialists in the UK private medical insurance market, including international plans.
- Expert and Impartial Advice: We are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Our advice is independent, and we work for you, not the insurer.
- Market Comparison: We don't just offer one provider. We compare Allianz Care's policies and prices against other top-tier insurers like Bupa Global, Cigna, and AXA Global to find the perfect fit for you.
- No Cost to You: Our service is free. We receive a commission from the insurer if you decide to proceed, but this does not affect the premium you pay.
- Save Money on Other Products: When you become a WeCovr customer, you can get discounts on other types of insurance you may need, such as life insurance or income protection.
- Exceptional Service: We pride ourselves on our high customer satisfaction ratings, earned by providing clear, friendly, and professional guidance every step of the way.
Your Questions Answered: FAQs about Allianz Care IPMI
What is the difference between Allianz Care international PMI and my holiday travel insurance?
The difference is significant. Holiday travel insurance is for short-term trips and primarily covers medical emergencies to get you well enough to return home. Allianz Care's International Private Medical Insurance (IPMI) is an annual health insurance policy designed for people living abroad long-term. It provides comprehensive cover for routine doctor visits, specialist consultations, planned surgery, and emergency care in your country of residence and globally, depending on your plan.
Will my Allianz Care policy cover pre-existing conditions?
Generally, standard international private medical insurance does not cover pre-existing or chronic conditions. When you apply, your medical history will be assessed (underwritten). Conditions you had before the policy started will likely be excluded. However, for larger corporate group schemes, it is sometimes possible to get 'Medical History Disregarded' underwriting, where pre-existing conditions are covered. It is vital to discuss your medical history with a broker to understand your options.
Can I add my family to my Allianz Care policy?
Yes, absolutely. Allianz Care policies are designed to be flexible, and you can easily add your partner, spouse, and dependent children to your plan. Covering your whole family under one policy is often more convenient and can sometimes be more cost-effective than arranging separate individual plans.
Take the Next Step Towards Global Peace of Mind
Choosing the right international health insurance is one of the most important decisions you'll make when planning a life abroad. An Allianz Care policy provides robust, flexible, and reliable cover backed by a global giant. With comprehensive benefits and excellent digital tools, it is a leading choice for UK expats and international businesses.
Don't navigate this complex decision alone. The expert team at WeCovr is here to help you understand your options, compare the best PMI providers, and build a plan that gives you complete confidence in your healthcare, wherever you are in the world.
Contact WeCovr today for a free, no-obligation quote and expert advice from an FCA-authorised broker.