What is Inpatriate Insurance?
Inpatriate insurance is designed for employees who are relocating to Australia from another country for work. When an employee is sent to work in a foreign country, they are often faced with new challenges, including navigating a foreign healthcare system. This is where inpatriate insurance can be useful, as it provides comprehensive health coverage and protection against the risks associated with living and working in a foreign country.
According to a study by Boston Consulting Group, Australia is ranked as the third most popular destination for international workers, with 20 per cent of respondents citing Australia as the country they would prefer to move to for work. Employers must carefully assess the risks associated with relocating employees to foreign countries including available insurance options. By providing comprehensive health coverage and other important benefits, inpatriate insurance can help ensure the wellbeing of inpatriates and their families as well as providing peace of mind to both the employee and the employer.
Who should consider Inpatriate Insurance?
Inpatriate insurance is specifically designed for employees who are immigrating to Australia to work. This insurance is tailored to those employees who are being relocated to Australia by their current employer or are being hired by a new employer in Australia.
Inpatriate insurance is designed for people who hold a ‘temporary work (short stay specialist) visa’. This visa is typically granted for short-term, specialised work in Australia, often within the corporate sector, and provides working rights for up to 6 months.
What does Inpatriate Insurance cover?
Inpatriate insurance predominantly insures an individual against potential health issues that may arise during their stay overseas.
Policies often include 24/7 coverage for:
- Medical and additional expenses including dental and optical
- Maternity cover
- Evacuation/repatriation cover
- Repatriation of mortal remains and funeral costs.
Some additional benefits of inpatriate insurance include its compliance with the Department of Home Affairs immigration and citizenship requirements with respect to Australian working rights, and providing coverage to workers in Australia who are not entitled to Medicare.
Inpatriate insurance policies are typically tailored to the specific needs of the inpatriate, taking into account their health history, age, and the specific risks associated with their new country of residence. These policies can cover a wide range of expenses, including medical expenses, emergency medical evacuation, and repatriation of remains.
What Inpatriate Insurance doesn’t cover
Inpatriate insurance often does not cover death, injury, sickness or disability arising from:
- The insured being in an aircraft, unless they are a passenger
- War/civil war
- Suicide, attempted suicide, or deliberately self-inflicted injuries.
Inpatriate policies do not typically cover pre-existing medical conditions, or certain types of medical treatments or procedures that are not covered by the local healthcare system in the inpatriate’s new country of residence.
This policy is also not a substitute for travel insurance. While inpatriate insurance policies provide comprehensive health coverage, they may not cover certain travel-related expenses, such as trip cancellations or lost luggage.
Inpatriate Insurance claims example
An employee originally based in Canada has relocated to Australia for work. The employee has experienced severe tooth pain and requires emergency dental treatment. The company’s inpatriate insurance will respond to cover the dental expenses incurred by the employee providing financial relief.
Information required to obtain quotation
To obtain a quotation for inpatriate insurance, insurers will generally require a completed proposal form including information and details on the following:
- Basic information about the insured individuals, such as their age, gender, country of origin
- Details on employment status
- Length of stay and address whilst in Australia
- Any pre-existing medical conditions and medical history
- Medical-related plans while in the country, such as dentist visits, pregnancy, and medication taken
For further information on inpatriate insurance please contact a Bellrock Advisor.
