Best International Health Insurance for Families

Top Picks for Families

After evaluating international health insurance plans specifically for family needs, here are our recommendations:

• Cigna Global: Best overall choice for families with balanced coverage, good maternity benefits, and a large provider network.
• Bupa Global: Premium option with the highest maternity limits and comprehensive benefits for those who want top-tier coverage.
• Allianz Care: Good mid-range option with flexible plans and solid pediatric coverage.
• IMG Global: Budget-friendly option for families who need basic coverage and are comfortable with higher deductibles.

What Families Need in Coverage

Family health insurance abroad has different requirements than individual coverage. Key considerations include:

Maternity Coverage

If you're planning to have children abroad, maternity coverage is essential. Look for:

• Reasonable waiting periods (10-12 months is standard)
• Coverage for prenatal care, delivery, and postnatal care
• Complication coverage that's separate from the maternity limit
• Newborn coverage from birth

Pediatric Care

Children have different healthcare needs:

• Well-child visits and vaccinations
• Coverage for childhood illnesses
• Developmental screenings
• Access to pediatric specialists

Dental and Vision

Kids often need more dental and vision care than adults. Look for plans that include or offer add-ons for:

• Routine dental cleanings and checkups
• Orthodontic coverage (braces)
• Vision exams and glasses

Family Pricing

Understand how family pricing works:

• Some plans charge per person (children often cheaper)
• Others offer family rates with caps on number of children
• Age of parents significantly affects premiums

How We Evaluated

We focused on factors most important to families living abroad:

• Maternity benefits: Waiting periods, coverage limits, and complication coverage
• Pediatric network: Access to children's hospitals and specialists
• Dental and vision: Availability and limits for children's coverage
• Family pricing: Total cost for typical family configurations
• Flexibility: Ability to add children and adjust coverage
• Claims experience: How smoothly claims are processed

Family Plan Comparison

Here's how the top providers compare for family coverage:

* Prices are estimates for a family of 4 (two parents age 35-40, two children) with mid-tier coverage. Actual prices vary based on location, deductible, and coverage options.

Detailed Reviews

Cigna Global — Best Overall for Families

Cigna Global is our top pick for most expat families. The plan offers a good balance of comprehensive coverage, reasonable pricing, and excellent service.

Family strengths:

• Maternity coverage up to $50,000 after 10-12 month waiting period
• Newborns covered from day one
• Large network of pediatric providers worldwide
• Family wellness programs and health coaching
• Online portal makes managing family coverage easy

Considerations: Dental requires add-on. US coverage adds significant cost. Maternity waiting period applies.

Read our full Cigna Global review

Bupa Global — Best Premium Option

Bupa Global is the premium choice for families who want the highest coverage limits and most comprehensive benefits.

Family strengths:

• Highest maternity limits (up to $75,000)
• Dental included in Premier plans
• Excellent worldwide hospital network
• Strong coverage for complications
• Additional benefits like second medical opinions

Considerations: Higher premiums than competitors. Best value comes from top-tier plans.

Read our full Bupa Global review

Allianz Care — Solid Mid-Range Choice

Allianz Care offers flexible plans that work well for families who want good coverage without premium pricing.

Family strengths:

• Multiple plan tiers to fit different budgets
• Good pediatric coverage across all plans
• Mental health coverage for all family members
• Strong presence in Europe and Asia

Considerations: Lower maternity limits than Cigna or Bupa. Network smaller in some regions.

Read our full Allianz Care review

IMG Global — Budget-Friendly Option

IMG Global works for families who need basic international coverage at a lower price point.

Family strengths:

• Lowest premiums for family coverage
• High deductible options reduce costs further
• Solid core medical coverage
• Good for healthy families with low healthcare usage

Considerations: Limited maternity benefits. Fewer wellness programs. Better suited for families without complex health needs.

Read our full IMG Global review

Maternity Coverage Explained

If maternity coverage is important, here's how the providers compare:

Understanding Waiting Periods

All international health insurance plans have waiting periods for maternity — typically 10-12 months. This means you must be covered for that long before pregnancy costs are covered.

• Plan ahead if you want to start a family abroad
• Get coverage before trying to conceive
• Pregnancy that begins before the waiting period ends is not covered

Normal Delivery vs Complications

Most plans have separate limits for normal delivery and complications:

• Normal delivery: Subject to maternity sub-limit
• Complications: Usually covered under main medical benefits (much higher limits)

This is important — a complicated pregnancy with extended NICU stay could exceed maternity limits, but complications coverage kicks in.

Newborn Coverage

Most quality plans cover newborns from birth:

• Initial hospital stay for baby included
• Must add baby to policy (usually within 30-60 days)
• Baby's pre-existing conditions from birth typically covered

Tips for Insuring Your Family

1. Get Coverage Early

If you might have children, get maternity coverage early. Waiting periods mean you can't add it when you need it.

2. Consider the Family Deductible

Family plans may have individual deductibles plus a family maximum. Understand how this works — multiple family members hitting deductibles can add up.

3. Check Pediatric Networks

Before choosing a plan, verify there are pediatricians and children's hospitals in your area. A great plan is useless if you can't find providers.

4. Don't Skip Dental

Kids need dental care. If the plan doesn't include it, budget for out-of-pocket or add the coverage.

5. Consider Growth

Think about your family plans. Adding children to a policy is usually straightforward, but switching plans with a pregnant wife or sick child is much harder.

6. Review Annually

Family needs change. Review your coverage at renewal — you may need to adjust as kids grow or family circumstances change.

Common Questions

How much does family expat insurance cost?

A family of four (two parents in their 30s-40s, two children) typically pays $500-1,400 per month depending on coverage level, deductible, and location. Children are generally much cheaper to insure than adults.

Are children's vaccinations covered?

Most comprehensive plans cover childhood vaccinations as part of preventive care. Budget plans may exclude routine vaccinations. Always verify this coverage if it's important to you.

Can I add a newborn to my policy?

Yes. Most plans allow you to add newborns within a specified timeframe (usually 30-60 days after birth). The baby is typically covered from birth if added in time, often without medical underwriting.

What if my child has a pre-existing condition?

If your child develops a condition while on the policy, it's covered going forward. If they have a condition before enrolling, it may be excluded. Conditions present at birth in a newborn added to an existing policy are usually covered.

Is orthodontic care (braces) covered?

Usually only in plans with comprehensive dental coverage. Even then, there are often lifetime limits ($1,000-3,000 is common). Some plans exclude orthodontics entirely.

Can grandparents be on our family plan?

Typically no. Family plans usually cover parents and dependent children. Grandparents would need their own coverage. Some providers allow extended family on group plans but not individual family policies.