Where to Get Expat Travel Insurance for Hong Kong

So you’re an expat living in a country other than your own, and you want to travel to Hong Kong. That’s fantastic! You’re sure to have a wonderful time.

But whilst you’re getting caught up in all the excitement for the upcoming trip (be it business or leisure), don’t let the mundane issues such as travel insurance get forgotten along the way.

The thing is, travel insurance (along with any type of insurance), can seem like dead money, until you need to use it. Then it becomes worth its weight in gold.

Another bone of contention is that unless you scroll through every single line of small print, you only get to know how good your policy is come the time you need to use it. If we’re brutally honest… who on earth reads all the terms and conditions in full?

So with all that in mind, how on earth do you go about purchasing good expat travel insurance for Hong Kong? Well thankfully, we’ve done all the work for you.

Types of Expat Travel Insurance

There are different types of travel insurance.

These include a single trip policy, annual travel insurance, backpacker/long stay insurance and adventure travel insurance – all of which are pretty self-explanatory thanks to their names. (There’s also other types, such as ski insurance, but we’re pretty sure you won’t be needing that in Hong Kong!).

Whatever type of insurance you’re looking for, there will be different levels of cover to choose from. This will include the amount of medical cover and emergency evacuation, baggage cover, personal possessions, delays etc.

These amounts are something you need to decide will be suitable for your needs, as each person will be different.

There are thousands of suppliers of travel insurance. Some of the most well known include World Nomads, Columbus Direct and American Express Travel Insurance.

World Nomads

These guys have been selling travel insurance since 2002, and now insure travellers from more than 150 different countries.

Endorsed by Lonely Planet, Rough Guides and National Geographic Adventure, policyholders can also take advantage of various other travel related items, such as language guides for iPhone and many travel blogs.

One very useful aspect of their insurance is the ability to make claims online. This means you can even begin the claims process whilst you’re still travelling.

The company is also well aware that most of us travel with a whole host of technical gadgets (cameras, phones, tablets, laptops etc.), so provide cover for these as well.

Columbus Direct

In business since 1988, Columbus Direct provide insurance to people living in over 45 countries. Lloyds, the world’s leading insurance specialist, underwrite all their policies. They provide medical travel up to 14 million euros, 7,500 euros of cancellation cover and 3,750 euros of baggage cover.

American Express Travel insurance

Amex needs no introduction as a global brand, and is a name that can be trusted the world over. They also provide travel cover of up to 24 months for extended stays.

It’s always worth checking out their website if you’re considering expat travel insurance, as they often offer promotions. For instance, as of January 2016, they are offering a 20% discount on all travel insurance policies purchased online.

Pre-existing Medical Conditions

Where travel insurance can become a little trickier is when you or a family member has a pre-existing medical condition. Even just a few years ago this would have proved virtually impossible to get coverage for when travelling.

But thankfully, there are some companies that provide insurance for just such issues.

In Hong Kong, healthcare is divided into two separate options: public and private. The public healthcare in Hong Kong is free of charge or is available for a very low fee – and that’s for both residents and non-permanent residents. Once you’re in Hong Kong and have acquired your ID card, you are entitled to use the system.

Tourists are also able to use the public healthcare system. However, such a system is not without its issues – such as long queues, waits and perhaps not the gentlest bedside manner you’d expect.

In addition, not all the practitioners will speak English to a sufficient level for you to understand.

Because of this, many people choose to purchase cover to utilise the private healthcare system.

However, just because Hong Kong has a public medical system, this is no reason not to purchase adequate medical travel insurance.

So what if you’re due to travel to Hong Kong and have a pre-existing condition, such as diabetes, a cardiac condition or a respiratory disease? Well, there are many companies that will now, for a fee (naturally), include cover for your condition. Barclays Bank is one such provider. Axa is another.

However, you will find there are certain exclusions to medical conditions that insurance providers will not cover.

These include being diagnosed with a terminal condition, and if you’re waiting for any results of tests or investigations, waiting for an operation or currently receiving hospital treatment.

The premiums for travel insurance for those with pre-existing conditions can vary widely. One way to get a good overview is to compare costs using one of the many price comparison websites.

These include Money Super Market, Compare The Market or the specialist, Medical Travel Compared.

Do Your Homework

As with all types of insurance, it really is a case of shopping around and checking that you really are purchasing the cover you need. One great thing about living in our techno-savvy world is that it’s now so easy to do a little bit of detective work before you sign on the dotted line and hand over your hard-earned cash.

Google is a great source of reviews on all things, including expat travel insurance. Trip Advisor is also a great place to look, as is Lonely Planet