The cost of an individual expatriate policy can vary depending not only on the age of the member and the level of cover chosen, but is also dependant on the country of residence or the area of the world the cover is for. Premiums will increase on an annual basis in line with a member's increasing age, but also as a reflection of not only medical inflation but also claims incidence. Increasing regulation in areas of the world such as the UAE and the Far East, may also play some part in increasing premiums as insurers may have to pass on these costs to members which are a direct result of legislative or policy changes.

Expatriates can reduce the cost of international medical insurance in a number of ways including ensuring the careful selection of an appropriate policy. When looking at the types of policy available, it is always useful to initially look at the cost of local outpatient treatment, such as doctors fees which in some countries are minimal. If the expatriate is happy to cover these small costs themselves, the level and cost of the cover can be reduced to hospital or basic cover only.

Premiums can also be reduced by the increase or inclusion of a plan excess, which can be set at any number of varying amounts from 100GBP to 10,000GBP with a maximum premium reduction of up to 40%, depending on the insurer and policy concerned.

Alternatively, some insurers offer a no claims discount facility, which can allow members, the opportunity to claim up to a 20% reduction in premium, following a period of three consecutive years, where claims have not been made against the policy. The no claims discount facility is still not considered common practice within the international individual market, as the vast majority of countries do not have a National Health Service, as we do in the UK, and therefore treatment must be paid for, thereby reducing the no claims discount's usefulness.

Some insurers are able to offer expatriates a greater flexibility in the product which they choose, by breaking the policy into separate elements or modules, such as inpatient, outpatient, dental and pregnancy. This therefore allows prospective members to tailor their policy to meet their own requirements or situation. This is especially useful when looking at maternity benefit, which is not required by older age or male members, but is often included as standard within a number of policies on the market and is obviously a benefit which is being paid for and will never be utilised in these two instances. In allowing members to simply choose the benefits they require, members are not paying for cover they simply do not need.

There are a number of different insurers within the market, all with different benefit propositions and cover options and there is usually something suitable for everyone, although it can be difficult knowing where to start!