Health Insurance Coverage
Health insurance is one of the most important (and often one of the most confusing) parts of an international teaching benefits package. For families, it can mean the difference between feeling secure abroad or facing major unexpected expenses.
Understanding exactly what’s included (and what’s not) can help you make an informed decision before signing your teaching contract. But be warned, a lot of the nitty gritty of health insurance packages isn’t explained until you arrive in country as part of your induction week – which is very frustrating.
Why Health Insurance Matters When Living Abroad
For teaching families, health insurance isn’t a nice to have – it’s necessary to keep your family safe. Medical systems overseas are obviously unfamiliar, and costs can escalate quickly if you’re uninsured (depending on your destination). For example, a late night visit to an emergency room when your child has a high temp can run into the hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars if you’re not adequately insured. And if you need more complex care (like surgery, dental work, or mental health support), it can be even higher.
Having solid medical insurance can give you real peace of mind when moving overseas. Knowing your kids’ check-ups, vaccinations, or unexpected accidents are covered means you can focus on settling into your new role and enjoying life abroad.
Instead of worrying about how you’d pay for care, you can feel confident that your family is protected no matter where teaching takes you.
Related: Overseas Health Insurance – What Every Family Needs to Know
What Health Insurance Schools Typically Offer
Inpatient Care
Hospital stays, surgeries, and emergency treatment.
Outpatient Care
Doctor visits, prescriptions, diagnostic tests (sometimes limited).
Dependents
Some schools cover spouses and children fully; others require co-payments or contributions.
Dental & Vision
Dental and vision is often excluded or only partially covered at most international schools.
Maternity & Newborn Care
Varies widely; some plans include full maternity, others exclude it or impose waiting periods.
Emergency Evacuation
Especially in countries with limited medical infrastructure. E.g. you’ll be flown to the nearest country that offers the medical care you need.
Related: Maternity Leave and Starting a Family Abroad
Common Policies by School Type
Top-tier international schools
Some schools (more common at American schools) also include life insurance, disability coverage, and emergency evacuation as standard.
Mid-range schools
Coverage for dependents may be partial or require teachers to pay extra. Life or disability insurance is less common.
Small or start-up schools
Coverage may only apply to the teacher, not dependents, and extras like life insurance or disability coverage are rare.
Extra Coverage
Some international schools go beyond health insurance and include extra protections in their benefits package. These may include life insurance, which provides a payout to your family in the event of death while under contract, or disability coverage, which helps replace income if an illness or accident prevents you from working.
Some schools may offer emergency evacuation insurance, covering the cost of transport to another country if local medical facilities aren’t sufficient.
Coverage varies widely between schools, so it’s always worth checking exactly what’s included. And whether these benefits extend to spouses and dependents.
“When we moved to Korea, we assumed our insurance would cover everything we needed. It wasn’t until our daughter needed therapy that we realised mental health care wasn’t included in our plan. We had to budget for private sessions, which became one of our biggest unexpected expenses overseas.”
International Teacher with 2 kidsAre There Regional Differences?
The level of medical care you an expect to receive in different destinations can vary wildly. So too can the health insurance coverage. While each school sets their own policies and third party insurance providers, here are some things to look out for in different regions around the world.
Asia & Middle East
Packages are often comprehensive, with family and global coverage included.
Europe
Some schools rely on national health systems; private cover may be minimal or optional (and expensive). In countries like Switzerland, you’re legally required to take out health insurance, which can add significant costs for families.
Africa & Latin America
Mixed. Some schools offer strong coverage plus evacuation; others provide only local basic plans. E.g. even top tier schools in Peru only offer local coverage.
Costs and Hidden Factors to Consider
Even with health insurance, families may face:
- Co-pays and deductibles on doctor visits or medication.
- Coverage caps (annual or lifetime).
- Exclusions (mental health, orthodontics, pre-existing conditions).
- Upfront payments if no direct billing is available.
Real Teacher Scenarios
- Co-pays and Deductibles: Even when insurance covers the bulk of a doctor’s visit, teachers often pay small amounts out of pocket. For example, one family in Bangkok had co-pays of around $15 per month for a child’s asthma medication — a small cost that added up over the school year.
- 2. Coverage Cap: Some policies have yearly or lifetime limits. A teacher in Dubai discovered their dental plan only covered $1,000 annually. When their teenager needed braces costing nearly $4,000, they had to cover the rest themselves.
- 3. Upfront Payments: Not all hospitals offer direct billing. In Vietnam, one teaching family had to pay $800 upfront for an emergency room visit before being reimbursed six weeks later by their insurer.
Key Questions for Families to Ask About Health Insurance Coverage
What’s covered?
Does the policy cover both inpatient and outpatient care? What about services you’re likely to need (e.g. maternity and newborn care if you’re considering starting a family or having another child)?
Who’s covered?
Is my spouse and all dependent children included?
Is coverage worldwide?
Is worldwide coverage included for travel or home leave? Or are you limited to care in country.
What’s excluded?
What are the exclusions (mental health, pre-existing conditions, alternative therapies)?
WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR
Quick Health Insurance Assistance Checklist
Check out this health insurance checklist to make sure you’re covering the basics when considering an offer.
Dependents
Are dependents included, and are there any additional costs?
Outpatient & Inpatient
Does insurance cover both outpatient and inpatient care?
Understand Limits
Are there annual/lifetime coverage limits?
How it works
Is there direct billing or reimbursement?
Final Thoughts on Health Insurance as an International Teaching Family
Health insurance might seem like a tick-box benefit, but for international teaching families it offers security and peace of mind.
Be sure to always read the fine print, ask detailed questions, and compare what’s offered across different international schools and regions.