What Indonesians Living or Traveling Overseas Need to Know
Whether you are an Indonesian citizen planning to move abroad, travel for an extended period, or go on a short trip, it's important to have the right insurance to make sure you are protected during your time overseas.
For instance, you might need health insurance to cover medical expenses if you become sick or injured while living abroad, or travel insurance to protect against trip cancellations, lost luggage, or delays during a vacation. Looking further ahead, you might also want to arrange life insurance to ensure your loved ones are financially secure if something happens to you.
Whatever your situation, having the right insurance gives you peace of mind and allows you to enjoy your time abroad, knowing you have protection against unforeseen events. To help you understand your options, this article provides an overview of health, travel, and life insurance for Indonesian citizens living and traveling overseas.
Whether you are an Indonesian citizen planning to move abroad, travel for an extended period, or go on a short trip, it's important to have the right insurance to make sure you are protected during your time overseas.
For instance, you might need health insurance to cover medical expenses if you become sick or injured while living abroad, or travel insurance to protect against trip cancellations, lost luggage, or delays during a vacation. Looking further ahead, you might also want to arrange life insurance to ensure your loved ones are financially secure if something happens to you.
Whatever your situation, having the right insurance gives you peace of mind and allows you to enjoy your time abroad, knowing you have protection against unforeseen events. To help you understand your options, this article provides an overview of health, travel, and life insurance for Indonesian citizens living and traveling overseas.
Health Insurance for Indonesian Expats
Indonesian citizens living in their home country can access healthcare either through the public system, which is known as BPJS Kesehatan, or by purchasing private coverage to use services at private hospitals and clinics. However, since Indonesia does not currently have any reciprocal healthcare agreements that allow its citizens to receive free or subsidized healthcare in other countries, they must rely on private health coverage, or pay out-of-pocket for healthcare services while living abroad.
When choosing a policy, it's important to make sure it is suited to your destination. For instance, the healthcare system in the United States is notoriously complicated and expensive, so selecting a plan that is specifically designed to cover high costs and help you navigate it effectively is essential.
It is also worth noting that the Indonesian rupiah has a lower value compared to many other currencies. This means you may face high costs and risks if you have a medical emergency while living abroad. With this in mind, you should purchase global health coverage before you go. This will ensure you have access to high-quality care in private clinics and hospitals, similar to the coverage you would receive with private health insurance in Indonesia.
If you are looking to save money or keep your expenses low, it's a good idea to work with a licensed broker. They can help you explore the various options and create an affordable plan tailored to your needs and budget.
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The Best Health Insurance Plans for Indonesian Expats
There are several plans to choose from, depending on where you plan to live and the level of coverage you wish to buy.
The Best Health Insurance Plans for the EU
Cigna and IMG offer EU-focused medical plans with various levels of coverage to fit your needs and budget. These are great options for Indonesian expats and families living in European countries due to their specific European coverage options:
- Cigna Global: Provides affordable, comprehensive coverage in Europe. Cigna's product is completely customizable, so you can include only the necessary benefits and choose your deductible, helping reduce your monthly premium.
- IMG Global Prima Medical Insurance: Offers an exclusive European-coverage-only customizable plan, setting it apart from other options and making it appealing to expats living on the continent who do not require worldwide coverage.
The Best Health Insurance Plans for the U.S.
As mentioned, the U.S. is known for its complex and costly healthcare system. For Indonesian expats living in the country, a U.S.-based plan is the best way to navigate the system and avoid large out-of-pocket medical bills:
- GeoBlue Xplorer: The plan provides full coverage for Indonesian citizens living in the U.S. with the industry's best benefits, coverage, and service levels through GeoBlue's U.S. Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO Network. However, it is unavailable in New York, Maryland, Washington, and North Dakota.
- Cigna Global: Offers a comprehensive, customizable worldwide plan with U.S. coverage that can be tailored to your specific health needs and preferences.
The Best Worldwide Health Insurance Plans
Indonesian expats needing worldwide coverage have a couple of options to choose from, as follows:
- IMG Global Medical Insurance: Offers comprehensive plans with worldwide coverage or coverage excluding the U.S., Canada, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, and Taiwan. These plans are fully customizable and offer various coverage levels, deductible options, and add-on riders.
- Cigna Global International Medical Insurance: The plan provides affordable coverage in over 180 countries and is customizable to suit your needs and budget. You can choose your plan level and deductible and include optional add-ons, such as Health and Wellbeing.
Notably, if you only need coverage for your home country and one other destination, Cigna Close Care can be more cost-effective than broader global plans. It offers targeted coverage for these specific areas, helping to reduce the overall costs.
Travel Insurance for Indonesian Citizens
If you are an Indonesian citizen traveling abroad for vacation, business, or visiting family, having travel insurance is crucial for ensuring financial protection and peace of mind. Depending on the plan you choose, it can protect your health, travel expenses, belongings, travel plans, or all of the above.
There are several types of coverage to choose from, including the following:
Trip Cancellation Insurance
World Nomads is a good option for Indonesian travelers seeking basic coverage, including trip cancellation. It offers reimbursement for non-refundable expenses due to covered reasons such as illness, injury, or the death of you or a close family member. It also covers additional costs for returning home early and rescheduling or rebooking if covered events disrupt your trip.
Read More: Trip Cancellation Insurance
Travel Medical Insurance
Travel insurance should ideally cover unexpected medical expenses, including hospital stays, doctor visits, and emergency medical evacuation. It should also protect against trip interruptions, lost luggage, and other unforeseen incidents that can impact your travel experience.
There are several travel medical insurance plans available to Indonesians traveling overseas, depending on their destination:
Traveling Outside the U.S.
- Atlas International: Offers worldwide medical coverage, excluding the United States. It includes features such as translation assistance while being treated, doctor and hospital referrals, and assistance in replacing lost prescriptions.
- IMG Patriot International Platinum: Provides extensive coverage for Indonesian travelers, including inpatient and outpatient services, emergency care, dental treatment, and lost luggage. The plan is available for as little as five days, and you can renew it for up to three years, with flexible renewal options in monthly or daily increments.
- Trawick Safe Travels International: Offers global coverage for Indonesian citizens traveling outside the United States, with comprehensive benefits and various levels to suit all budgets.
Traveling to the U.S.
- Trawick's Safe Travels USA: This is the best plan for Indonesian citizens visiting the United States. It includes medical, evacuation, and repatriation coverage, with coverage options ranging from five to 364 days and extensions available.
- Atlas America Insurance: Offers similar benefits with flexible coverage durations and extension options.
- Patriot America Platinum: Provides comprehensive benefits, including medical coverage, emergency evacuation, and repatriation, tailored for travelers visiting the U.S., with flexible policy durations and high coverage limits.
Read More: Travel Health Insurance
Annual Travel Insurance
If you travel overseas multiple times a year, it's a good idea to buy annual travel insurance or multi-trip coverage. These plans cover all your trips for a year, with a limit on how long each trip can be.
Patriot Multi-Trip is a great option for Indonesian citizens, families, and groups of five or more who travel frequently outside Indonesia. You can renew it for up to 36 months and choose trip durations of 30, 60, or 90 days.
Read More: Annual Travel Insurance
Life Insurance for Indonesian Citizens Overseas
Planning for the future is important, and life insurance can play a key part in this. It ensures that your family gets financial support if you pass away, covering things like funeral costs, debts, and ongoing living expenses.
This protection is especially important when you’re living or traveling internationally, where local insurance options might be limited or unavailable. If you have a domestic life insurance policy, check it before moving abroad to make sure it covers deaths overseas. If it doesn’t, consider switching to an international plan for full protection.
An international plan ensures that your beneficiaries receive a death benefit even if you die abroad, no matter where you are. This provides peace of mind, letting you focus on your work, travel, or adventures without worrying about your family’s financial future.
Term Life and Whole Life Plans
You can choose between two main types of international life insurance: term life and whole life. Term life plans are popular with expats and travelers because they have affordable premiums and flexible coverage options.
These plans are budget-friendly and you can adjust them to fit your specific needs. On the other hand, whole-life plans provide coverage for your entire life and a guaranteed death benefit, which is useful for those worried about future health changes and getting insurance later. Each type has its own benefits, so you can pick the one that best suits your needs.
The Best Life Insurance Plans for Indonesian Citizens
Naturally, it's important to choose a reputable provider when purchasing life insurance. William Russell and Unisure both offer comprehensive and reliable coverage tailored to international lifestyles.
- William Russell: Provides life insurance coverage for those living and working abroad. You can insure your life up to $2m and safeguard your family’s financial future. You can also include expat income protection insurance in your policy or purchase it as a standalone policy.
- Unisure: Provides a range of options, including Term Life, Whole Life, and annual renewable plans. You can also add extra benefits, such as Accidental Death and Waiver of Premium riders.
Read More: International Life Insurance
Protect Your Future
Whether you're an Indonesian living abroad or traveling to different countries, choosing the right insurance is important for peace of mind. Health, travel, and life insurance protect you from unexpected events and help with financial security and essential services.
Before you start your journey, take some time to look at your needs and choose the insurance plan that offers the best coverage for you and your family, no matter where you go.
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Author: Emily Cotlier is a senior editor at International Citizens Insurance. She has made the move from the U.S.A. to New Zealand. For International Insurance, she clarifies international visa and immigration requirements, shares travel resources, and advises on relocation challenges. She’s traveled through five continents and Oceania, and she still loves to travel both in Aotearoa New Zealand and around the world.