Packing, visa applications, saying goodbye…there is SO much going on! Insuring your move is one way to take a (huge!) load off your shoulders. This post will cover the basics of moving abroad insurance tips!
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Hey! If you’re new here, my name is Nat, and I’m a US citizen whose been living in China for 5 years. It seems like you’re on the prowl for insurance to cover moving abroad, and I’m here to help you find answers!
Let’s jump right in!
Moving Abroad Insurance: Covering All the Bases
I definitely purchased insurance when starting my life as an expat, and DEFINITELY overpaid for said insurance because I didn’t know what to look for.
Also, I didn’t realize that there were so many aspects to getting insured when moving abroad!
As far as I know, there’s no “all-inclusive” package which covers everything. This means that you’ll need to buy multiple insurance policies for different aspects of the move.
This includes:
- Health insurance for traveling or moving abroad
- Moving insurance for personal items being shipped abroad
- Insurance for flights and travel expenses
Below are more details on what the above mentioned policies may look like.
Health Insurance for Expats
Moving to a new country certainly has its risk factors! With all of the traveling, trying new foods, and exposure to new elements, there may be an increased risk of injury or sickness.
When I moved abroad, I picked up travel insurance policies to cover the entire first year of my expat life. I paid a LOT of money for those travel policies! I didn’t know that expat insurance existed!
There is a difference between getting insurance for travel and insurance as an expat.
When you’re traveling, it’s assumed that you may be doing some more “high risk” activities. Sports, swimming, snorkeling, dune-buggying, the list goes on and on.
But when you’re MOVING to a new country, you’re likely going to be doing day-to-day stuff. Your risk of injury is lower. So make sure you’re looking for expat coverage!
Whenever I travel, I use Visitor’sCoverage to find a policy that fits me. (They also offer policies for US expats who return to visit the USA for visits! Lifesaver!)
INsurance for Traveling while Living Abroad
Maybe your job or school in your expat country will provide some kind of insurance policy. Even still, there may be gaps in your coverage as you’re traveling. Grabbing a policy for just a week or two never hurt anyone!
Also, even if your school or workplace provides insurance, that insurance could very likely not cover travels to another country for tourism.
For example, China is super close to Thailand, so once I popped over to Thailand on a weekend. While I do have insurance through my work in China, it won’t cover things that could happen to me in Thailand.
So, if you’re doing some tourism outside of your expat country, you’ll probably want to grab a travel policy even if you have insurance in your new country of residence.
If you want to get an idea of how much insurance will cost for you, VisitorsCoverage can get you a quote in less than 5 minutes (literally!), so head to their homepage to check out your options!
Insurance for Personal Items being Moved Abroad
When I moved abroad, I just came with several suitcases. However, I’ve accumulated a LOT of stuff, and anticipate needing a full-on moving service when I return to the USA!
Finding a Moving Service
There are a plethora of moving companies that can be found with a quick Google search. However, if you’re using a US based company, it’s likely to be more expensive.
The shipping company that I’m planning to use to return to the USA from China is China-based, and MUCH cheaper than US companies quoted me!
That’s just a little hack for American expats: check the prices of services in your expat country before you check services from the US. Most services from the US are more expensive (albeit sometimes more professional).
Insurance for Items that You’re Moving
Many moving companies provide some kind of insurance for the items you’re moving. However, not every company does. Make sure to check with your moving company when getting a quote.
Check to make sure that insurance on personal items covers not just damages to your items, but also compensates your items being lost or stolen.
Customs and Declarations for Items Being Moved Abroad
Typically, your moving company will inform you about customs requirements and will help you to fill out the necessary declaration forms.
Most countries have varying restrictions, and some items may not be allowed to be shipped from country to country. Also, import taxes may apply for certain items.
It’s best to do your research on this beforehand so you’re prepared for which items you can ship, and which items ought to either fly with your or be left behind altogether.
Insurance for Flights and Travel Expenses
Everything is going perfectly…until that flight delay causes you to miss your transfer.
Flying can be high-stress for many people, especially as international tickets can be pricey and difficult to book.
If you bought travel insurance for your trip to your expat country, then flight issues may be covered. However, not every travel insurance policy covers flight issues!
In many cases, you can actually buy flight insurance when you’re buying your airline tickets. However, if you’re booking through third-party sites, sometimes they have wonky cancellation or missed flight policies.
This is where I want to introduce AirHelp, a company that can help you get compensation for missed or cancelled flights, as well as many more flightmares!
AirHelp for Flight Cancellation Compensation
When you have a flight issue, you can enter your flight information on AirHelp and check for FREE if you’re eligible for compensation! They can help with SO many different flight-fluke situations!
If you do use AirHelp to get compensation, the best part is that you don’t pay for their services UNLESS you get compensated. In other words, you won’t waste money on a service that isn’t successful!
Sounds too good to be true? Based on their big-name features in magazines and newspapers, they seem to have a solid track record.
So if you didn’t buy flight insurance and find yourself having flight issues, you may want to consider giving AirHelp a shot. You have nothing to lose!
Summary
This post covered insurance for health & safety, for items being moved, and also for flights and travel fees. I hope the resources in this post will help you in your planning process, and ultimately make your move smoother!
There are several aspects to moving abroad insurance. This post was designed to give you a clearer understand of how to protect yourself during the big move! Still have questions? Let’s talk in the comments!
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What To Do Before Moving Abroad: The Ultimate Checklist
Moving Abroad Meaning, Helpful Info, and Tips
Moving Abroad Ruined My Life & Other Expat Downsides