It doesn’t matter what country you move to, you’re always going to need to have your expat health insurance sorted out before you go. Of course, that’s often something easier said than done, not least because there are always quite a few providers from which you can choose. There are plenty of things to consider during the selection process, but one thing people often forget to put on their checklists is a named contact.
This simply means that you’ll have one person who you speak to within the company instead of getting sent through to a different person every time you make contact. Here are just a few reasons why you should consider a named contact a vital part of your health insurance plan.
Personal Attention
When you’re simply passed from agent to agent, you never really get to know who you’re talking to; when you have a named agent at the insurance company, you will get to know each other and they will be able to develop a stronger understanding of who you are and what sort of coverage you might need. It’s an ongoing relationship that cannot be compared to several quicker contact points.
Help in a Crisis
Hopefully you’ll never face any kind of accident or healthcare crisis, but this is always going to be a possibility, and it can be much worse when you’re living abroad, especially if you haven’t yet had a chance to learn the language or make yourself feel like part of the culture. So it can be most welcome knowing that you have someone at the end of the phone who you actually know. They’ll already know all your details, and it’s just nicer not to have to speak with a stranger when you’re in the middle of a stressful situation.
Sense of Connection
Finally, keep in mind that being an expat can be tough. It often takes some time to make firm friends and truly feel like you’re at home in your new country. A named contact is never going to be a lifelong friend, but you’ll be surprised just how pleasant it is knowing that there’s at least one constant in your changing life.
