Expatriate Group Health Plans
If you are an employer with expatriate employees, you have access to a host of employee benefit options that can provide extensive coverage to your employees: Medical insurance for short-term and long-term assignments, dental, vision, life, long-term disability, etc.
Expatriate group health plans are designed specifically for individuals and groups who are living and working abroad. These plans offer comprehensive coverage for medical expenses, including doctor visits, hospitalization, and prescription drugs - In and outside of the US. They also often include coverage for emergency medical evacuation and repatriation.
One of the key benefits of expatriate group health plans is that they are exempt from certain provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), such as the requirement to provide essential health benefits. This exemption allows for more flexibility in designing and customizing plans to meet the specific needs of the expatriate population.
As such, expatriate group health plans are considered "excepted benefits" under the ACA, which means they are not subject to certain requirements of the law, such as the requirement to provide minimum essential coverage. However, they do need to meet certain requirements to qualify as an excepted benefit.
Who Qualifies?
In 2014, the Departments of Treasury, Labor, and Health and Human Services issued a final rule that provides guidance on the definition and requirements of expatriate group health plans. According to this rule, an expatriate group health plan must meet several criteria, including that the plan sponsor must be a U.S. employer, the plan must provide coverage to employees and their dependents who are outside of the U.S. for at least 6 months of the year, and the plan must comply with certain provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.
If you're an expatriate or an employer with expatriate employees, it's important to explore all of your health insurance options. Expatriate group health plans could be a great choice for you, providing the coverage you need while living and working abroad. Contact us to learn more about how we can help you find the right expatriate group health plan for your needs.