International health insurance
Working, studying or travelling abroad for over six months, Vhi International provides comprehensive health insurance, wherever you are.
Why do I need International health insurance?
- Vhi International provides complete health insurance, including travel insurance benefits, when you're living or working abroad for 6 months or more.
- Cover for hospital care, including surgery, overnight stays, scans and specialist treatment, up to the limits of your plan.
- Routine medical care, maternity, cancer care and mental health cover are available, along with the usual travel benefits like lost baggage, delays and cancellations.
Key benefits
Hospital cover
Cover for inpatient and day care treatments.
Medical helpline
24/7 access to emergency medical helpline.
Major medical return
Flexibility to return to Ireland for major medical treatment.
Emergency transfer
Full cover for emergency medical transfer, evacuation and repatriation.
No gaps in cover
Continuous cover at home and abroad so you have no new waiting periods when you return.
Note: cover is subject to terms, conditions, eligibility criteria, benefit limits and exclusions. Please read the policy documents and Table of Benefits before purchasing.
How it works
Start
Tell us where you're going, when you want cover to begin, and your date of birth.
Quote
You will receive a quote with plan options.
Details
Pick a plan and provide a few more details to continue.
Finish
You need your BIC and IBAN to complete the purchase.
How to choose the right plan
Vhi International Level 1
- Medical expenses up to €3m.
- Outpatient expenses up to €1,000.
- Cancer care benefits.
- Repatriation.
- No maternity
- No inpatient treatment for mental health
Vhi International Level 2
Everything in Level 1 plus:
- Medical expenses increased up to €5m.
- Outpatient expenses up to €15,000.
- Maternity care.
- Inpatient mental health cover.
Why choose Vhi?
Fast claims
Fast claims within approx. 10 days.
Global network
Access to a global network of hospitals and clinics.
Quality care globally
Worldwide protection whether you're in Europe, Asia, the US or beyond, you can access top quality care.
Join Vhi today
We make international health insurance easy. Let's start with a quick quote.
Frequently asked questions
No, this is a replacement policy for anyone who currently holds a health insurance plan in Ireland. It replaces your existing plan to cover you while abroad.
International health insurance is designed for people who are living, working, or studying abroad for 6 months or more. It provides comprehensive healthcare cover – equivalent to your Irish health insurance – including routine medical care, specialist treatment, hospital care, and medical emergencies. Vhi International Health Insurance also includes travel insurance and gives members the flexibility to access treatment in Ireland or abroad.
Travel, Overseas and backpacker insurance are designed for shorter trips. Medical benefits are generally limited to emergencies. They are not intended to provide ongoing healthcare cover while living overseas longer term.
Yes. Vhi IPMI can be purchased by Irish residents moving to Australia for more than six months. Some Australian visas require visitors to maintain adequate health insurance during their stay in Australia. You should check the specific requirements for your visa with the Australian Department of Home Affairs, at Department of Home Affairs whether your visa is subject to this condition, and what specific health requirements apply to your visa.
Furthermore, Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) is designed to meet the health insurance requirements of certain Australian visa holders. However, it is focused on healthcare cover within Australia, whereas Vhi International provides comprehensive health cover for ongoing healthcare needs while living abroad, with the flexibility to access treatment in multiple countries and when returning home.
We do not provide cover in the countries listed below, due to ongoing civil unrest.
- Afghanistan
- Belarus
- Burkina Faso
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bussau
- Haiti
- Iran
- Iraq
- Israel
- Lebanon
- Liberia
- Libya
- Mali
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Niger
- Nigeria
- North Korea
- Occupied Palestinian Territories
- Russia
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Sudan South
- Syria
- Ukraine
- Yemen
For emergency medical treatment, please contact:
- 24-hour Medical Assistance: +353 46 9077377
- For members in the USA, call toll free: 1 800 852 7747
For other claims queries and pre-authorisation, please contact:
- Customer service: +353 46 9077377
For members in the USA, call toll free: 1 800 852 7747
