Simple. Fast. Cashless.
How Globalwide Health Works
We've reimagined international health insurance for the modern expat. No claim forms, no out-of-pocket costs, no waiting. Just real-time health care that works wherever you are in the world.
Step by Step
From enrollment to care in minutes
Choose Your Plan
Browse our Gold, Silver, or Bronze plans and select the level of care that fits your lifestyle and budget. Our team is available 24/7 to help you decide.
Get Your Smart Health Card
Once enrolled, you receive your Globalwide Smart Health Card© — a Mastercard-powered card preloaded and ready to use at any medical provider worldwide.
Visit Any Medical Provider
Walk into any clinic, hospital, or pharmacy that accepts Visa or Mastercard. No referrals, no pre-approvals, no paperwork — just present your card.
Real-Time Payment
Your Globalwide Smart Health Card pays the provider instantly, in real-time. No out-of-pocket expenses, no waiting for reimbursements.
24/7 Support & Telemedicine
Need advice before visiting a doctor? Connect with our USA-based medical team via phone or telemedicine — we answer within 10 seconds, any time of day.
No Claims, No Hassle
Forget complex claim forms and long processing times. Your health care works automatically — so you can focus on your health and your journey.
The Innovation
The world's first real-time health payment card
The Globalwide Smart Health Card© is a Mastercard-powered card that pays your medical bills directly and instantly. If a doctor accepts Visa or Mastercard, they accept you.
No more out-of-pocket expenses, no more waiting weeks for reimbursements, and no more stacks of paperwork. Your health care works as seamlessly as a tap of your card.
GET A QUOTEThe Expat Health Gap
Why expats need dedicated international health insurance
When you move abroad — whether for work, retirement, or a new adventure — your domestic health insurance almost certainly stops working. Most national health plans, employer-sponsored coverage, and government schemes like Medicare or the NHS are designed for residents within a single country. The moment you cross a border for more than a short visit, you are typically on your own.
This is the expat health gap: the period between leaving your home country's health system and gaining access to your new country's system — which can take months or even years, depending on residency requirements, visa status, and local bureaucracy. During that time, a single hospitalisation can cost tens of thousands of dollars out of pocket.
Even in countries with universal healthcare, expats are often ineligible for public coverage until they have established formal residency. Private local insurance can be difficult to obtain without a local address, bank account, or language skills. And travel insurance — the most common stopgap — is designed for short trips, not the realities of long-term expat life.
International health insurance bridges this gap. A plan like Globalwide Health provides continuous, portable coverage that follows you from country to country — covering everything from a GP visit in Bangkok to emergency surgery in São Paulo — without requiring you to navigate local insurance markets or submit complex claim forms.
The cost of being uninsured abroad
A single night in a private hospital in the UAE can cost $3,000–$8,000. Emergency surgery in the USA without insurance routinely exceeds $50,000. In many countries, hospitals require a cash deposit or proof of insurance before admitting non-emergency patients. Without international health insurance, these costs fall entirely on you.
Portability
Your coverage moves with you. Whether you're in Dubai this month and Singapore next, your plan stays active without re-enrollment.
Comprehensive care
Beyond emergencies — routine GP visits, specialist consultations, diagnostics, and prescriptions are all covered.
Financial protection
A benefit limit of up to $1,000,000 means even the most serious medical events won't derail your finances or your plans.
Side by Side
International health insurance vs. domestic coverage
Domestic health plans are built for residents who stay put. See how Globalwide Health compares for anyone living, working, or traveling internationally.
Who We Cover
Built for every kind of global life
Whether you're an expat settling into a new country, an NGO worker in the field, or a digital nomad hopping between continents, Globalwide Health is designed for your reality.
Expats & Long-Term Residents
Living abroad for work, retirement, or family means your domestic health plan almost certainly won't cover you. Globalwide Health fills that gap with full international coverage — from routine GP visits to major surgery — so you can settle into your new country without worrying about what happens if you get sick.
- Retirees in Portugal, Spain, or Thailand
- Professionals on multi-year work assignments
- Families relocating internationally
Business Travelers
Frequent flyers and road warriors face health risks in every new city. Standard corporate travel insurance rarely covers anything beyond emergencies, and navigating foreign healthcare systems mid-trip is a nightmare. Globalwide Health gives business travelers a single card that works everywhere — no pre-authorisations, no expense reports for medical bills.
- Executives on multi-country roadshows
- Consultants on extended client engagements
- Sales teams covering international territories
NGO & Humanitarian Workers
Aid workers and NGO staff often operate in remote or high-risk environments where local healthcare infrastructure is limited. Globalwide Health's Gold plan covers up to $1 million in medical expenses, including emergency evacuation — giving organisations and their teams the confidence to focus on the mission, not the medical logistics.
- Field staff in Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia
- Disaster response teams
- Development workers on 6–24 month deployments
Digital Nomads
Working remotely from Bali, Medellín, or Lisbon is liberating — until you need a doctor. Digital nomads move too frequently for local health plans and too slowly for travel insurance. Globalwide Health is designed for exactly this lifestyle: continuous international coverage that follows you from country to country without gaps or re-enrollment.
- Remote workers on 90-day visa cycles
- Freelancers based across multiple countries
- Entrepreneurs building location-independent businesses
Why Globalwide
Everything you need, nothing you don't
Smart Health Card
A Mastercard-powered card that pays your medical bills in real-time, anywhere in the world.
Instant Activation
Real-time health care activation — your plan is active the moment you need it, with zero delays.
Comprehensive Protection
In-hospital and out-hospital health care for emergencies, wherever you are in the world.
10-Second Response
Our customer care team answers within 10 seconds — 24/7, from our USA and UK offices.
Zero Paperwork
No claim forms, no approvals, no reimbursement waits. Your card handles everything automatically.
Global Network
Accepted at any provider that takes Visa or Mastercard — millions of locations worldwide.
Common Questions
Frequently asked questions about international health insurance
Everything you need to know before choosing a plan — from how the Smart Health Card works to what happens in an emergency abroad.
What is international health insurance for expats?
International health insurance for expats is a health plan specifically designed to cover medical expenses outside your home country. Unlike domestic health insurance, which is typically restricted to in-network providers within one country, expat health insurance provides coverage at hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies worldwide. Globalwide Health takes this further with a cashless Smart Health Card that pays providers in real time — no upfront costs, no claim forms.
Does my domestic health insurance cover me abroad?
In most cases, no. Domestic health insurance plans — including employer-sponsored plans in the USA, NHS coverage in the UK, and Medicare — are generally restricted to providers within your home country. Some plans offer limited emergency coverage abroad, but this rarely covers routine care, specialist visits, or planned procedures. If you are living or working outside your home country for more than a few weeks, a dedicated international health insurance plan is essential.
How is Globalwide Health different from travel insurance?
Travel insurance is designed for short trips — typically up to 30 or 90 days — and focuses primarily on trip cancellation, lost luggage, and emergency-only medical coverage. Globalwide Health is a full international health insurance plan covering both emergency and routine medical care for expats, long-term travelers, and anyone living outside their home country. There are no trip duration limits, and coverage includes GP visits, specialist consultations, hospitalisation, and more.
What does the Globalwide Smart Health Card cover?
The Globalwide Smart Health Card is loaded with your plan's benefit limit — up to $1,000,000 on the Gold plan — and pays medical providers directly at the point of care. It covers in-hospital treatment, out-patient consultations, emergency care, diagnostic tests, and pharmacy purchases at any provider that accepts Mastercard. There are no claim forms and no reimbursement delays.
Can I use Globalwide Health in any country?
Yes. Globalwide Health is accepted at any medical provider worldwide that accepts Visa or Mastercard — which includes millions of hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies across more than 200 countries. There are no restricted networks and no pre-approval requirements for most treatments.
How do I see a doctor with Globalwide Health?
Simply walk into any clinic or hospital that accepts Mastercard and present your Globalwide Smart Health Card. For non-emergency situations, you can also call our 24/7 telemedicine line — our USA-based medical team answers within 10 seconds and can advise you on the right course of care, refer you to a local specialist, or arrange a teleconsultation on the spot.
Is there a waiting period before my coverage starts?
Coverage begins as soon as your enrollment is processed and your Smart Health Card is activated. There is no standard waiting period for accident and emergency coverage. Some pre-existing condition exclusions may apply depending on your medical history — our team will walk you through your specific situation during the enrollment process.
What is the difference between the Gold, Silver, and Bronze plans?
The three plans differ primarily in their benefit limits. The Gold plan provides up to $1,000,000 in annual coverage, the Silver plan up to $500,000, and the Bronze plan up to $250,000. All three plans include the Globalwide Smart Health Card, 24/7 support, and cashless payment at any Mastercard-accepting provider. The Gold plan also includes enhanced emergency evacuation and repatriation benefits.
Does Globalwide Health cover pre-existing conditions?
Coverage for pre-existing conditions is assessed on a case-by-case basis during enrollment. Our medical underwriting team reviews your health history and will clearly outline any exclusions before your policy is issued. Many stable, well-managed conditions can be covered — contact our team to discuss your specific situation.
How do I enroll in Globalwide Health?
You can get a personalised quote in minutes using our online quote tool. Once you select a plan, our enrollment wizard guides you through the application — including personal details, beneficiaries, and a brief medical questionnaire. After approval, your Smart Health Card is issued and your coverage begins. The entire process typically takes less than 24 hours.
What happens in a medical emergency abroad?
In an emergency, go directly to the nearest hospital or call our 24/7 emergency line. Present your Globalwide Smart Health Card at the hospital — it will cover your treatment costs in real time. If you are unable to present the card, our team can coordinate direct payment to the provider on your behalf. For life-threatening situations requiring evacuation, our Gold plan includes emergency medical evacuation to the nearest appropriate facility.
Is Globalwide Health suitable for families?
Yes. Globalwide Health plans can cover the primary member, their spouse or partner, and dependent children. Each covered family member receives their own Smart Health Card. Family enrollment is handled through the same online process, and our team can help you structure the right plan for your family's needs and destinations.
Ready to get covered?
Join thousands of expats, NGO workers, and international travelers who trust Globalwide Health for real-time, cashless medical coverage worldwide.