AXA Global Healthcare

What AXA Global Healthcare is

AXA Global Healthcare is an insurer, not a broker or a portal. It sells international health insurance for expats and digital nomads, meaning ongoing medical cover for people living abroad, in annual and short-term versions. Its legal-information page states: "AXA Global Healthcare (UK) Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority." It says the UK company is registered in England "with its registered office at 20 Gracechurch Street, London EC3V 0BG United Kingdom," and that it is a "participant in the Financial Services Compensation Scheme established under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000."

It is not one legal entity worldwide. The same page names three more: "AXA Global Healthcare (EU) Limited is registered in Ireland (no. 630468)" and "regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland"; "AXA Global Healthcare (Hong Kong) Limited is registered in Hong Kong (Business Registration No.: 65320704)"; and "AXA Life and Health Reinsurance Solutions Pte. Ltd.," "registered in Singapore with Unique Entity Number 201112696E" and "regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)." The legal page does not say which entity issues a given buyer's policy.

The modern-slavery statement describes the UK business: "In the UK, we employ around 400 people," selling "direct to the customer as well as to the SME, mid-market and large corporate sectors, via agents, brokers, aggregators and in conjunction with corporate partners." A reader may therefore meet the same plans through a broker as well as directly.

The five cover levels

The expat page says "We offer five levels of cover," running "from the essentials (Foundation) through to our ultimate cover (Prestige Plus)." A footnote on the same page names the full ladder while explaining out-patient cover: "Outpatient cover available as an optional upgrade on Foundation and Standard cover. For Comprehensive, Prestige and Prestige Plus it is included within the cover." So the levels are Foundation, Standard, Comprehensive, Prestige and Prestige Plus, and out-patient treatment is the clearest line between the lower two and the upper three.

Across every level the site lists cover "for overnight stays in hospital and ambulance transport, CT, MRI and PET scans, as well as surgical procedures, and treatments for cancer." The international plans page says cancer cover includes "surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy as standard." Every level also carries evacuation and repatriation, described as: "If the necessary care isn't available where you are, we'll get you to where it is and back again." Optional upgrades include dental, out-patient and, on the nomad page, pregnancy cover.

Three services come on all plans at no extra cost, each supplied by Teladoc Health. The Virtual Doctor service offers phone or video consultations, and the footnote says "Telephone appointments can be booked 24/7, 365. Callbacks are typically within 24 hours." The Mind Health service "provides up to six sessions with a psychologist per non-emergency mind health concern, per year." The Second Medical Opinion service draws on a "network of over 50,000 specialists"; its own page says a member is "assigned a doctor to act as your dedicated Case Manager," who will "be in touch within 24 hours of your initial enquiry." That page adds that where cover comes through an employer, members "need to check your dedicated Healthcare Hub to see whether the other services (Virtual Doctor and Mind Health services) have been added on to your plan."

Exclusions and the USA

The international plans page lists exclusions that apply "no matter which cover level you choose." It states: "Our plans are designed to cover the treatment of medical conditions that start after you join. That means the plans don't cover pre-existing conditions." It limits cover to "charges for treatment that the hospital or medical practitioner would usually and customarily charge in the country where you have the treatment," and says the plans don't cover "Treatment outside your area of cover or against medical advice," "Treatment for injuries as a result of sports that you receive money for taking part in," or "Costs for arranging treatment, such as phone calls and travel." The page does not say whether a pre-existing condition can become covered after time on the plan.

On the USA, the site offers "the option to exclude the USA from your area of cover, which can lower the cost of your premiums." The FAQ adds a tier detail: "If you choose to exclude the USA, you'll still be covered for emergency treatment there, with all cover levels except Foundation."

Price, excess and buying

No premiums are published; a quote starts online by asking "who to cover, where you're based, and some examples of things you'd like cover for," and then "Our teams will be in touch to answer any questions and set up cover over the phone." The expat page lists what drives price: location, age ("as you age your premium will usually rise"), pre-existing conditions, added extras and medical inflation.

A buyer can "lower your premiums by adding an excess per person. When you claim you'll pay up to a pre-agreed amount, and in return your annual premiums will be lower." The nomad page gives the range: "A variety of excess levels ranging from £100 to £10,000." Premiums can be paid monthly, quarterly or annually, and "Paying annually will save you 5% on your total cost." On renewal the site says "we won't put up your premium as a result" of claims, with the footnote that "your annual premium may still increase in line with inflation and age."

The digital nomad page adds a short-term option: "We'll cover you for less than 12 months, at exactly the same level as our Foundation or Standard health insurance plans," with "Choose from 3 to 11 months." People leaving an employer's AXA scheme get a continuation offer so they "can stay covered for your existing medical conditions, subject to the terms and conditions of your new plan," and the page says "This offer is valid for 120 days after you leave your company scheme."

Claims and the hospital network

Members can use "our AXA Select network of hospitals where we can pay your treatment costs directly for you," and the expat page cites a "medical network of over 2 million recognised medical facilities available worldwide." On speed, the site states "over 80% of eligible claims are reimbursed within 48 hours," backed by a footnote: "83.2% of eligible claims submitted online between Jan 25- Dec 25, were paid within two days." The nomad page adds that "if we have pre-approved your claim, we'll settle the bill with your medical provider directly." Customer care is described as "available 24/7."

Who it suits

AXA Global Healthcare fits an expat or long-stay nomad who wants a named, regulated insurer, a clear five-step ladder of cover, and built-in virtual care. The upper three levels suit someone who wants out-patient care included rather than added, and any level above Foundation suits someone who excludes the USA but still wants emergency treatment there. The short-term plan suits a stay of 3 to 11 months at Foundation or Standard level. It does not suit someone who needs cover for a condition they already have, since the plans exclude conditions that started before joining, unless they are moving across from an AXA company scheme under the continuation offer.