How Much Does Group High-End Global Health Insurance Plan Really Cost for Expat Employees in Asia?
Many international businesses, organizations, and international schools across Asia are increasingly looking to provide high-end health insurance for their employees. With recruitment and retention challenges growing, especially among expatriates, offering a high-quality health insurance plan is a strategic advantage that ensures employees feel secure and valued.
One of the most common questions we receive from clients is:
What is the approximate budget required for a high-end health insurance plan?
To help provide clarity and guidance, we have compiled below some indicative premium rates for a group of between 20-49 covered lives aged 40-44 (average age) across 20 countries/territories in Asia – specifically East Asia (China, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Mongolia, South Korea and Taiwan), Southeast Asia (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam) and South Asia (India, Nepal and Sri Lanka) – giving businesses a reference point when budgeting for international health coverage.
How Much Does a Major Medical High-End Health Insurance Cost?
Below is an approximate budget for a high-end in-patient only (also known as major medical) international health insurance plan with at least US$1 million in cover with a tier-A insurer and cover for pre-existing conditions. Please note that pricing varies by country. A sample table of benefits is noted below the rates.
| Country/Territory | Annual Premium / Employee (US$) |
| China | 2,000 |
| Hong Kong | 2,900 |
| Japan | 1,300 |
| Macau | 1,300 |
| Mongolia | 1,400 |
| South Korea | 1,300 |
| Taiwan | 1,300 |
| India | 1,300 |
| Nepal | 1,300 |
| Sri Lanka | 1,100 |
| Brunei | 1,300 |
| Cambodia | 1,100 |
| Indonesia | 1,700 |
| Laos | 1,300 |
| Malaysia | 1,300 |
| Myanmar | 1,300 |
| Philippines | 1,000 |
| Singapore | 2,100 |
| Thailand | 1,400 |
| Vietnam | 1,400 |
| Benefit | Annual Limit / Employee (US$) |
| Area of cover | Worldwide excluding the USA |
| Annual policy maximum | 1 million |
| Hospitalization | 1 million |
| Emergency medical evacuation | 1 million |
| Cancer treatment (in-patient and out-patient) | 1 million |
| Day surgery | 1 million |
| Family doctor consultations / Prescribed drugs and meds | 500 |
| Out-patient CT / MRI scans | 1,000 |
| Out-of-pocket Expenses – Co-Pay/Deductible | Annual Amount |
| In-patient Deductible | 500 |
| Out-patient Co-Pay | 10% |
All prices are annual premiums per employee and based on recent market data.
Important note: the above premium rates are indicative and for illustrative purposes/general reference only. The actual premium rates for your company’s employees will depend on their actual age profile (and potentially their medical history). You should contact One World Cover to request a tailored quote for your company’s employees.
How Much Does a High-End Health Insurance with Out-patient Cover Cost?
Below is an approximate budget for a high-end in-patient and out-patient international health insurance plan with at least US$1 million in cover with a tier-A insurer and cover for pre-existing conditions. Please note that pricing varies by country. We have grouped countries/territories by region and listed them in order from highest cost to lowest cost. A sample table of benefits is noted below the rates.
| Country/Territory | Annual Premium / Employee (US$) |
| China | 3,400 |
| Hong Kong | 4,800 |
| Japan | 2,100 |
| Macau | 2,100 |
| Mongolia | 2,400 |
| South Korea | 2,100 |
| Taiwan | 2,100 |
| India | 2,100 |
| Nepal | 2,100 |
| Sri Lanka | 1,800 |
| Brunei | 2,100 |
| Cambodia | 1,900 |
| Indonesia | 2,700 |
| Laos | 2,100 |
| Malaysia | 2,100 |
| Myanmar | 2,100 |
| Philippines | 1,700 |
| Singapore | 3,500 |
| Thailand | 2,400 |
| Vietnam | 2,400 |
| Benefit | Annual Limit / Employee (US$) |
| Area of cover | Worldwide excluding the USA |
| Annual policy maximum | 3 million |
| Hospitalization | 3 million |
| Emergency medical evacuation | 3 million |
| Cancer treatment (in-patient and out-patient) | 3 million |
| Day surgery | 3 million |
| Family doctor consultations / Prescribed drugs and meds | 3,500 |
| Out-patient CT / MRI scans | 3,500 |
| Physiotherapy sessions | 3,500 |
| Out-of-pocket Expenses – Co-Pay/Deductible | Annual Amount |
| In-patient Deductible | 500 |
| Out-patient Co-Pay | 10% |
All prices are annual premiums per employee and based on recent market data.
Important note: the above premium rates are indicative and for illustrative purposes/general reference only. The actual premium rates for your company’s employees will depend on their actual age profile (and potentially their medical history). You should contact One World Cover to request a tailored quote for your company’s employees.
Do These Plans Cover Pre-Existing Conditions?
The rates for the health insurance plans listed above are Medical History Disregarded (MHD), meaning they cover pre-existing conditions. This is particularly important for companies looking to offer comprehensive, high-end health benefits without exclusions or the risk of employees being denied coverage due to their medical history. Unlike individually underwritten policies, which may impose restrictions, exclusions, or increased premiums for employees with pre-existing conditions, MHD group plans ensure that every member of your workforce has access to full and equitable healthcare coverage. This not only enhances staff satisfaction and retention but also provides peace of mind to both HR teams and employees, knowing that they are fully protected from day one.
Why Include an In-patient Deductible and Out-patient Co-pay?
Including a US$500 deductible on in-patient care helps reduce the overall premium cost while ensuring that employees still have access to high-quality healthcare. Most employees will not require in-patient treatment frequently, so a reasonable deductible helps manage costs without significantly impacting their access to care. Similarly, a 10% co-pay on out-patient care ensures that employees contribute a small portion of the cost for each visit, which discourages unnecessary claims while keeping healthcare accessible. Employees are more mindful about their medical expenses but are not deterred from seeking necessary treatment.
Please note that it’s possible to remove the in-patient deductible (rates will go up ~10%), increase the in-patient deductible from US$500 to, for example, US$1,000 (rates will go down ~10%), remove the out-patient co-pay (rates will go up ~20%) or increase the out-patient co-pay from 10% to 20% (rates will go down ~10%). However its also important to note that health insurance costs rise when claims utilization increases. A small deductible and co-pay encourage responsible utilization of the plan, preventing unnecessary claims and helping to control year-over-year premium increases. This is especially important for companies aiming for long-term cost stability.
Why Worldwide Excluding the USA Coverage?
A Worldwide excluding USA ( or “WWE”) plan provides global health insurance coverage in nearly every country except for the United States. Since healthcare costs in the USA are significantly higher than the rest of the world, removing the USA from coverage dramatically lowers premiums—often by 50-100% compared to a Worldwide plan with full cover in the USA.
For companies with a diverse workforce (but not primarily made up of American employees), Worldwide excluding USA cover is often the sweet spot — offering access to world-class medical facilities worldwide at a reasonable cost.
Comparing Worldwide Excluding the USA vs. Other Areas of Cover Options
If companies choose to upgrade to Worldwide (including USA) cover, they should expect premiums to be 50-100% higher than WWE plans due to the substantially higher cost of healthcare in the US.
Conversely, opting for Asia-only coverage would result in only a 5-10% reduction in cost compared to WWE plans. Given the relatively small savings and the significant loss of global coverage, most companies prefer WWE plans as a balanced solution for cost and coverage. If companies select Asia-only coverage but exclude treatment in China, Hong Kong and Singapore from the plan, then the premiums would reduce by between 10-15% in cost compared to WWE plans.
Why Employers Are Making the Switch
Many companies currently offer minimal or no insurance and are now realizing that better benefits = better recruitment and retention. Providing high-end international health insurance is a cost-effective investment that helps:
✔ Attract top talent by offering premium benefits.
✔ Retain employees by ensuring they feel valued and protected.
✔ Enhance employee satisfaction with access to world-class healthcare.
✔ Reduce absenteeism by ensuring staff receive the best possible treatment when needed.
Next Steps: Finding the Right Plan for Your Business
At One World Cover, we work with a panel of trusted, top-tier insurers to provide tailored international health insurance solutions for businesses of all sizes. If you’re considering investing in high-end health insurance coverage, we can provide:
✔ Side-by-side comparisons of different insurers
✔ Detailed benefit breakdowns
✔ Guidance on structuring the right plan for your company
If you’re ready to explore your best options for premium health insurance, contact us today for a tailored quote and expert advice.
Michael Pennington, Customer Experience Director, One World Cover – [email protected]
