IMG Global Prima Medical Insurance: April 2026 Updates Explained
International Medical Group (IMG) has confirmed updates to its Global Prima Medical Insurance plans, effective 1 April 2026. The changes apply to all renewals and new business, both group and individual, across all plans, countries of residence, areas of cover, excess options, and ages. If you are an IMG Global Prima policyholder or an employer managing a group plan, here is what you need to know.
What is IMG Global Prima?
IMG Global Prima Medical Insurance (GPMI) is a comprehensive, annually renewable international health insurance plan for expats and their families. Underwritten by International Medical Group, a company owned by SiriusPoint and rated “A-” by A.M. Best, it offers five plan tiers with overall policy limits ranging from US$1,000,000 (Bronze) to US$5,000,000 (Platinum). Members choose from three coverage areas: Europe only, Worldwide excluding the United States, or Worldwide including the United States. Policy excess options run from US$0 to US$7,500, with discounts of up to 51% for higher deductibles. There are no age limits and the plan offers lifetime renewal.
What is Changing in April 2026?
A 9.5% rate increase applies universally. This affects all plans, all tiers, all countries of residence, all coverage areas, all excess options, and all ages. There are no exemptions. If you renew on or after 1 April 2026, your premium will reflect this increase.
Alongside the rate adjustment, IMG has added new benefits across several tiers:
| Plan Tier | New Benefit | 2026 Limit |
| Bronze | Outpatient GP consultations | Within US$2,500 outpatient limit |
| Bronze Plus | Eye exam and glasses/lenses | Full refund for exam; US$100/year for glasses |
| Bronze Plus | Well-being benefit | US$100/year (10-month waiting period) |
| Bronze Plus | Vaccinations | US$100/year |
| Silver | Vaccinations | US$150/year |
| Platinum | Physiotherapy | No maximum limit (subject to pre-approval) |
The Bronze plan has historically been an inpatient-focused product. Adding outpatient GP consultations is a practical improvement for policyholders who use their plan for day-to-day care. The vaccination addition for Bronze Plus and Silver is similarly useful for expats in markets where vaccination requirements and costs are meaningful. The removal of the physiotherapy cap on Platinum is a genuine enhancement for members managing ongoing musculoskeletal conditions.
Why This is Happening
The 9.5% increase is a direct response to sustained global medical cost inflation. According to the One World Cover 2026 Medical Trend Report, the global medical trend for 2026 is projected at 10.4%, with the Asia Pacific region facing an even steeper average increase of 12.6%.
The regional picture is particularly striking for expats based in Asia. Our proprietary data shows that many Southeast Asian markets are projecting healthcare cost growth between 12% and 16.6% for 2026. Across the board, medical inflation continues to massively outpace general consumer price inflation, often by a factor of four to eight times.
The consistent drivers are clear: persistent “polycrisis” pressures including workforce shortages, rising chronic disease, structurally high demand for mental health services, and the disruptive cost impact of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs. Outpatient inflation continues to lead the overall trend, driven by higher diagnostics use and specialist access.
Viewed against the One World Cover Asia Pacific projection of 12.6%, IMG’s 9.5% is a measured response. That does not make it painless. A 9.5% annual increase compounding over five years turns a US$3,000 premium into nearly US$4,800, before any changes to age or health profile.
What This Means for You
For individual expats and families: The 9.5% applies universally, but the practical impact depends on your tier and coverage area. If you are on Bronze, the addition of outpatient GP consultations may partially offset the cost increase in real terms. For those on higher tiers, the new benefits are less material to the value calculation. The more important question is whether your current plan structure still fits your circumstances. Are you carrying a US$0 excess when a higher deductible would serve you equally well at meaningfully lower cost? Are you paying for Worldwide including the US when you have no realistic need for US healthcare access?
For employers managing group plans: A 9.5% increase is a significant budget line item. For a group of 50 employees with an average premium of US$4,000 per person, this represents an additional US$19,000 in annual cost. As noted in our 2026 Medical Trend Report, employers with strong claims data visibility are doing a better job of outperforming trend. The employers who manage this most effectively treat renewal as a strategic decision, not an administrative one. That means understanding your claims data, benchmarking the market, and approaching each renewal as part of a multi-year cost management strategy.
How to Respond
Three steps are worth taking now, regardless of when your renewal falls.
First, review your plan structure. Are you on the right tier for your actual healthcare usage? The new benefit additions to Bronze and Bronze Plus may change the value calculation for members currently on those tiers.
Second, consider your deductible. Moving from a US$0 excess to US$500 or US$1,000 can reduce your premium by 15% to 37%, depending on your plan. For healthy individuals and families with low historical claims, this is often a straightforward decision.
Third, benchmark the market. IMG Global Prima is a strong product, but it is not the only option. A proper market comparison at renewal is basic due diligence.
How One World Cover Can Help
One World Cover is an independent international health insurance broker. We represent our clients, not the insurers. Our team has over 20 years of international health insurance experience, including 16 years working with clients across mainland China. We work with international schools, multinational companies, intergovernmental organisations, and expat families across Asia and globally.
If you are an IMG Global Prima policyholder or an employer reviewing your group plan ahead of the April 2026 changes, we would welcome the opportunity to help you understand your options.
To learn more please get in touch: [email protected] or click here to contact us.
