Expat Health coverage can continue if you move to another EU country. You can either start a new policy in your new country, which resets your 5-year coverage period but does not cover pre-existing conditions, or link your existing policy to a new one, which preserves coverage of ongoing conditions but continues the original 5-year clock. There is no waiting period in either option as long as you sign up within 31 days of arriving or there is no gap in coverage. After 5 years of total Expat Health coverage, you need to transition to a local public or private health plan.
Can I keep a Feather Expat Health policy if I move to another country?
Yes, you can continue your Expat Health coverage if you move to another country within the European Union. You have two options for handling the transition: start a new Expat Health policy in your new country, or link your existing policy to a new one. The right choice depends on your health situation and how long you have already been covered.
How should I choose between starting a new policy and linking my existing one when I move?
The right option depends on your health situation and what you want from your coverage:
Start a new policy if no new health conditions have developed under your current coverage and you want a full new 5-year coverage period in your new country, accepting that any conditions that developed under your previous policy will be treated as pre-existing and not covered.
Link your policies if you have ongoing treatments or conditions covered under your current policy that you want to remain covered, accepting that your 5-year eligibility period does not reset and continues from your original arrival date.
You can contact our support team for more assistance or additional resources.
How does the 5-year coverage limit on Expat Health work?
Expat Health is designed for people living abroad temporarily and covers you for up to 5 years from your original arrival date in your first country. If you link your policies when moving, the 5-year period continues from your original start date. If you start a new policy in your new country, the 5-year period resets from your new arrival date. Once the 5 years are up, you need to transition to a local public or private health plan in your country of residence, which can take time to arrange.
Is there a waiting period when I move to a new country?
There is no waiting period in either transition option as long as certain conditions are met. If you start a new policy, no waiting period applies provided you sign up within 31 days of arriving in your new country, or there is no gap in coverage between your old and new policies. If you link your policies, coverage is treated as continuous, so no waiting period applies.
How do I link my existing Expat Health policy to a new one in my new country?
You can contact our support team for more assistance or additional resources. When reaching out, let us know that you are moving, which country you are moving to, and your intended moving date. We will ask a few questions about your situation and walk you through the next steps.
How do I start a new Expat Health policy in my new country?
Follow these steps to switch to a new policy:
Sign up for a new Expat Health policy in your new country, making sure to select your arrival date in the new country as your new policy start date.
Cancel your current policy at the right time to avoid any gap or overlap in coverage:
If your new policy starts mid-month, do not cancel your current policy yourself. You can contact our support team for more assistance or additional resources so the cancellation can be scheduled at the correct time.
If your new policy starts on the 1st of the following month, log in to your account between the first and last day of the prior month, select your Expat Health policy, and submit a cancellation request with "Left the country" as the reason. Your current coverage will end at 23:59 on the last day of that month, and your new coverage will start at 00:00 on the 1st of the following month.
For more information about cancelling, check out our cancellation FAQ.