Counter 04 · Insurance
Verified 06 Aug 2026
IMG (International Medical Group)
IMA long-running expat insurer with a dedicated creator program
IMG has sold international medical and travel insurance since 1990 and offers everything from short trip-medical plans to long-term global health coverage for expats and remote workers. It is a safer pick for people who want a large, established insurer with decades of claims history behind the policy rather than a newer nomad-branded startup.
What is IMG (International Medical Group)?
IMG is a US-based international health insurer, founded in 1990, selling long-term global medical plans and shorter travel-medical policies to expats, remote workers, and digital nomads in over 190 countries. It's one of the older names in this market, which matters if you'd rather deal with a large insurer that has three decades of claims history than a newer nomad-branded startup.
Coverage aimed at long-term expats
The plan digital nomads usually land on is IMG's Global Medical line, sold across four tiers: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Bronze covers inpatient care plus emergency outpatient treatment; Gold and Platinum add full outpatient coverage and, after a waiting period of around 12 months, maternity. Overall coverage limits scale from roughly $1,000,000 up to $8,000,000 depending on tier. IMG also runs a dual claims system: direct billing at in-network hospitals and clinics, or reimbursement when you use an out-of-network doctor. The reimbursement route is worth having, because you can't always predict which providers are in-network once you're moving between countries.
What IMG Global Medical Insurance costs
For a 40-year-old, published rates run roughly $150 to $280 a month for Bronze, $220 to $380 for Silver, $300 to $500 for Gold, and $400 to $650 for Platinum, before adjustments for age, coverage region, deductible, and add-ons. That's well above budget nomad plans like SafetyWing, which starts closer to $60 for four weeks of basic coverage, and roughly in line with other comprehensive expat insurers like Cigna Global. It's a health plan, so it doesn't include trip-cancellation or baggage coverage.
Where IMG falls short: claims
IMG's weak spot shows up at claims time, not at signup. Independent reviews of its claims process turn up the same complaints: slow processing, repeat requests for documents already submitted, and denials pinned on a disputed "pre-existing condition" call. Plenty of routine claims go through without trouble. But if you have any ongoing health condition, keep every medical record from before your coverage start date, since that history is exactly what gets scrutinized when a claim is contested.
What works
- Founded in 1990 with a large provider network across 190+ countries, so you're dealing with an established insurer rather than a new nomad-branded startup
- Four-tier Global Medical lineup (Bronze to Platinum) lets you set coverage limits up to $8,000,000 instead of picking from one fixed plan
- Dual claims system supports both direct billing at in-network hospitals and reimbursement for out-of-network care, useful when you're hopping countries
- Built for long-term expat life, so it works as a real health plan rather than a short-trip travel add-on
What to watch
- Meaningfully pricier than budget nomad-first insurers like SafetyWing: roughly $150/month and up, versus about $60 for four weeks elsewhere
- Recurring complaints about slow claims handling, repeat documentation requests, and pre-existing-condition disputes at the point you actually need to use it
- No trip-cancellation, baggage, or short-term travel coverage bundled in; it's medical insurance only
Questions at the counter
Is IMG Global insurance worth it for digital nomads?
It makes sense if you want a long-term, high-limit health plan from an established insurer and don't mind paying more than budget nomad options. IMG suits someone settling into expat life for a year or longer better than someone doing short country hops, since its plans and pricing are built around ongoing coverage, not one-off trips.
How much does IMG Global Medical Insurance cost per month?
For a 40-year-old, published rates run roughly $150 to $280/month for the Bronze tier up to $400 to $650/month for Platinum, before adjustments for age, region, and deductible. Actual quotes vary by coverage area, family size, and optional add-ons, so treat these as a starting range, not a fixed price.
Does IMG cover pre-existing conditions?
IMG's underwriting reviews medical history closely, and some claim denials reported by policyholders trace back to a condition being classified as pre-existing even when a treating doctor disagreed. If you have an ongoing health condition, get IMG's exact pre-existing-condition terms in writing before you rely on the policy.
How does IMG compare to SafetyWing or Cigna Global?
IMG sits above SafetyWing on price and below it on flexibility: SafetyWing's Essential plan starts around $60 for four weeks versus IMG's $150+/month baseline, but IMG offers higher coverage limits (up to $8,000,000) and more plan tiers. Against Cigna Global, pricing is similar, and the choice usually comes down to network preference and how each insurer's claims process feels to you.