New life in Mongolia: International Solidarity Volunteer

What’s your background, Kevin, and can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I’m 33 years old, an engineer and graduate of the Nantes School of Architecture. I went on expatriation in 2018 following a mid-life crisis in France. I wanted to make a dream come true: to live abroad, in Asia to be precise. I then had a professional opportunity in Mongolia, which I seized immediately. I started working there as a Volontaire de Solidarité Internationale (VSI) for a Franco-Luxembourg development aid association, and was covered by the Caisse des Français de l’Etranger(CFE).

What led to your new health coverage needs?

In January 2021, I had to change my status and become an employee of this same association, so I asked myself the question of taking out an insurance policy, on the recommendation of my employer. As my employment contract was in Luxembourg, I searched on the internet, and came across Santexpat.fr among other online comparators and brokers from whom I also requested quotes.

How did you find Santexpat.fr?

What I appreciated about Santexpat.fr was the flexibility of the choices it offered: I was able to select a plan that suited me better than others I’d found through the competition. For example, I took out a contract that reimbursed me at 80%, a formula I hadn’t found elsewhere. And then there was direct contact with one of the sales people, Raphaël, which went very well. He’s a very open and available person: it was he who contacted me directly after my online quote request. However, I had been contacted by other brokers, but there was no comparison with Raphaël’s approach. He wasn’t aggressive in his sales approach, and had a very straightforward way of communicating, which I liked. <h2″>What are the specific features of the solution you chose? Because of my profile and the bi-nationality of my employment contract, I was covered in Luxembourg and France… but not abroad! My employer advised me to take out individual health insurance. The one I chose with Santexpat.fr costs €162 per month, of which €92 is paid by my employer. So I only have to pay €70 out of pocket. I’m an only child, and it’s always a good idea to anticipate this kind of thing for the family, in the event of an accident.

How did the underwriting process go?

I signed up quickly, as my employer agreed to participate. I took out the policy through Raphaël: we talked, he was very flexible and the whole process was finalized over the phone. Now I understand better why insurance brokers exist! I used to have my doubts, especially when I was called by brokers who were a bit aggressive…

If you had to sum up your Santexpat.fr experience in 3 words?

It would be: flexibility, availability and human contact!

Expatriate health insurance for Mongolia

Kevin’s experience in Mongolia illustrates the crucial importance of having the right health insurance when expatriating. His transition to Asia, marked by a change in professional status, confronted him with specific challenges, particularly in terms of medical coverage in a country where the healthcare system presents certain limitations. In Mongolia, the healthcare system is based on a public model, but it faces challenges linked to accessibility and quality of care. Although public hospitals offer free or low-cost services, they often suffer from a lack of modern equipment and qualified staff, particularly in rural areas where almost half the population lives. For expatriates, private clinics in the capital, Ulaanbaatar, represent a better alternative. Santexpat.fr played a decisive role in her search for the expatriate health insurance best suited to her profile. This enabled her to find an insurance solution that took into account the specificities of herprofessional expatriation, and in particular her bi-nationality. The quality of the human contact and the availability of Raphaël, sales representative at Santexpat.fr, made this search a positive experience! Interview conducted in April 2021