When choosing international health insurance, you may be able to select a deductible. A higher deductible can lower your monthly premium — but if you're taking out insurance for a visa or residence permit, you may need to choose a €0 deductible.
That's because some immigration authorities require health insurance without any deductible or co-payment.
Here’s how it works.
What is a deductible?
A deductible is the amount of eligible medical costs you pay yourself before your insurance starts reimbursing covered expenses.
For example, imagine you have a €500 deductible and receive €800 in eligible medical treatment.
You would pay the first €500 yourself. The remaining eligible €300 would then be reimbursed according to your policy conditions.
Generally, choosing a higher deductible means taking on more of your medical costs yourself in exchange for a lower monthly premium.
What does a €0 deductible mean?
A €0 deductible means you don't have to reach a deductible before your insurance starts reimbursing eligible medical expenses.
This doesn't mean that every medical expense is automatically covered. Your plan's coverage limits, waiting periods, exclusions and other policy conditions still apply.
Why might I need a €0 deductible for my visa?
Some countries require proof of private health insurance when you apply for a visa or residence permit.
The immigration authority may also set rules about how that insurance needs to work. These can include:
a minimum amount of medical coverage
inpatient and outpatient coverage
emergency treatment
medical repatriation
no waiting periods
and, in some cases, no deductible or co-payment
If your visa requires insurance without a deductible, choosing a €500 or €1,000 deductible could mean that your insurance doesn't meet the requirements for your application.
Which countries can require a €0 deductible?
There isn't one global rule.
Requirements depend on both the country and the specific visa or residence permit you're applying for.
Examples where a €0 deductible or no co-payment can be required include:
Sweden — certain residence and study visa applications require health insurance without deductibles or co-payments.
Austria — certain Visa C and Visa D applications require travel medical insurance without a deductible.
Czech Republic — health insurance used for certain long-term visa and residence permit applications must be provided without co-payment.
Qatar — the visitor health insurance requirements specify coverage without deductibles or co-payments.
These are only examples. They don't mean that every visa for these countries has the same requirement.
Does every country require a €0 deductible?
No.
Many countries require health insurance for certain visas without specifically requiring the deductible to be €0.
For example, countries such as Australia, Colombia, Canada and Costa Rica have visa or immigration routes where health insurance may be required, but there isn't a general rule saying that all qualifying policies must have a €0 deductible.
Australia even allows excesses, co-payments or patient contributions under certain immigration health insurance requirements.
So, the right deductible depends on your specific application — not simply on where you're moving.
How do I know which deductible I need?
If you're purchasing international health insurance for a visa or residence permit, check the requirements published by the responsible:
immigration authority
embassy
consulate
or visa application centre
Look out for wording such as:
“no deductible”
“no excess”
“no co-payment”
“full reimbursement”
“coverage from the first euro”
or a maximum permitted deductible
If there is a specific maximum deductible, make sure the option you choose stays within that limit.
What if the requirements don't mention a deductible?
If the immigration authority doesn't specify a deductible requirement, you can generally choose the deductible that best suits your needs.
A higher deductible usually lowers the monthly premium, but you'll need to cover more eligible medical expenses yourself before reimbursement applies.
If you're unsure, it's always worth checking directly with the authority handling your application.
Can I change my deductible later?
There are restrictions on changing your deductible after your Feather International Health policy has started.
A change of deductible is generally only possible once per insurance year, at the end of the insurance year. Depending on the change, a new medical assessment may also be required.
If you're buying the policy for immigration purposes, we therefore recommend checking the requirements before selecting your deductible.
Does a €0 deductible automatically make my insurance visa compliant?
No.
The deductible is only one part of the insurance requirements immigration authorities may look at.
They may also have requirements relating to coverage limits, waiting periods, geographical coverage, medical repatriation or specific types of treatment.
Feather's International Health Insurance also has waiting periods for certain benefits, so these should be checked separately if your immigration authority requires coverage without waiting periods.
Ultimately, the insurance requirements are determined by the relevant country and immigration authority. Feather's policy conditions also make clear that compliance with statutory health insurance requirements in the destination country needs to be checked for the individual situation.
What if I'm not sure?
If you're taking out Feather International Health Insurance for a visa or residence permit and aren't sure which deductible to choose, send us the exact insurance requirements provided by your embassy, consulate or immigration authority.
We'll help you understand which option best matches what they're asking for.
Please note that immigration requirements can change, and the final decision on whether an insurance policy is accepted always rests with the responsible authority.