HCI NIMBL Health international health insurance for expats in Africa
NIMBL Health is a modular expatriate plan from HealthCare International: a core with four annual caps and five deductibles, plus optional outpatient, dental and evacuation modules, underwritten by MGEN. IPMIAfrica explains how to build it from Africa.
- Core deductibles run from US$0 to US$10,000, and the outpatient module has its own caps and deductible choices.
- Assistance and evacuation is optional, and its benefits are subject to the core cap, so a low cap constrains it.
- NIMBL uses geographic zones, with up to 60 days of emergency treatment outside the selected area on trips.
- Maximum entry age is 64, dental waits six months, and maternity is available to groups only.
- Policies are underwritten by MGEN, with HealthCare International as the Managing General Agent administering the plan.
A core you size, and modules you add
NIMBL Health is international private medical insurance (IPMI) assembled from parts. You pick a core annual cap and a core deductible, then decide which optional modules to add. Nothing beyond the core is included by default, which keeps the entry price low but means the quote only tells you what it covers once you have chosen the modules.
| Module | Structure |
|---|---|
| Core | Inpatient treatment, cancer and emergency dental, up to the selected annual cap |
| Outpatient | Optional; separate caps and a choice of US$0, 100, 300 or 500 deductible |
| Dental | Optional routine and major treatment; six-month waiting period |
| Assistance and evacuation | Optional; benefits subject to the selected core cap |
| Maternity | Groups only; twelve-month waiting period |
The core comes in four annual caps, US$250,000, US$1 million, US$2 million and US$3 million, with five deductible choices from US$0 up to US$10,000.
How to read the structure
Two decisions shape the plan. The first is the core cap, which is the ceiling for inpatient treatment, cancer and emergency dental in a year. The US$250,000 option is a long way below the others; it is a choice for someone who wants a minimal safety net rather than cover for a long, complex illness. The second is the deductible, where a higher figure lowers the premium in exchange for carrying more of each claim yourself.
The outpatient module has its own caps and its own deductible choices, so a member can hold a low-deductible outpatient module alongside a high-deductible core, or the reverse. Our guide to inpatient versus outpatient cover explains why that separation can be useful, and our cost guide for Africa covers how to choose a deductible you could meet in a bad year.
Zones, benefits and limitations
- NIMBL uses geographic zones and includes up to 60 days of emergency treatment outside the selected area.
- Core benefits include day-patient care, organ transplant up to a US$500,000 lifetime limit, hospice and terminal care up to US$200,000 lifetime, and emergency dental up to US$10,000.
- The plan is subject to full medical underwriting.
- Eligibility shown on the product page is living outside your country of nationality, with a maximum entry age of 64.
The exact country zone, exclusions and pre-authorisation rules must be checked in the policy wording. The public product page sets out the benefit structure but does not publish an end-to-end claims workflow or an observed average approval time, so none is described here. Our pre-existing conditions guide explains what full medical underwriting means for anyone with medical history.
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Who stands behind the plan
HealthCare International is the Managing General Agent and administers NIMBL. Policies are underwritten by Mutuelle Générale de l'Éducation Nationale (MGEN). HealthCare International Europe GmbH – UK Branch is an appointed representative of FCA-authorised HealthCare International Global Network Ltd.
Using NIMBL from Africa
NIMBL's zone-based geography is the first thing for readers in South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Egypt, Morocco, Tanzania and Mauritius to pin down. Ask at quote which zone your country of residence falls in and whether that zone includes the countries you might travel to for complex treatment. The 60 days of emergency treatment outside the selected area is for emergencies on trips, not for planned care elsewhere. Our guide to regional versus worldwide cover explains why the zone choice deserves more attention than the headline cap.
Caps and deductibles are published in US dollars. The eligibility rule, living outside your country of nationality, fits the classic expatriate profile, but the maximum entry age of 64 rules the plan out for older arrivals, who should look at insurers with higher or no entry-age limits. Full medical underwriting means your history is assessed at application and the terms confirmed before you buy. IPMIAfrica quotes NIMBL alongside the rest of the market with the modules you actually want selected, so the modular price is compared on matching cover.
Who NIMBL suits
NIMBL suits an expat under 65 living outside their country of nationality who wants to build cover from a clearly priced core and add only the modules they will use, and who is comfortable with full medical underwriting.
It is worth comparing alternatives if you want evacuation and outpatient included as standard, a higher ceiling than US$3 million, individual maternity cover, or you are over the entry age. Browse all insurers we cover to see the modular price against bundled plans.
Frequently asked questions
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NIMBL against the whole market
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This page is general information, not personal or medical advice, and is based on HCI Group's published NIMBL Health product page, module tables and brochure; exact terms, limits and underwriting are confirmed by the insurer at quote. Prices are indicative. No network total, named hospital partnership or average approval time is asserted. NIMBL, HealthCare International and related names and logos are the property of their respective owners.