Typically structured over a 12-month period insurance covers acute medical treatment for illness or injury. In addition, many products offer, either as part of the standard benefit or an optional extra, a range of other benefits including; cover for GP consultations, routine and emergency dental treatment, optical cover, home nursing, evacuation cover, personal accident insurance, and critical illness.
Often expatriate employers provide a private medical insurance as part of an employee benefit package. If you want to subscribe to insurance on your own, be aware that it can be very expensive.