International health insurance covers a far greater range of situations than local health insurance. For example, if you become ill or get injured and want to be treated in a different country, international health cover will get you there – which could otherwise cost you a lot of money. Local health insurance doesn’t usually cover that.
Local health insurance is usually designed for people who live and work in one country with a quality healthcare system, don’t travel much, and who wouldn’t want to be transported to a different country if they got sick or injured.