|
|
 |
Life As An Expatriate - Healthcare Provision
Moving to live in a new country is about enriching your life and fulfilling your potential.
According to another survey the findings show that some expatriates believe that the standard of healthcare in their new country of residence is worse than in their home county.
|
When asked what they would miss most about the UK were they to move abroad, almost a quarter (23%) cited NHS. The survey also highlighted a high degree of ignorance about Britons' access to healthcare abroad. Over a third of young workers (34%) would not consider taking out additional health insurance were they to emigrate.
A quarter of those surveyed have "no idea" what state healthcare provision they are entitled to if they move overseas, while nearly one in five (17%) believe that they would automatically qualify for free healthcare abroad.
The recent online poll of expatriates carried out on behalf of Bupa International found that 44% believe that the standard of healthcare was poorer while one in five believe that their health has deteriorated since moving abroad.
When moving overseas it is absolutely essentional that you have not only medical insurance but the correct kind of medical insurance. It is always tempting to look for the cheapest possible solution for your medical insurance. After all, if you need treatment you will just fly home and have the treatment there. However, what happens if you need emergency treatment where you and cannot travel back home?
The research also shows that one in five expats say they would rather be treated outside their country of origin or current residence if they fell seriously ill. The countries topping the table of where people would most like to be treated given the choice are South East Asia (23%), followed by the USA (15%) South Africa (10%), and the UK (10%).
Dr Sneh Khemka, medical director for Bupa International, said: "These findings are very interesting - while South East Asia is seen to have the best healthcare by nearly a quarter of expats, the truth is that while there are many excellent hospitals in South East Asia, the quality of healthcare available there varies, like it does in every country around the world. Therefore, it's very important to have access to expert medical advice when living abroad to be sure that you are going to be directed to the most appropriate facilities, whichever country you're in."
Four out of five (81%) of those surveyed said that their financial position is better since they moved while over half (50.5%) say they feel happiest in their current country of residence.
April Medibroker is here to help you - from the initial advice on what expatriate health insurance policy meets your needs, through to any assistance that you may need in the future. Our staff are only a phone call or email away. Whether you need changes to cover or payment, need help with a claim or have questions about your international medical insurance policy we will gladly help.
Return to Articles
Return to Home Page
Our consultants will respond to your requests and answer health insurance enquiries via email. We provide a snapshot of the health insurance market once we receive your request for quotation.
We check the service standards of all health insurers we work with by measuring how quickly they deal with claims and medical emergencies around the world. We show health insurance benefits on an "apples to apples" basis so that you may make an informed selection of medical insurer. We always ensure that you can compare 'company' to 'company'.
Our links page offers information on relocation, international schools and housing as well as other globally based expatriate sites. We cater for the global citizen, irrespective of location or nationality.
We can deal with individuals, families, groups or small companies worldwide, in most countries around the world.
For a Range of Premiums from Quality International Medical Insurance Providers