health care abroad

Health is our best asset, since without it we are at a disadvantage.

But if moving abroad there are a lot of things to think about regarding health provision and so on. The country you're moving to is likely to have significant differences from the one you're leaving, and so it is with health.

It's worth having a good look at what info is available on the web in order to find out all you can about your new home, and to find out about best international health insurance policies to suit your needs.

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International Health Insurance Comparisons

There are many companies offering insurance packages for people living all over the world. You will have heard of nearly all of the big players in the market, here I am going to go through some of the most high profile names in this sector just to compare and contrast the basics that are offered in each case.

Aetna Global Benefitsare an american firm which specialises in insurance for expatriates, but that doesn't mean that other nationalities are excluded. The main areas of concentration are in Asia and the near East, and they have access to a large number of hospitals throughout that area.

AXA-PPP International Health Insurance are the result of the merger between the French insurance firm AXA, and the British insurers Guardian Royal Exchange. But as AXA are a truly international company they do not concentrate on any single part of the world having partnerships in the Americas, Africa and Asia, with their own network of partnerships with private hospitals and physicians throughout the world.

Bupa International are one of the best known private health insurers in the UK, but have only recently started to expand majorly into the far east. They too have partnerships in North America and in most of Europe, with specialist clinics etc.

Medicare International are a young British Insurance company who do not simply specialise in expatriate health insurance, they have set out to become a global insurer, offering insurance to all nationalities globally.

This list is not, by any means, exhaustive, and with a lot more research I could probably have unearthed some international brands from non-english speaking countries, but then I might not have been able to translate them very well.

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Living in Japan - New Regulations

According to a source within the Japanese Immigration Bureau it has been decided to reinforce an existing regulation regarding visa applications for all foreign nationals currently resident in Japan.

As of the first of April 2010 it shall become necessary for everyone applying for 12 month [or longer] visa to show proof that they have signed up to the Japanese National Health Insurance System.

This will not take away from the coverage enjoyed by users of International Medical Insurance, provided through their employer or through their own means, but is intended to streamline the entire system, which has been under strain due to the recent economic downturn.

The previous situation had been described as a "grey zone" for expatriates as they could in reside in Japan using the state system without being registered, although they were already contributing through their personal health insurance.

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Healthcare upgrade in Dubai

Healthcare has come a long way in the United Arab Emirates in the last 50 years. And of course it is no coincidence that these advances come in such a wealthy country.

But the emirate of Dubai is about to take another step forward in its health system. The national healthcare authority the DHA have announced that in partnership with Dutch electronics giant Phillips to build a new Medical Academy.

The new academy whilst helping the Dubai's doctors to increase their expertise, will also act as a fully working hospital for the residents of Dubai, as well as providing support to the rest of the UAE.

In recent years Dubai has developed into the financial center of the UAE and this has caused a growing number of overseas workers moving to the emirate.

If you're thinking that you might be moving to a better job in this vibrant growing city, you had better look into whether your current health insurance covers you for treatment in this new facility. If not why not try International insurance, a policy from a leading provider could be made to fit your exact circumstances, and needn't cost more than you're currently paying.

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Skiing Holidays In France

Health Insurance For Winter Sports

After the recent weather we have experienced here in the UK it comes as a bit of a surprise that thousands of Brits will be going on a winter sports holiday over the coming months with the likes of skiing and snowboarding at the top of the list. And what’s even more worrying is that half of them will be doing so without international health insurance.

Out of the many sports around the world surprisingly skiing isn’t at the top of the injury list with the likes of horse riding and football way in front. Although not at the top of the list you only have to check out sites like YouTube to see what can happen when out skiing and believe me after you see this you will be looking for health insurance cover straight away.

It goes without saying taking part in such a great exciting sport comes with the risk of being seriously injured or can even end up in a death. It only takes one dodgy miss place of your foot or a quick turn and you could lose your balance in a second. So remember if you’re planning on taking a winter break this year with sports involved make sure your covered for all injuries.

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Is Health Care still Free?

Some of you might have noticed recently that moves are afoot in the Spanish Health Service. Normally UK citizens are entitled to the same services as any Spanish citizen under a reciprocal agreement between the Spanish & UK Governments.

However, there is a mood growing within both the Spanish Health Service and various regional governments [to whom health-care is devolved], that the the should be clarified, read tightened, as to who does and does not qualify for it.

Currently, all EU citizens who are registered as resident in Spain, those working and paying taxes, and those over the age of retirement are able to benefit from the Spanish Health Service. But everyone else from now on will only be entitled to emergency treatment, under the auspices of the European Health Insurance Card. And from now on the Spanish Public Sector Union SiMAP has indicated that it's members are going to tighten up which ailments they consider emergencies and which not.

The meaning of this for Brits who wish to spend time in Spain, is that unless you wish to fully integrate yourself into Spanish society, you had better start thinking about taking out some form of International Health Insurance. As Spain is getting tough on 'freeloaders'.

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Living Abroad, Get Health Insurance

More and more British Citizens are deciding that they wish spend at least part of their lives abroad, reasons include, work, study, volunteering and retiral.

Among the more popular places to relocate are EU countries skirting the Mediterranean Sea, but there are also growing expatriate communities in Hong Kong, China, Australia, Canada, USA, Germany, India and Singapore.

Expatriate health insurance plans are increasingly important, as politicians across Europe seek to control runaway health budgets, by limiting what non-citizens can have.

If you are planning to move abroad, you may think that the reciprocal arrangements which exist between EU countries will protect you. And it may, but it can only be relied upon for emergency treatments. State healthcare abroad is often done on a system of Health Insurance, quite unlike the system which exists in the UK: it is common to charge for many treatments.

Some countries now insist that all expatriates have international health insurance, or buy the same cover as locals.

Holland is the latest country to require foreign nationals, whether working in the country or simply resident, to have cover. Everyone aged over 18, irrespective of medical history and age, must buy an insurance plan.

Particularly if you are keeping a home in the UK, you may think you do not need to buy health insurance as you can return to the UK for treatment. But, following a crackdown on medical tourism, Britons in the EU who spend less than six months a year in the UK are denied access to the National Health Service, except in emergencies. Britons living outside the EU are ineligible for NHS services if they are abroad more than three months a year.

There are lots of international health insurance plans to choose from. They range from those offering very wide cover with lots of extras, to fairly basic plans aimed at covering in-patient treatment only. There are huge differences in cover and price. The only way to find out what suits your needs and your budget is to get lots of quotes. There are packages, plans where you have a core cover and a variety of options, or top-up covers for the difference in what the country you move to pays for and what you get charged by medical services.

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