Relocating expats urged to research private health insurance and local prices

The present day surge in popular expat destinations now insisting on private health insurance before a visa is granted has caused many would-be expats to reconsider leaving the home country.

Obviously, charges for private health insurance vary country to country, as does the service provided at any price. The USA’s healthcare is the most expensive on the planet, causing many would-be patients to fly to overseas locations known for budget level operations, cheap medicines and affordable plastic surgery. In addition, elderly retirees with existing conditions factor in healthcare costs or even the cost of flights to a less expensive destination should the need arise.

Recently, certain countries popular with Western retirees began to bring in rules tying the provision of long-stay retirement visas to expensive and non-proven private health insurance usually offered by local insurers. Late last month, Thailand even instructed its inexpensive and functional public hospitals to charge resident expats four times the amount charged to local people. As a result of the continuing and controversial changes, would-be expats are being urged to carefully check out healthcare costs in possible destinations.

For those attempting to negotiate their way through the maze of prices, services and levels of expertise, it should be said that high-income countries don’t always have the most expensive healthcare, with some second or even third-world countries’ provisions superior to those in more advanced states, as well as far cheaper. For example, Morocco’s services are ranked higher than those in New Zealand, and several Gulf States rank higher than a number of European locations.

The same is true for dental treatments, especially implants and other relatively complicated procedures. Dental tourism is rising in popularity, with Spain and India favourites at present. Not all expatriate professionals get private healthcare cover as a part of the relocation package, leaving them vulnerable should a medical or surgical emergency occur.