Get Expatriate Health Insurance Easily

If you're thinking about moving to foreign countries as an expat, your first concerns are probably about arranging accommodation and finding a job. But you also need to think about your health. What will happen if you become ill? It is important to think about private health insurance. Australia for instance, does have reciprocal healthcare agreements with certain countries but these only entitle people to limited care and are not designed for expatriates. Be sure you choose right expatriate health insurance package.

Australia has a well-respected universal healthcare system called Medicare, with over 1,300 public and private hospitals and clinics, including nearly 740 public hospitals providing acute treatment. Australian medical facilities have scored well in international surveys on quality of care, even though small hospitals and healthcare centers or facilities in remote regions may not be able to offer a full range of treatments, and there are waiting lists for many elective surgical procedures. A huge number of locals also choose some form of additional medical insurance. Australia currently has around 11 % of its total national health care budget covered by private funding of this sort, and for those insured it offers a choice of hospitals, clinicians and timings for treatments.

There are 10 public hospitals in Singapore, which offer walk-in accident and emergency treatment, as well as 13 private hospitals and further specialist clinics.

Singapore has a highly-rated and efficient healthcare system and a good standard of public health as assessed by the World Health Organisation.

Over 400,000 people come to Singapore each year specifically for specialist medical treatment; doctors and medical staff are well-trained, English is widely spoken, and many private healthcare providers have dedicated international patient centres.

Singapore has a universal healthcare system for permanent residents and citizens, who pay into the mandatory Medisafe programme which provides basic coverage, but many choose to contribute to the additional, more comprehensive Medishield programme or to private schemes as well.

Expatriates may be offered healthcare in an employer's programme as part of a salary or relocation package, but this may not comprise full coverage or be suitable for those with ongoing medical conditions; private insurance should be considered if there are any concerns. Self-employed expatriates will need to purchase their own healthcare.