Expatriates advised to take out overseas health insurance

One in four European workers wish to retire to Spain and take up the expatriate lifestyle when they have finished work, new research has revealed.

A survey carried out by Aon Consulting found a rich source of expat health insurance opportunities for brokers in the World Cup-winning country, as a quarter of the 7,500 Europeans questioned opted for Spain as the retiree destination of choice.

France was also popular with 15 per cent of those considering becoming expatriates, while Italy and Australasia made it into the top five most popular destinations with would-be expats.

Oliver Rowlands, Aon Consulting head of retirement for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, noted that the prevalence of cheap air travel and the internet allowed individuals to remain in close contact with their family even after moving overseas.

"Not surprisingly, most people want to spend their retirement predominantly in countries with good weather and good social and government benefits, and ideally close enough so that they can get home quickly if they need to," he pointed out.

Mr Rowlands added that those thinking about retiring overseas need to consider taking out international medical insurance for peace of mind.

Online expat magazine Shelter Offshore recently advised those moving abroad to get their finances in order before they leave to save time and stress upon arrival.

Expatriate Healthcare specialise in providing international health insurance. Make sure you're protected.

Why International & Expat Health Insurance is Important For Overseas Workers

Finding yourself working overseas without the usual 'safety net' of the NHS could bring about a sudden rash of insecurity. However, most employers with staff based abroad ensure some kind of international or expat health insurance plan is in place, offering their staff (and families) peace of mind. This helps to keep sickness absenteeism to a minimum and strengthen the company's credibility as a caring organisation.

Ensuring quality medical care for people working abroad is essential, since local medical facilities could be very basic, expensive or even inaccessible.
Private healthcare plans offer varying levels of medical cover (often including the family), usually with an overseas repatriation or evacuation service as standard. Most international healthcare packages also provide access to a 24 hr confidential advice line as well as a foreign language interpretation service.

Overseas employees who are covered by private healthcare are able to receive prompt access to expert medical attention. This reduces absence due to sickness and helps to maximise corporate productivity. Where non-emergency treatment is needed in hospital, the patient will be notified of the date in advance, allowing their employer to make arrangements to cover their absence.

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Hong Kong Expat Medical Insurance

The GlobalHealth Advantage Range

Advantage 100
Features
> Worldwide coverage
> Plan maximum up to US$250,000 per disability
> Choice of deductibles starting at US$500 per disability
> Lowest premiums


Advantage 200
Features
> Worldwide coverage
> Plan maximum up to US$250,000 per year
> Nil deductible up to US$5,000 per year deductible available
> Choice to add coverage for out-patient treatment


Advantage 300
Features
> Option to exclude North American coverage to lower premium
> Plan maximum up to US$2,000,000 per year
> Nil deductible up to US$5,000 per year deductible available
> Fully covered in-patient with extensive pre and post-hospitalization cover


Advantage 400
Features
> Option to exclude North American coverage to lower premium
> Plan maximum up to US$2,000,000 per year
> Nil deductible up to US$5,000 per year deductible available
> Fully covered in-patient and out-patient


Advantage 500
Features
> Option to exclude North American coverage to lower premium
> Plan maximum up to US$2,000,000 per year
> Nil deductible up to US$5,000 per year deductible available
> Fully covered in-patient and out-patient
> Maternity cover up to US$10,000 per pregnancy


 To Know About Their Optional Extra Benefits
Visit Hong Kong Expat Medical Insurance

Small-Business Lobby Joins Florida Health-Care Suit

By William McQuillen     May 14 (Bloomberg) -- The National Federation of Independent Business, a small-business lobbying group, joined Florida’s legal challenge to the health-care reform law passed in March, becoming the first private organization seeking to overturn the measure.     The group’s filing today came as the end-of-week deadline approached for amending the complaint initially brought by Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum. The lawsuit’s plaintiffs now include 20 states.

The states claim the legislation places an unconstitutional burden on their budgets by expanding Medicaid, the federal-state program that provides health care for the poor. Virginia sued separately in March, contending that a requirement that people buy health insurance exceeds Congress’s powers.

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American Expats Giving Up Citizenship in Record Numbers

The number of Americans choosing not merely to retire but often to live and work in other countries — expatriates or "expats" — has been increasing steadily for a number of years now. According to one source, the number of American expats has risen to four million, and the steady trickle of Americans out of this country shows no signs of abating.
Americans’ reasons for leaving differ from case to case. Some are convinced that the global empire emanating from Washington, D.C. is in its declining days, as was Rome at one point, and are seeking safe havens for themselves and their families just in case economic shocks in the United States continue. Others have either been sent or have chosen to pursue desirable careers overseas. Some, finally, just desire the experience of living in a different culture.
A new report now indicates that American expats are not just relocating overseas but taking the much bigger leap of relinquishing their U.S. citizenship. According to the Federal Register, during the final quarter of 2009 502 expatriated Americans gave up their citizenship or permanent residency status to fully embrace that of a foreign land. This was the largest quarterly figure in years — and more than twice the figure for all of 2008, which saw 235 renunciations. The total figure of renunciations for 2009 was 743.

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Why do you need an Expat Global Medical Insurance?

In an era where we keep too busy with our work, health becomes a matter of concern of all of us. Especially if we live abroad, medicines and health care have become so expensive that we might have to spend half of our savings on it. You certainly don't want to do that, right? Expat Global Medical Insurance helps you to cover all that without bearing any immediate cost. It not only gives you a complete medical cover but also, makes you financial secure. By taking international health travel insurance, you can stand your medical and health expenses on your own. 


We have often seen cases where in people living in abroad have to bear sudden and uncertain health costs which makes them face a financial crisis but, with such beneficial insurance scheme you can avoid such circumstances. Let's check out some more advantages of expat health insurance:

• Settlement of adequate medical expenses
• Aid to trip Interruption due to health issues
• Reimbursement of lost checked luggage
• Emergency medical evacuation
• Emergency reunion
• Emergency dental
• Settlement against accidental death and dismemberment
• Return of relevant assets

Though the facilities depend from one insurance company to another but, mostly the above mentioned services are taken care off. To a greater extent International Travel Medical Insurance companies are planning to cover more areas (as follows) to enhance their standard of health care:

· Terrorism coverage

· Hospital insurance (such as daily cash, etc.)

· Problems of pregnancy

· Natural disaster

· And, other travel support such as pre-trip safety and health advisories, immediate cash transfers, lost travel document or passport assistance, etc.

Whenever we go or live abroad, it becomes all the more difficult for us to take care of our health and all. In such a situation international travel medical insurance is the easiest way to deal with all sudden costs in this relevant field. Don't you think so?

We never know when we need a health cover, we can need a health cover anytime and anywhere in this whole world thus, it becomes essential to take such insurance schemes and be trouble-free.

Expat guide to Australia: financial management

In the first of a series of country guides designed specifically to address the problems faced by expatriates,Telegraph Expat takes a look at money management for those thinking of moving to, moving back from, or already living in, Australia

Australia is the number one destination for emigrating Brits , with 56,000 of us moving to the other side of the world in 2008, according to the latest official figures.

But if you are planning to go because of work, or simply in search of a better life for yourself or your family, there are a lot of things you need to think about to be sure your finances work as well as they can for you.

This guide will help you through the financial maze of what you need to do and how you need to do it to make your move a success.

BEFORE YOU GO

One of the most difficult things to do when you go to a new country is open a bank account, as you have no credit history in that country. If you open an account before you leave the UK, this circumvents the problem.

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