subject: Moving abroad? Don't forget your health insurance! [print this page] Moving abroad? Don't forget your health insurance!
It's only natural to protect the things that matter most to us. Many animal-lovers have pet insurance in place, whilst homeowners leave no stone unturned in their quest to ensure their house and contents are fully covered, just in case.
With all this worrying about other things, it's easy to overlook ourselves. If you're fortunate enough to have had a clean bill of health throughout your life, that's great but things can change in a heartbeat.
This may seem pessimistic, but it's a fact of life. The older we get the more prone we are to health problems - and even those in the prime of their youth can suffer tumbles, scrapes and strains that can lead to short or long term health problems.
In the UK, the National Health Service (NHS) has provided healthcare for over sixty years, but it can be easy to be lulled into a false sense of security regarding what the NHS is able to offer. With life-expectancy rising all the time and infant mortality rates lower than ever, more and more pressure is being placed on NHS resources. Indeed, waiting lists are longer than ever.
However, this isn't unique to the UK. In most westernised countries medical advances mean that people are living longer and government-supported health schemes are falling under increasing pressure.
Moreover, with many people leaving the UK to live and work abroad whether that's for a fixed period of time or permanently how they provide adequate medical cover for themselves and their loved ones is an issue worth considering.
For example, dedicated expat health insurance policies are great for people who want peace-of-mind whilst living abroad. These policies generally cover essential hospital treatment, either as part of an emergency or a planned visit. And these can usually be tailored too, so you can create the right insurance plan through adding specialised treatments, medicines, evacuation and more to the cover plan.
With the advent of the internet era, it's easier than ever for consumers to search for the best deals for all sorts of services and products, and health insurance is no different, so it does pay to search around online before plumping for your expat health insurance plan.
Given that so many people pay upwards of 50 a month for a gym membership they may only use occasionally, the relative cost of having the appropriate health care insurance in place really starts to make sense. And if you're moving abroad, taking out expat health insurance could be the best decision you ever make.
The author of this article is a part of a digital blogging team who work with brands like Bupa. The contents of this article are of a general nature only and do not constitute specific advice. This article does not take into account your circumstances or needs and must not be relied upon in place of appropriate professional advice
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