People who are moving to other countries are naturally worried during the planning for this event. This is natural, since going to another country entails a relationship with a social reality that is very different from the one we are accustomed to.
And one of the most difficult points is the health system in the destination location. This is an extremely important issue, since it can mean structural differences in the costs and in the life of the expat, depending on the model adopted by the country in question.
When developed countries are considered, it’s normal to suppose that public health in those places is free and of excellent quality. This isn’t true in practice. Many nations do not offer a public and universal system that can fully attend the population, while other places offer complete or partial coverage without additional cost to the citizen.
The United States, the destination for many expats, does not have a national model of public health. Thus, it is strongly recommended that those who move to the USA should acquire health insurance, which avoids the heavy expenses incurred in case of emergency or planned surgeries. Normally, insurance policies of American health plans have an out-of-pocket maximum, after which the insurer will cover all eventual costs.
Finally, the major concern, normally, is for expats that are going to countries without a reliable health structure. It’s not a question of paying for the services or not, what is under consideration is whether the place has a structure able to meet the demand. In that case, it is important that the team of professionals in charge of the job seek solutions that ensure the health and safety of the expat.
