Articles and Insight

Expats working or living abroad almost always need some kind of private health coverage. Many companies offer plans tailored to expats’ needs, but some may opt for a local plan. Either way, there are crucial considerations to make when making such an important decision.

Integra Global and our worldwide partners are committed to assisting our members, whilst we continue to learn more about the impact of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Unfortunately, even while you’re living your best life abroad, you still need to stay on top of your finances.

Whether you’re a digital nomad, a perpetual traveller or a long-time expat, it’s likely that you work remotely. At least some of the time.

Having the right health insurance is crucial for digital nomads, as accessing healthcare whilst moving across borders and unfamiliar environments can be challenging and expensive.

If you haven’t lived abroad before, adjusting to a new language, climate and culture can be challenging emotionally. 

Moving to a new country, where everything seems different, can be a stressful experience for expats. And it’s not just living away from home that they might need to adapt to. Moving to another part of the world could involve adjusting to a new climate, landscape, language, food, attitudes, values and even dress sense.

Worldwide access numbers to the Expat Assistance Programme

Living and working abroad is an exciting and rewarding experience. But when trying to immerse yourself in a foreign culture, get to grips with a different job role, or start a family away from home, the last thing you want to worry about is whether you can afford care if any health issues arise. 

More and more US nationals are working abroad than ever before, as US citizens embrace the expat lifestyle and build their homes in a different country.

Health providers, and the majority of insurance companies, tend to use technical terms to explain the details of their plans. This can be confusing, especially if you're new to health insurance, so we've explained what each of our most common terms mean below for you.

The rise of digital nomads has already begun, with more than four million Britons now working nomadically around the world. And it’s not just Britons; A Gallup survey from the New York Times found that nearly half of employed Americans spent at least some time working remotely in 2016.

Malaysia has a very high standard of healthcare, providing one of the best medical services in Asia. In fact, over the last decade the Malaysian government has been investing a lot of money in improving access and the quality of healthcare for all citizens.

But while working abroad can be a rich and rewarding experience, relocating your life and home can be challenging if you don’t know how to keep take care of yourself whilst away. Wherever in the world you are moving to, it’s important to look after your own wellbeing and stay healthy.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has become a hugely a popular destination for expats over recent years, particularly with those from Western nations. In fact, with a population of 9 million, natives are outnumbered by nine-to-one in their own country, highlighting how important foreign workers are to the region.

Thailand has a very reputable healthcare system, ranked 47th out of 190 countries. As a result, Thailand has become one of the major medical tourism destinations in Southeast Asia.

It is believed that zika isn’t harmful for the majority of people and only one-in-five of those infected show symptoms of the virus. This said, the disease has been linked to babies being born with underdeveloped brains and therefore pregnant women should be particularly careful when travelling to an areas of outbreak.

At Integra Global we believe that a health plan should support all aspects of our members’ wellbeing. That’s why we include an Expat Assistance Programme in all our health plans, at no extra cost.