A survey has revealed a serious lack of awareness among companies of their duties towards staff on international assignments.
Those emerging markets that are a chief focus of business interest by Western companies are seen as among the countries most at risk of disease, terrorism and riots
The BRIC states – Brazil, Russia, India and China – are all high in a list of potentially hazardous countries.
Mexico was rated the highest risk location in a survey by International SOS, the medical assistance and security company. It surveyed more than 600 global companies, 95 per cent of which sent employees to high-risk locations.
Among threats faced were lawlessness, terrorism, political upheaval, civil unrest and pandemics.
A spokesman for International SOS, which operates for insurers such as market leader Bupa International and many other UK-based providers, said the survey pointed to an alarming lack of awareness among employers of their responsibilities towards staff on foreign assignment.
A high proportion of respondent companies – one third – did not know whether they had legal requirements for a duty of care provision.
The spokesman said: “This was a particular concern as a company can be held criminally responsible for harm to employees or their dependants in high risk locations abroad, should the risk result from a failure of duty of care in UK.”
Four of the identified top 10 risks were related to health issues, including illness, lack of access to western standards of medical care, infectious diseases and travel-related infections.
Despite the legal implications and medical costs involved in taking care of incidents, companies still perceived duty of care as primarily an ethical concern. Caring about the health, safety, and security of travelling employees and doing the right thing were both more popular considerations in upholding a duty of care than avoiding legal repercussions.
Arnaud Vaissié, chairman and chief executive of International SOS, said duty of care was essential for commercial success as well as avoiding high-cost legal settlements. However, awareness as to duty of care varied.
“The study highlights the need for companies to focus on the best ways to pre-emptively protect their employees and – through them – their businesses,” he said.
The study also identified discrepancies in the types of issues that are most concerning for particular industries. The IT sector had pronounced concerns around opportunistic crime, illness while on assignment, road accidents and travel delays.
The construction and real estate sector was mainly worried about lawlessness, violent crime and organised crime. The energy and natural resource sector was concerned about remoteness of work locations, language and cultural estrangement, and road accidents.
Companies in the aerospace and defence were ranked most highly for their approach to duty of care. Companies in natural resources and energy were also ranked well. Least aware sectors were education, construction and property.
When you are working or living abroad, or have plans of relocating into another country, it is very important that you protect you and your family’s health and their wellness.
Expatriates make sure you are covered for International Medical Insurance, April Medibroker assists & advises clients living or working abroad to both choose & place the right international Health and Medical insurance products, to suit their needs & budget.
April Medibroker is here to help you - from the initial advice on what expatriate health insurance policy to buy, through to any assistance that you may need in the future. Our staff are only a phone call or email away. Whether you need changes to cover or payment, need help with a claim or have questions about your international medical insurance policy we will gladly help.
Friday 16 December 2011
Wednesday 14 December 2011
Is Europe the best exapt healthcare?
Expats find best healthcare in Europe acording to the findings of a new survey
This year’s survey involved 3,385 expats living in more than 100 countries. In terms of healthcare, enough data was gathered to rank 31 countries.
The results of HSBC’s 2011 Expat Explorer Survey are out and Belgium placed #1 for expat healthcare, followed by Germany and France. Those rankings are based on affordability, access and quality of care.
Interestingly, the health rankings differ considerably from the overall figures. None of the top 3 destinations for healthcare placed higher than 21st overall. This of course implies expats are not using healthcare as their main criteria for deciding where to move abroad. There is also a marked change in rankings when countries are evaluated solely on ease of organizing healthcare. Here Thailand is tops, followed by Hong Kong and New Zealand.
Overall, there is a clear divide between the countries with the best health systems and those with the strongest financial opportunities for expats. Countries in the Middle East and Asia ranked highly for income and disposable income, as well as work-related criteria, but they did poorly when it came to healthcare.
Saudi Arabia and Egypt, for example, placed 1st and 2nd in terms of income. But for healthcare they placed 20th and 21st, respectively. So for the time being it seems expats will continue to face a trade-off between financial opportunity and superior healthcare.
When you are working or living abroad, or have plans of relocating into another country, it is very important that you protect you and your family’s health and their wellness.
Expatriates make sure you are covered for International Medical Insurance, April Medibroker assists & advises clients living or working abroad to both choose & place the right international Health and Medical insurance products, to suit their needs & budget.
April Medibroker is here to help you - from the initial advice on what expatriate health insurance policy to buy, through to any assistance that you may need in the future. Our staff are only a phone call or email away. Whether you need changes to cover or payment, need help with a claim or have questions about your international medical insurance policy we will gladly help.
This year’s survey involved 3,385 expats living in more than 100 countries. In terms of healthcare, enough data was gathered to rank 31 countries.
The results of HSBC’s 2011 Expat Explorer Survey are out and Belgium placed #1 for expat healthcare, followed by Germany and France. Those rankings are based on affordability, access and quality of care.
Interestingly, the health rankings differ considerably from the overall figures. None of the top 3 destinations for healthcare placed higher than 21st overall. This of course implies expats are not using healthcare as their main criteria for deciding where to move abroad. There is also a marked change in rankings when countries are evaluated solely on ease of organizing healthcare. Here Thailand is tops, followed by Hong Kong and New Zealand.
Overall, there is a clear divide between the countries with the best health systems and those with the strongest financial opportunities for expats. Countries in the Middle East and Asia ranked highly for income and disposable income, as well as work-related criteria, but they did poorly when it came to healthcare.
Saudi Arabia and Egypt, for example, placed 1st and 2nd in terms of income. But for healthcare they placed 20th and 21st, respectively. So for the time being it seems expats will continue to face a trade-off between financial opportunity and superior healthcare.
When you are working or living abroad, or have plans of relocating into another country, it is very important that you protect you and your family’s health and their wellness.
Expatriates make sure you are covered for International Medical Insurance, April Medibroker assists & advises clients living or working abroad to both choose & place the right international Health and Medical insurance products, to suit their needs & budget.
April Medibroker is here to help you - from the initial advice on what expatriate health insurance policy to buy, through to any assistance that you may need in the future. Our staff are only a phone call or email away. Whether you need changes to cover or payment, need help with a claim or have questions about your international medical insurance policy we will gladly help.
Thursday 8 December 2011
As an expat - Is social media invaluable to you?
A survey of over 3,000 expats around the globe has demonstrated the importance of social media to those who live abroad. The research showed that while email is still the most popular way for expats to stay in touch with far-flung friends and family, an increasing number of people are finding more modern communication tools like Twitter and Skype indispensable for keeping up with the news from home.
While 52 per cent of participants said they used email twice a week or more to catch up with loved ones, 39 per cent said that they used Facebook the same amount, while 36 per cent relied chiefly on the voice and video calls platform Skype.
By contrast, only a small proportion said they used more traditional communication methods, such of the landline (14 per cent) or mobile phone (16 per cent) twice or more a week – perhaps, the compilers of the research pointed out, “because new technologies are cheaper to use”.
The most popular social media channel was Facebook, used by nearly seven in 10 respondents, with usage among expats often far higher than in the local population.
In the Middle East for example, 68 per cent of expats said they visited the site, compared to only eight per cent of local people, while in Latin America 72 per cent of expats used it, against 21 per cent of the local community.
Twitter and MySpace were "less widely used", attracting 14 and two per cent of respondents respectively, but two-fifths (40 per cent) said that they were members of the career networking site LinkedIn. In response to the survey, many expats said that the ability to keep up easily and cheaply with loved ones at home was one of the chief draws of social media, but that it was also useful in helping them settle into their new homes.
Commenting on the survey, a British expat in Paris, said: “Social media – by which I mean my blog, Twitter, Facebook etc – has given me a unique means of contacting other Brits/expats who are over here, leading to new friends and contacts.
"With Twitter, for example, the ability to choose people whose tweet topics are of relevance or interest can be invaluable for an expatriate. Whether you are looking for accomodation or tips about your adopted country, Twitter gives you instant and direct access to people in the know; people who are likely to be willing to help because they have actively put themselves out into the Twittersphere. The Facebook 'group' is a similar principle.”
Another expat, who runs a property agency in France, said that social media was also invaluable for the many expats who set up their own businesses abroad. He chiefly uses his Twitter account and a personal blog to reach out to customers and build up an online profile.
“I'm fortunate that my move has coincided with the social media explosion; it has allowed me to work from an office in my garden, with vineyards outside my door, yet position myself among major players in the marketplace and create trust in my brand,” he said. “My work entails finding houses for clients from all over the world, and without social media my marketing budget would be enormous, in fact unmanageable. “
The survey backs up research released last month by Skype, which found that 50 per cent of people are more willing to move abroad than they would have been in the past, largely because technology has made the transition easier.
A spokesperson for HSBC Expat, which carried out the survey, said that the findings were “extremely useful” as they would help the bank reach expats "via the best possible means no matter where they are in the world”.
When you are working or living abroad, or have plans of relocating into another country, it is very important that you protect you and your family’s health and their wellness.
Expatriates make sure you are covered for International Medical Insurance, April Medibroker assists & advises clients living or working abroad to both choose & place the right international Health and Medical insurance products, to suit their needs & budget.
April Medibroker is here to help you - from the initial advice on what expatriate health insurance policy to buy, through to any assistance that you may need in the future. Our staff are only a phone call or email away. Whether you need changes to cover or payment, need help with a claim or have questions about your international medical insurance policy we will gladly help.
While 52 per cent of participants said they used email twice a week or more to catch up with loved ones, 39 per cent said that they used Facebook the same amount, while 36 per cent relied chiefly on the voice and video calls platform Skype.
By contrast, only a small proportion said they used more traditional communication methods, such of the landline (14 per cent) or mobile phone (16 per cent) twice or more a week – perhaps, the compilers of the research pointed out, “because new technologies are cheaper to use”.
The most popular social media channel was Facebook, used by nearly seven in 10 respondents, with usage among expats often far higher than in the local population.
In the Middle East for example, 68 per cent of expats said they visited the site, compared to only eight per cent of local people, while in Latin America 72 per cent of expats used it, against 21 per cent of the local community.
Twitter and MySpace were "less widely used", attracting 14 and two per cent of respondents respectively, but two-fifths (40 per cent) said that they were members of the career networking site LinkedIn. In response to the survey, many expats said that the ability to keep up easily and cheaply with loved ones at home was one of the chief draws of social media, but that it was also useful in helping them settle into their new homes.
Commenting on the survey, a British expat in Paris, said: “Social media – by which I mean my blog, Twitter, Facebook etc – has given me a unique means of contacting other Brits/expats who are over here, leading to new friends and contacts.
"With Twitter, for example, the ability to choose people whose tweet topics are of relevance or interest can be invaluable for an expatriate. Whether you are looking for accomodation or tips about your adopted country, Twitter gives you instant and direct access to people in the know; people who are likely to be willing to help because they have actively put themselves out into the Twittersphere. The Facebook 'group' is a similar principle.”
Another expat, who runs a property agency in France, said that social media was also invaluable for the many expats who set up their own businesses abroad. He chiefly uses his Twitter account and a personal blog to reach out to customers and build up an online profile.
“I'm fortunate that my move has coincided with the social media explosion; it has allowed me to work from an office in my garden, with vineyards outside my door, yet position myself among major players in the marketplace and create trust in my brand,” he said. “My work entails finding houses for clients from all over the world, and without social media my marketing budget would be enormous, in fact unmanageable. “
The survey backs up research released last month by Skype, which found that 50 per cent of people are more willing to move abroad than they would have been in the past, largely because technology has made the transition easier.
A spokesperson for HSBC Expat, which carried out the survey, said that the findings were “extremely useful” as they would help the bank reach expats "via the best possible means no matter where they are in the world”.
When you are working or living abroad, or have plans of relocating into another country, it is very important that you protect you and your family’s health and their wellness.
Expatriates make sure you are covered for International Medical Insurance, April Medibroker assists & advises clients living or working abroad to both choose & place the right international Health and Medical insurance products, to suit their needs & budget.
April Medibroker is here to help you - from the initial advice on what expatriate health insurance policy to buy, through to any assistance that you may need in the future. Our staff are only a phone call or email away. Whether you need changes to cover or payment, need help with a claim or have questions about your international medical insurance policy we will gladly help.
Tuesday 6 December 2011
New study suggests expat wealth robust in face of global recession
Expat wealth has remained largely unaffected by the global economic downturn, a report has revealed
Even in countries where economical problems have been compounded by political unrest and natural disaster, such as Bahrain, Egypt and Japan, expat finances appear resilient. As a result, the majority of expats worldwide are opting to stay in their current postings rather than return home.
The findings, revealed in HSBC Expat's 2011 Expat Explorer survey, show that while expats may have little confidence in the strength of their adopted countries' economies, their earning levels, disposable inomes and ability to accumulate luxuries remain largely unchanged.
In fact, the study shows that expats living in Bahrain, Egypt and Japan are all living to a better standard than they were accustomed to in their mother country.
"More than half of expats in Bahrain have much higher disposable incomes than they did in their home country, as well as 58 per cent of expats in Egypt and 38 per cent of expats in Japan, compared with the global average of 35 per cent", said the report.
Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Singapore, Russia and Switzerland made up the top five most lucrative expat destinations, while Italy, New Zealand, Netherlands, France and Germany were considered the least prosperous.
Despite the general affluence enjoyed by expats worldwide, countries which provide the highest expat salaries and economic rewards don't necessarily provide the best quality of life for children and families.
According to the study, made up of surveys from 3,385 expatriates from over 100 countries around the world, the most lucrative expat destinations are often those where it is hardest for families to integrate and where childcare and healthcare are lowest.
The study's Raising Children Abroad league table judges countries on the three factors considered most important for expat parents: childcare, health and wellbeing and integration, with France, the Netherlands and Australia coming out on top.
A spokesperson at HSBC Expat said: "Expats with children will obviously be putting their children's needs at the forefront of their relocation decision. For many expat parents, the knowledge that their children will be able to easily integrate into their new community will outweigh any potential increase in earnings and saving potential when moving."
Expatriates make sure you are covered for International Medical Insurance, April Medibroker assists & advises clients living or working abroad to both choose & place the right international Health and Medical insurance products, to suit their needs & budget.
April Medibroker is here to help you - from the initial advice on what expatriate health insurance policy to buy, through to any assistance that you may need in the future. Our staff are only a phone call or email away. Whether you need changes to cover or payment, need help with a claim or have questions about your international medical insurance policy we will gladly help.
Even in countries where economical problems have been compounded by political unrest and natural disaster, such as Bahrain, Egypt and Japan, expat finances appear resilient. As a result, the majority of expats worldwide are opting to stay in their current postings rather than return home.
The findings, revealed in HSBC Expat's 2011 Expat Explorer survey, show that while expats may have little confidence in the strength of their adopted countries' economies, their earning levels, disposable inomes and ability to accumulate luxuries remain largely unchanged.
In fact, the study shows that expats living in Bahrain, Egypt and Japan are all living to a better standard than they were accustomed to in their mother country.
"More than half of expats in Bahrain have much higher disposable incomes than they did in their home country, as well as 58 per cent of expats in Egypt and 38 per cent of expats in Japan, compared with the global average of 35 per cent", said the report.
Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Singapore, Russia and Switzerland made up the top five most lucrative expat destinations, while Italy, New Zealand, Netherlands, France and Germany were considered the least prosperous.
Despite the general affluence enjoyed by expats worldwide, countries which provide the highest expat salaries and economic rewards don't necessarily provide the best quality of life for children and families.
According to the study, made up of surveys from 3,385 expatriates from over 100 countries around the world, the most lucrative expat destinations are often those where it is hardest for families to integrate and where childcare and healthcare are lowest.
The study's Raising Children Abroad league table judges countries on the three factors considered most important for expat parents: childcare, health and wellbeing and integration, with France, the Netherlands and Australia coming out on top.
A spokesperson at HSBC Expat said: "Expats with children will obviously be putting their children's needs at the forefront of their relocation decision. For many expat parents, the knowledge that their children will be able to easily integrate into their new community will outweigh any potential increase in earnings and saving potential when moving."
Expatriates make sure you are covered for International Medical Insurance, April Medibroker assists & advises clients living or working abroad to both choose & place the right international Health and Medical insurance products, to suit their needs & budget.
April Medibroker is here to help you - from the initial advice on what expatriate health insurance policy to buy, through to any assistance that you may need in the future. Our staff are only a phone call or email away. Whether you need changes to cover or payment, need help with a claim or have questions about your international medical insurance policy we will gladly help.
Monday 5 December 2011
How do you choose the right expat health insurance plan
When choosing your plan, it's important to know what to look for. Not all plans offer you the same amount of cover or cover the same conditions, and the amounts insurers will pay towards your treatment can vary widely.
Eight points to consider when choosing an international private health insurance plan.
1. Some medical costs can be high. So what’s the maximum amount you can claim on the plan as a whole? Or for a particular type of treatment?
2. Does the plan offer ‘paid in full’ or does it only cover a proportion of the cost for certain treatments?
3. Does the plan offer a wide range of cover for many healthcare issues? You never know what treatment you may need in the future
4. Can you choose (and pay for) only the cover you need, to help you manage costs while getting the best cover for you and your family?
5. Does the insurer have extensive experience in international medical insurance?
6. Does it have a good reputation, and is it properly regulated?
7. Does the plan offer you flexible payment terms?
8. Does it allow you to set a deductible (the amount that you pay towards any claim) that’s reasonable?
When you are working or living abroad, or have plans of relocating into another country, it is very important that you protect you and your family’s health and their wellness.
Expatriates make sure you are covered for International Medical Insurance, April Medibroker assists & advises clients living or working abroad to both choose & place the right international Health and Medical insurance products, to suit their needs & budget.
April Medibroker is here to help you - from the initial advice on what expatriate health insurance policy to buy, through to any assistance that you may need in the future. Our staff are only a phone call or email away. Whether you need changes to cover or payment, need help with a claim or have questions about your international medical insurance policy we will gladly help
Eight points to consider when choosing an international private health insurance plan.
1. Some medical costs can be high. So what’s the maximum amount you can claim on the plan as a whole? Or for a particular type of treatment?
2. Does the plan offer ‘paid in full’ or does it only cover a proportion of the cost for certain treatments?
3. Does the plan offer a wide range of cover for many healthcare issues? You never know what treatment you may need in the future
4. Can you choose (and pay for) only the cover you need, to help you manage costs while getting the best cover for you and your family?
5. Does the insurer have extensive experience in international medical insurance?
6. Does it have a good reputation, and is it properly regulated?
7. Does the plan offer you flexible payment terms?
8. Does it allow you to set a deductible (the amount that you pay towards any claim) that’s reasonable?
When you are working or living abroad, or have plans of relocating into another country, it is very important that you protect you and your family’s health and their wellness.
Expatriates make sure you are covered for International Medical Insurance, April Medibroker assists & advises clients living or working abroad to both choose & place the right international Health and Medical insurance products, to suit their needs & budget.
April Medibroker is here to help you - from the initial advice on what expatriate health insurance policy to buy, through to any assistance that you may need in the future. Our staff are only a phone call or email away. Whether you need changes to cover or payment, need help with a claim or have questions about your international medical insurance policy we will gladly help
Thursday 1 December 2011
Aviva teams with UAE insurer to provide private medical insurance for expats
Aviva’s UK health business has set up a new arrangement with Abu Dhabi based Emirates Insurance Company to provide expats based in the United Arab Emirates with compliant international private medical insurance solutions.
The development of a UAE network is the first in a series of enhancements that Aviva says it is giving its international private medical insurance customers.
The new arrangement means that Aviva customers based in the UAE will now be offered one of four bespoke international medical insurance products.
Benefits available through the Emirates’ International Solutions product have been designed to specifically meet the needs of the local area. The company says that this means that customers based in Abu Dhabi will no longer be required to purchase local insurance to satisfy visa requirements.
Consistent with local practice in the UAE, Aviva has also teamed up with Neuron, a specialist third party administrator based in Dubai. Neuron provides professional administration and management services to clients based in the Middle East.
The company has been specifically chosen for its extensive experience in the area and commitment to providing expert customer service. Neuron will manage all claims for Aviva customers receiving treatment in the UAE and work closely with a network of hospitals to arrange treatment and direct settlement of invoices.
The new Emirates’ International Solutions product range will be available from 01 March 2012. Full details of the products will be announced early next year. At renewal, existing Aviva customers based in the UAE will be invited to transfer to one of Aviva’s Emirate’s International Solutions policies.
When you are working or living abroad, or have plans of relocating into another country, it is very important that you protect you and your family’s health and their wellness.
Expatriates make sure you are covered for International Medical Insurance, April Medibroker assists & advises clients living or working abroad to both choose & place the right international Health and Medical insurance products, to suit their needs & budget.
April Medibroker is here to help you - from the initial advice on what expatriate health insurance policy to buy, through to any assistance that you may need in the future. Our staff are only a phone call or email away. Whether you need changes to cover or payment, need help with a claim or have questions about your international medical insurance policy we will gladly help.
The development of a UAE network is the first in a series of enhancements that Aviva says it is giving its international private medical insurance customers.
The new arrangement means that Aviva customers based in the UAE will now be offered one of four bespoke international medical insurance products.
Benefits available through the Emirates’ International Solutions product have been designed to specifically meet the needs of the local area. The company says that this means that customers based in Abu Dhabi will no longer be required to purchase local insurance to satisfy visa requirements.
Consistent with local practice in the UAE, Aviva has also teamed up with Neuron, a specialist third party administrator based in Dubai. Neuron provides professional administration and management services to clients based in the Middle East.
The company has been specifically chosen for its extensive experience in the area and commitment to providing expert customer service. Neuron will manage all claims for Aviva customers receiving treatment in the UAE and work closely with a network of hospitals to arrange treatment and direct settlement of invoices.
The new Emirates’ International Solutions product range will be available from 01 March 2012. Full details of the products will be announced early next year. At renewal, existing Aviva customers based in the UAE will be invited to transfer to one of Aviva’s Emirate’s International Solutions policies.
When you are working or living abroad, or have plans of relocating into another country, it is very important that you protect you and your family’s health and their wellness.
Expatriates make sure you are covered for International Medical Insurance, April Medibroker assists & advises clients living or working abroad to both choose & place the right international Health and Medical insurance products, to suit their needs & budget.
April Medibroker is here to help you - from the initial advice on what expatriate health insurance policy to buy, through to any assistance that you may need in the future. Our staff are only a phone call or email away. Whether you need changes to cover or payment, need help with a claim or have questions about your international medical insurance policy we will gladly help.
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