Being a necessary ingredient for the sustainable long-term development of societies and economies, healthcare plays a crucial role in improving the quality of life. Therefore, one of the first things you should consider as an expat when moving to a new country is the healthcare system and services the country offers.
There are many countries that offer universal healthcare to everyone, including expats, regardless of race, gender, or economic status. Here are the top six countries with the best healthcare for expats in 2023:
- Spain.
- Mexico.
- Thailand.
- Germany.
- Japan.
- France.
Spain
The Spanish healthcare system is funded by the government, and every legal resident has access to free health insurance coverage. This explains why there is a significant number of expats living in Spain. The country offers a universal healthcare system to all its residents; however, you might be required to pay extra costs in specific situations.
Expats residing in Spain can choose between a private Insurance Provider or National Healthcare System (Sistema Nacional de Salud SNS). However, to qualify for public insurance, expats living in Spain must meet a number of requirements
If you want medical coverage in private hospitals and clinics, you can opt for private health insurance. The private healthcare provider includes more services than the state healthcare system, such as dental care. The cost of private health insurance ranges from €100 to €200 per month, depending on your provider.
Read more on health insurance for expats in Spain.
Mexico
Mexico provides healthcare through government-run institutions, private hospitals and clinics, and private physicians. With the introduction of INSABI (Institute of Health for Well-being), Mexico offers free healthcare to its citizens and expats. However, you can always opt for private health insurance for a better quality of healthcare in private hospitals.
Doctors, nurses, and hospital staff in Mexico are professional, well-trained, and fluent in English. In addition, the medical staff receives training in English-speaking countries, so it is easier to communicate with foreign patients.
The country has made it mandatory that everyone (including expats) must be enrolled in a health insurance scheme. The main types of public health insurance in Mexico are the Instituto de Salud para el Bienestar (INSABI) and the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS), as well as the private insurance sector.
The IMSS is primarily intended for employees of Mexican companies. You can still participate in the program even if you are not employed but are an official resident of Mexico. However, you have to pay an amount of about $500 per year per person.
Read more on health insurance in Mexico for expats.
Thailand
Healthcare in Thailand is run by the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) and is one of the best in the world. The country started providing universal healthcare coverage to all Thai nationals in 2002 through three government schemes:
- The civil service welfare system for civil servants and their families.
- Social Security for private employees.
- The Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS).
There are more than 1000 hospitals in the public sector with a relatively high standard of care. The medical staff in Thai health facilities is well trained in the latest medical procedures and have access to modern and quality equipment. If you are admitted to the hospital, you will not have to pay anything extra because your contributions to social security will cover everything.
For a broader range of coverage, you can purchase private health insurance, which will allow you to receive medical treatment in any public or private hospital.
Read more on health insurance for expats in Thailand.
Germany
Germany has one of the oldest national social health insurance systems in the world, and the country has created a strong reputation as one of the best healthcare systems for expats. One of the best things about healthcare in Germany is the principle of solidarity, which makes it available for all people, regardless of their financial status, to receive the same medical treatment.
Since Germany is part of the European Healthcare Scheme (EHIC), anyone under public health insurance will have their medical needs covered in every member state of the EU. Public healthcare in Germany is also cheaper than in most countries, and it provides coverage for unemployed dependents. However, the cost of health insurance is determined by your income and employment status and whether you are paying for Public or Private health insurance.
Another advantage of the German healthcare system is that you can combine both public and private health insurance.
Read more about healthcare in Germany.
Japan
The life expectancy in Japan is very high thanks to the qualitative healthcare system the country has. The healthcare system in Japan is characterized by the high quality of care, low rates of medical mistakes, and access to specialists. Japan provides medical services through public hospitals or private hospitals and clinics.
For medical services in Japanese hospitals, patients are responsible for covering 30% of the cost, while the government is responsible for covering the rest of the cost (70%). However, although a certain amount of services must be covered out of pocket, the Japanese government has regulated the medical fees so that they are affordable for all residents of Japan. So, for example, depending on your family income and your age, you might be responsible for paying 10%, 20%, or 30% of medical fees, whereas the rest is covered by the government.
Health insurance in Japan is mandatory for everyone (expats included), and citizens are free to choose physicians or medical facilities of their choice. Japan has eight health insurance systems and around 3,500 health insurers.
France
The French healthcare system is financed by government national health insurance (NHI). It is part of the best universal healthcare for expats due to its world-class health facilities, medical services, and professionals. The French universal health coverage was implemented in the early 2000s allowing access to healthcare to anyone residing legally in the country.
As of 2016, the new healthcare system for expats known as Protection Universelle Maladie (PUMA) allows expats to apply for the healthcare system in the first three months of living in France. French healthcare will reimburse around 80% of hospital medical fees depending on your level of coverage. The price ranges from €10 a month to €100 for better coverage.
Health insurance is compulsory for every legal resident in France. State health insurance covers anywhere from 70% to 100% of costs for services such as doctor visits and hospital costs.
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