Whether you're looking to move overseas to advance your career, live with your family, or retire, getting access to quality healthcare is one of the most important things you'll need to consider. This makes choosing the country with the best healthcare for expats absolutely necessary when making your plans to move abroad.
To help you make this crucial decision, this Pacific Prime blog will take you through the top 5 countries with the best healthcare for expats in 2020.
5. Mexico
Mexico's healthcare system is great for expats for one simple reason - medical practitioners are well trained, diligent, and are able to speak English fluently. Most healthcare providers in Mexico receive at least part of their healthcare training in English-speaking countries like the US and Canada. For expats, there's nothing worse than visiting a doctor and not understanding what they are saying to you. If you're living in Mexico, this won't be a problem.
Mexico's healthcare system - what expats need to know
Like many other countries, Mexico has a strong public healthcare system as well as a luxurious private healthcare sector.
Public hospitalsPublic hospitals in Mexico offer exceptional healthcare services when compared to public hospitals in other developing countries. However, the quality of their services and facilities still fall short when compared to the private healthcare services that the country has to offer.
Private hospitalsMost expats prefer private hospitals in Mexico as many of them are catered to attract medical tourists, mostly from the US. With this, they offer some of the best facilities, English-speaking staff, and healthcare services in the world. Some of the best private hospitals in the country include:
Keep in mind that the top private hospitals in Mexico are accompanied by expensive medical bills. With this, we'd also recommend expats to secure expat medical insurance while staying in the country.
4. Thailand
Thailand's healthcare and wellness tourism industry has been booming in recent years, and for good reason. The country offers a harmonious mix of the best modern hospitals and traditional wellness centers to keep you healthy physically, psychologically, and spiritually.
When compared to other countries that provide world-standard healthcare services, Thailand's private hospitals are much cheaper. The booming healthcare tourism industry has also led many hospitals to cater their services to expats from many different countries.
For instance, Bumrungrad International Hospital is extremely popular with western expats but also specializes in offering services to patients from wealthy Middle-East countries like Qatar, Dubai, and Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, the award-winning Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital gear their services for expats in the down-town Sukhumvit area while also specializing in offering healthcare services to Japanese patients.
3. Dubai
Dubai's healthcare system is a match for the needs of expats because of the sheer healthcare options available. As mentioned, expats generally prefer private healthcare thanks to their shorter queues, better facilities, and English-speaking staff. In Dubai, private hospitals outnumber their state-owned counterparts by a huge margin.
By the end of this year, the total number of private hospitals in Dubai will reach 38, compared to only 26 private hospitals 3 years ago. Additionally, there are over 1,300 medical clinics in the country, most of which are also privately owned. Dubai's rapid advancement in the medical sector has made it an ideal location for expats looking to live in the Emirates.
Apart from the wide availability of private healthcare, Dubai is also at the cutting edge of innovative medical technology. From automated reminders for patients to take medicines to online health assessments and diagnoses, you'll most likely benefit from the latest healthcare innovations in Dubai.
2. China
China's healthcare system has come a long way in the past decade. Private hospitals have sprung up in major cities like Shanghai and Beijing, and as the expat population in these cities continue to grow, so do the international healthcare centers.
In the upcoming years, the prospects of China's healthcare sector are extremely promising. The country has invested heavily in developing more public healthcare facilities to accommodate the nation's growing middle-class. On the international front, China is approving the entry of foreign drugs to its market at a faster rate than ever before while also managing to keep prices low. Finally, the country is witnessing a boom in the biotech and start-up space, with new healthcare innovations emerging over the horizon.
For expats, this means better hospitals, access to drugs from home (at an even cheaper price!), and improved healthcare services from medical innovations.
1. Singapore
No matter which medical publication you're reading, you'll find Singapore near the top of every ranking list for the best healthcare system in the world. The Lion City's public healthcare system is extremely strong and far better than any other country in the region.
Singapore's private hospitals also excel in delivering the most high-quality healthcare services to clients from around the globe. Getting hospitalized at any of the best hospitals in the city can make you feel like you're staying at a luxury resort. These hospitals have earned the nickname "5-star hospitals." They include:
However, the growth of these hospitals come at a cost. Singapore's improved healthcare services are reflected in the growing cost of healthcare which the country faces. Farrer Park Hospital, for instance, charges up to SGD $790 a night for its iconic Deluxe Suite. But even if you're not opting for these premium hospitals, the cost of healthcare for the entire country is also rising. Last year, the country's healthcare cost inflation surged as high as 10%.
No matter which country you're planning to move to, medical expenses can be extremely costly. For this reason, we'd recommend any expat planning to live abroad to get global health insurance.
But finding the right insurance plan for your budget and medical needs in a foreign country can be a big challenge. That's why you should consult an insurance broker like Pacific Prime. We are an international broker with offices located in all five countries mentioned above. If you'd like to learn more about international health insurance, feel free to contact our team of experts or visit our website for a no-obligation, free quote today!