Health care encompasses the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and ongoing management of people’s physical and mental wellbeing. This field covers activities performed in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, midwifery nursing optometry audiology as well as other allied health professions.
Healthcare systems differ depending on which country one lives in. Some have single-payer systems where all medical services are covered by government, while other countries rely on private insurance or use both options to cover their healthcare.
Expatriation
Expatriates are people living abroad for various reasons – be they business travelers, students or retirees. No matter their purpose of moving abroad, all expatriates experience some degree of culture shock when moving countries.
Many of these people require access to high-quality health care. Even if they have state health insurance coverage, it may not cover all their expenses in their new location.
Numerous expatriates opt for private health insurance plans as a supplement to state coverage in order to minimize out-of-pocket expenses and facilitate more efficient healthcare access.
Studies have demonstrated that poor knowledge about health insurance benefits is linked with decreased access to health care in various countries. Other factors can also impede an expatriate’s ability to gain access to this care, including income levels, education levels and job characteristics.
Choosing a Health Insurance Plan
Selecting a health insurance plan is one of the most crucial choices you’ll make. It has an impactful effect on medical costs, coverage options and access to specialists and physicians.
Understanding your current health care needs, desired type of care and budget is essential when choosing a health plan that’s best suited to you. For example, if you plan to see multiple doctors frequently or purchase numerous prescriptions at once, selecting a higher premium but lower deductible plan could save money over time.
Selecting a health insurance plan can be an involved and complex process, which is why it is highly advised that you seek advice from an expert – either the HR department at your place of employment, or an insurance agent or broker who can guide your through this decision making process.
Choosing a Doctor
Selecting a physician is an integral component of healthcare. Your relationship may last years or change over time depending on your needs, making it critical that you find someone you trust and feel at ease with.
As your search begins, consider which characteristics matter most to you: gender, location, office hours and medical specialization are all options to keep an eye out for when selecting a physician.
Wantuck says board certification helps to ensure your doctor has been trained to diagnose and treat specific conditions.
Cost of care is one of the primary determining factors when it comes to accessing health services, according to a West Health and Gallup poll that reported three in 10 Americans were forgoing needed healthcare due to high out-of-pocket expenses.
Social determinants of health must also be taken into account, which include factors like geography, income, transportation and race. Beyond accessing care services they also impact quality of care and outcomes.
