In a country where the system
works differently from home, insurance is vital to keep you protected.
Wherever you move, you will probably be required to insure your house
and car by law.
Health insurance is strongly recommended, even if
moving between European countries, as the care offered, and the cost,
differs from place to place.
Other forms of insurance, such as dental,
are also well worth having to avoid financial problems following an
incident.
Make copies of important documents, such as birth
certificates and previous insurance policies, as these may be required
by companies abroad.
Your
entitlement to care once you have become a resident is usually the same
as a natural citizen. Before you are resident, you risk facing large
medical bills.
Health Insurance
No matter
where you go, a good health insurance policy will give you peace of
mind and can give you more options over which doctors and specialists
you see.
This is particularly important if you wish to see an
English-speaking doctor in a country where another language is spoken.
Waiting times should also be significantly reduced. Look around for
policies before you move, and establish what is covered by them. Does
it include dental and eye treatment? Is repatriation of a body after
death covered?
Being under insured can cause major problems. Use a
reputable company to be sure that they will pay out when you need it.
If you have to pay cash before treatment, will your policy provide it,
or will you have to find the money, to be paid back later?
Finally,
check that there is no upper age limit on the policy - that it does not
run out at age 70 for example - as trying to get further insurance at
this age can be problematic.
Private and national health system differences
The
health system that you are used to in your home country could be
radically different abroad. The public health service in the UK
contrasts sharply with the American private insurance-based system, for
example.
Public healthcare is excellent in many countries. The most recent World
Health Organisation (WHO) survey in 2000 showed France as the best
provider of healthcare from 191 countries worldwide, with Italy second,
and Spain and Malta ranked in the top ten.
The USA, while spending over
$4,000 per capita on healthcare, was in 37th position, with the UK at
number 18.
To establish what is available publicly and what
will need to be treated privately, see the country specific pages on
this site.
The
Department of Health website,
for UK residents, offers advice on countries in the European Economic
Area (EEA) and where to find further information on your specific
country. It is aimed at travellers, but has good general facts.
Note
that if you become resident in your new country, you will not be
entitled to the same level of healthcare in your previous home country
when returning to visit.
If you are a pensioner who is permanently
resident in a European country and have lived continuously in an EU
country for at least ten years, you are entitled to the same health
care as a natural resident.
You will need to apply for a form E121 to
receive this, which effectively moves your healthcare from your home
country abroad. You are also entitled to this form if you are claiming
UK incapacity benefit.
If, as an EU resident, you decide to take early
retirement abroad, you will require form E106 to move your healthcare
to your new country. This is a temporary arrangement, normally lasting
up to two years.
What to do in case of medical emergencies
In
a non-English speaking country, some grasp of the language is very
useful in emergency situations. Even if this is all the language you
learn,
make sure you know the number to phone for an ambulance and how
to ask for help.
Local emergency service numbers are provided in the
'What to do in case of medical emergencies' section on the relevant
country page on this site.
You may have insurance with an
English-speaking company, in which case you should carry their phone
number with you at all times. Call them immediately in the event of an
incident or illness, and they should be able to arrange multilingual
medical care in your country.
As health systems and facilities vary
across the world, so too do the emergency procedures. In some
countries, you might have to be airlifted to a hospital elsewhere that
has adequate facilities.
You might also need to pay up front in cash.
With suitable insurance, a lot of this can be covered for you.
Ambulances
Similarly
to health systems, ambulances can be public or private and may take you
to different hospitals accordingly.
If you have been able to contact
your insurance company, they will give you guidance on the nearest
hospital with suitable facilities.
Make sure ambulances are included in
your health insurance, as the journey can be costly otherwise.You might
need to specify where you wish to be taken.
If you are unable to contact
your insurance company, or are not insured, take a public ambulance to
the nearest hospital, where possible.
Hospitals
These
vary between private facilities and general hospitals.
Available care
depends on where you go and whether or not you are insured. If you are,
read your policy carefully to see what is covered.
Do not assume
aftercare will be what you are used to at home, because some countries
have an expectation of family duty to look after sick people and do not
provide it in hospital.
Clinics
Private
clinics usually offer non-emergency treatment, for a price. The
advantages are short waiting times and a better degree of aftercare,
often with a better nurse-to-patient ratio.
Public health
centres and clinics deal with non-private medicine. While this is
cheaper, you may have to queue for longer and wait for appointments.
Find out where is the nearest clinic to your new home before you need
it, and go along to register as soon as you arrive. This will make matters speedier when you need a doctor.
Home - buildings and contents insurance
One
of the most important forms of insurance,
buildings insurance is
compulsory in many countries.
Making sure your property is fully
covered is vital; it is likely to be the biggest asset for you and your
heirs. Arrange for insurance cover to begin as soon as the property
becomes yours, as that is when your responsibility for it commences.
Make sure all eventualities are covered by the policy,
especially if you live in an area that has a high risk of natural
occurrences such as earthquakes or forest fires.
Check whether third
party cover is included, especially if you have anyone working in or on
the property.
Contents insurance is also an important consideration, to
cover your possessions in case of theft, fire or other events. Work out
what your items would cost to replace - you might be surprised at their
value.
It is a good idea to write a list of what you own, taking
photographs or videos where necessary. Store the list and photos
somewhere safe away from the property so that you have access to them
if everything else is ruined.
Protect valuable items, such as
jewellery and art, with specific extra cover in the policy. Some
policies cover items outside the home, but establish whether bikes or
sporting equipment are included, as you often have to pay extra for
them.
You can often combine buildings and contents insurance in one
policy, which will save hassle and possibly money. You may also opt for
accidental damage cover, which protects your possessions in case of
mishaps, such as spillages.
Consider insurance companies in your home
country or your new country. Look around for several quotes, as these
can vary widely.
Take into account the excess on any claims; even
though you may find a cheap premium, having to stump up a large amount
before receiving money on any claim could be costly.
Find out whether
your property is covered in transit to your new country, or if you need
further insurance for this.
Always read the policy carefully.
If you do not understand the language, have it professionally
translated, or get it checked by a lawyer.
Car insurance
Your
car, whether brought with you or purchased abroad, will need to be
insured to at least the minimum requirements of that country.
You must
have a valid licence for the kind of vehicle you are driving and
conform to the local traffic regulations. For example, it is
compulsory
to carry two reflective warning triangles in your car in Spain and you can be fined for not doing so, while in
France radar speed trap detectors are illegal and are being clamped
down on by police. See the individual country pages on this site for
more information.
The
UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office website
also has information on many countries and the rules of the road. It is
aimed at travellers, but is also applicable to residents.
International
vehicle insurance is available to cover your car and may be arranged
with an English-speaking company in your home country.
However,
check local laws, as some countries insist you arrange insurance with a
company in your new country. To not do so could be illegal and cause
problems in case of an accident. Find out before you go and make sure
you are covered as soon as you start driving. Your policy should
include at least:
- third party, fire and theft
- accidental damage
- windscreen replacement
- audio equipment cover.
If
insuring your vehicle abroad, you might need to prove your insurance
record over the last few years, so take any such paperwork with you.
Once insured, your insurance company should give you a green card, an
internationally-recognised document showing that you have insurance.
Note, however, that it is not insurance in its own right and you may
have to produce further documentation in the event of an accident.
Keep
your insurance company's insurance details with your vehicle, along
with a pen and some paper. If you are involved in an accident:
- do not admit liability
- check for injuries
- check for vehicle damage
- note the details of other drivers involved, including insurance company and registration number
- write down witness contact details, if applicable
- take down the police numbers of any officers that attend
- photograph the scene if you have a camera available
- do not sign anything, especially if you do not understand it.
Report
the accident to police within the time limits set by local laws.
Contact your insurance company as soon as possible after the incident
and have any police claim number handy.
Travel insurance
When
leaving your new country for a holiday or to return home to visit
friends and relatives, travel insurance is recommended.
This is
particularly necessary if you will be taking part in dangerous
activities, such as skiing - make sure such activities are covered by
your policy. Thinking "It'll never happen to me" has been an expensive
mistake for many in the past.
An EHIC card is recognised by European
Economic Area (EEA) countries as entitlement to health care under EEA
guidelines for non-residents.
However, it does not cover all costs, and if you should
require repatriation by air ambulance or similar, it could cost you a
lot of money if uninsured.
Travel
insurance is widely available and is inexpensive, so shop around for
the best deal. Single trip insurance is cheapest if you intend to only
go abroad once in a 12 month period, while multi-trip deals are better
if you will be travelling more frequently within that time frame.
Your
insurance should cover your baggage (check the limitations and arrange
for extra insurance for valuable items or sporting equipment), personal
injury and health care. Look for policies which cover you for delays to
flights and other transport, too.
Remember that your
entitlements to health services in your home country will be the same
as any other non-resident once you have moved abroad. Travel insurance
may be necessary to cover any medical costs incurred during a return
trip.