Are you about to start a new life abroad? It means you are already working things out, mapping out important details before D-day. But did you think of getting a health check-up done? Unfortunately, prospective expats tend to neglect this aspect of their move amid administrative paperwork.
Whether you are traveling for business or personal reasons, a health check-up is always a good initiative. On arrival, you may be asked if your vaccines are up to date, and, in some cases, overseas employers demand a medical certificate of fitness delivered by an occupational physician.
How useful is a medical certificate of fitness?
Having your medical certificate of fitness in hand can smooth things out on arrival. You can relax knowing your health information is up to date because it makes things easier if you need any healthcare assistance during your first weeks or months in the host country. Try to gather information on your host country's healthcare system before leaving. Figure out how medical assistance works there; you might need it sooner than you think.
In some countries like the US or Switzerland, healthcare can be very expensive compared to other destinations. Healthcare services are mainly covered and reimbursed by government-funded agencies, like in France, for example. Moreover, you may need to subscribe to international health insurance in some cases. It might be interesting to check if medical fitness tests are refunded by your actual health insurance.
What medical tests are required for expats?
First, you will be asked to perform a blood count test, urine test and to get examined by a general practitioner (height, weight, blood pressure, etc.) The next steps are an eye check-up, an electrocardiogram, a dental exam, etc.
It is essential to be up to date with your vaccines and/or to proceed to any necessary booster. Sometimes, a lung x-ray (for smokers) or a cardiovascular screening (for seniors) will be necessary. Afterwards, you will be given a medical certificate confirming that you are fit to travel and live abroad. A gynecologic exam for women is advised before any medium or long-term stay abroad.
If your future employer requests a medical fitness test and they are providing a list of the different health checks to be done, these will depend on the job or the country of destination. The cost of these health checks is usually covered by your employer. If you are traveling with your family, a medical fitness certificate for each family member can be required.
Where and how to get your health check-up done before traveling
Britons are covered by the National Health Service (NHS). Thus, the health check-up is free of charge for anyone aged between 40 to 72 years. You may visit any nearby NHS center. However, as an expat, you are only provided with the basics tests, which might be insufficient. They only consist of a blood test, blood pressure check, height, weight, and an interview about your family health history. Be sure to consult an NHS general physician for further investigations like dental or ophthalmologic tests, etc. You can also choose a package from a private healthcare institute like Health Screening Clinic, London Harley Street Practice, London Doctors Clinic, or the Circle Health Group.
If you are moving abroad for professional reasons, your employer will guide you towards a registered organization to get all the required medical tests done. In this case, all the cost of the medical check-up is taken take of by your employer.
In France, if the medical check-up is not covered by your employer, you can contact a health insurance fund, like CPAM. This is a public health organization with 85 centres all across the country. The Examen de Prévention en Santé (EPS) is a preventive health exam recommended alongside a general physician's inspection. For French citizens, therefore, all the medical tests are free of charge except for specific investigations, which can be settled with a “ticket modérateur”. Thanks to this system, French nationals pay only a residual sum (the major part being covered by “La Caisse de sécurité social”, a government fund). You can also choose to perform your tests in specialized private centers offering health packages like Elsan, Concilio, or Paris Prévention. Be patient, as the medical check-up can take half a day or even more if you have to undergo specific health tests. Consider getting a quote online before getting your medical check-up done.
Other European countries, such as Italy or Spain, also fund medical check-ups. The Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (SSN) of Italy works like France CPAM. It covers your complete check-up at a general physician's office. Your visits are partly reimbursed by the SSN or fully covered if you are a person at risk.
Private organizations (Humanitas, CDI, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, etc.) or public hospitals are other options. If your employer requests the medical fitness certificate, you will likely be guided towards a chartered center offering various health packages. If a private organization seems more appropriate to you, having full health insurance coverage (assicurazione sanitaria) can be helpful.
In Spain, the Systema National de Salud (SNS) ensures free healthcare services for holders of the Carte Européenne d'Assurance Maladie (CEAM, which is valid across Europe) and registered foreign residents. You can obtain the CEAM by visiting a general physician from a centro de salud, a healthcare center near you. If you are the beneficiary of individual or employer-sponsored private health insurance, you can access a full medical check-up package in any hospital or chartered private healthcare center, like in France or Spain (Quiron Salud, Clinica Universitad de Navarra, Clinica LifeLength, etc.)
Why is health insurance essential for expats?
Subscribing to health insurance might be unnecessary in some countries but essential in others. Asian countries, the US and Switzerland, for instance, provide very expensive healthcare services. Therefore, choosing an insurance plan is best, depending on your situation, that is, health state, job, family, destination, etc.
French citizens have two options. First, they can register with the Caisse des Français de l'Etranger (CFE), a health insurance for French expats that partly refunds medical services operating similarly to the French Social Security system. If you are looking for full refunds of medical services, you may subscribe to complementary health insurance for full coverage. In this way, French nationals keep contributing to their national pensions in France while they live overseas. An expat health insurance is also interesting. Known as the “1st euro insurance”, it guarantees a complete refund from the first euro spent abroad, without obligation to be part of the CFE.
Nationals of other European countries, such as Italy, can opt for health insurance providers like Unisalute, Allianz, or Generali that offer 100% health care coverage. In addition, a broker can help you set up a personal health insurance policy that fits your health situation, your medical needs and your country of destination. Finally, if you are already insured, consider updating your policy accordingly.
