In practice, expatriates are no longer covered by their home country's health system but by that of their host country. What does this mean in terms of healthcare? Are they obliged to consult a doctor in the host country, or can they still be monitored by their doctor remotely? How to choose wisely?
Should I see my doctor before relocating abroad?
Not only is it advisable to consult your doctor before moving abroad, but you should also inform them about your plans to move abroad well in advance so that you can discuss and prepare your medical follow-up.
Prospective expats who enjoy good health rarely consider having a full medical check-up before moving. However, it is recommended to prevent any possible pathology and suggest appropriate treatment if necessary. The health check-up also serves to verify your family history or assess your plans to move abroad in light of your health.
A check-up should be scheduled before departure, both for yourself and your family if they are accompanying you. A complete check-up includes a dental and eye examination. You should also consider getting a gynecological check-up and reviewing and updating your vaccination record if necessary.
Foreign professionals moving abroad with an expat package will certainly benefit from a health check-up covered by the company. The company must ensure that the prospective employee is fit to work. Independent travelers should check whether their health insurance covers the full medical check-up. For example, while French health insurance covers the cost of a medical check-up, any additional examinations resulting from the medical check-up will be billed at the current standard rate (in France, 70% of the standard rate for healthcare provided by the general practitioner).
Should I choose a doctor from my home country or host country?
Is seeing a doctor in the host country compulsory, or can you follow medical treatment with a doctor from your home country remotely? The health crisis justifies and has accelerated the use of telemedicine. During lockdowns, when hospitals got overcrowded, teleconsultations enabled doctors to save time on certain follow-ups and avoid unnecessary patient travel.
Teleconsultation is quite beneficial for expats, for example, if there is a shortage of doctors in your locality, it is difficult to access health care, or if you cannot communicate in the host country's language to explain what you are suffering from. Expatriates often prefer to follow up with medical practitioners they are already familiar with.
Teleconsultation: Things you need to consider
Keep in mind that there is no guarantee that your regular GP will provide follow-up care remotely. If they practice teleconsultation, you can use the last medical appointment before moving abroad to request remote monitoring, but it's up to the doctor to accept or refuse. Teleconsultation raises other issues. The time difference may compromise their availability for a teleconsultation. Doctors may use this new tool more or less frequently. Many doctors use it as a backup but prefer face-to-face meetings, even for routine check-ups or prescription renewals. Doctors may feel that a consultation with a colleague in the host country is better than teleconsultation. They can provide recommendations if they have contacts in the patient's host country.
Numerous businesses have joined the medical teleconsultation industry. They offer to connect expatriates (or any other patients) with a doctor in their home country. They may be set up by multidisciplinary teams combining doctors, sales, marketing and IT teams. These start-ups have even developed applications to make it easier to book appointments, even from overseas.
What is covered during medical teleconsultation?
Health insurance beneficiaries are covered when they consult or teleconsult a doctor. But what coverage is provided to expats who are no longer covered by their home country's health insurance scheme? There are two options. Foreign professionals who are transferred overseas continue to be affiliated with their country's social security system. Their teleconsultations will, therefore, be covered by their health insurance, provided that they have taken all the necessary steps beforehand. Coverage also depends on the country of secondment.
Foreign nationals on expatriation contracts must be affiliated with the social security system of their host country. However, this system is unlikely to cover teleconsultations with a practitioner from abroad. So it's best that you consider getting medical coverage in the host country. In fact, it is highly recommended to expats to subscribe for additional health insurance, especially if they have a medical condition requiring extensive medical care or regular monitoring. Health insurance for expatriates guarantees a more comprehensive refund, including for teleconsultations, depending on the individual's situation. But, of course, this comes with a cost.
Expat healthcare: Extra tips
Before relocating overseas, it's a good idea to learn more about your new country's health system, especially if you'll need regular check-ups. Expatriates wishing to be monitored in their host country but by a doctor who speaks their language should contact their embassy for further information.
The choice between seeing a doctor in the host country or a doctor from the home country depends on personal circumstances. Both systems have their own set of benefits, but having a local doctor is simpler. It's also a way of integrating into your new environment and discovering other aspects of local life. However, you might not always have access to a doctor due to the shortage of doctors in many countries. Those in practice are often too busy to accept new patients. Teleconsultation provides a partial solution, but it does not replace a face-to-face consultation.
Useful links:
US: choosing a doctor – quick tips
