40% of expats move abroad for better work-life balance

Aeroplane

Four in 10 (40%) expatriate respondents cite a better work-life balance as the main driver for moving abroad, according to research by Axa PPP International.

The survey of 502 expatriates also found that 83% of respondents are worried about finding a good doctor in their new country of residence.

The research also found:

  • Less than half (42%) of respondents organise healthcare for when they arrive in their new home.
  • 19% of respondents believe they can cover healthcare costs with travel insurance alone.
  • 88% of expat-to-be respondents think they will have a healthier lifestyle abroad.
  • 50% of expat-to-be respondents believe that better weather will bring about the biggest health benefits.

Tom Wilkinson, managing director at Axa PPP International, said: “It is important for employers to understand that they too need to support their employees and, by offering them a healthcare package that takes care of all their needs, they can alleviate some of the stresses of moving.

“Employees might not need medical care for weeks or even months but, when they do, businesses will be glad of the reassurance that both routine treatment costs and complex procedures can be covered. So it’s best to identify the business and employee needs and match this with a healthcare package that all parties are happy with. This can take the pressure off financially by allowing businesses to budget for employee healthcare costs on a monthly or annual basis.”