Markets are a great place for healthy bargains in the Middle East
Keeping your kids healthy nowadays can be a challenge. But what about expats raising a family in the Middle East? Depending on where you live, it can be even harder to eat well.
Diets in the Middle East, especially on the Arab peninsula where desert conditions largely preclude the growing of fresh vegetables, have historically been reliant on rice, bread, meat and fish. You might imagine that today, with the huge wealth and culture of importing goods that prevails – especially in the UAE and Qatar – that fresh fruit and vegetables are would be cheap and plentiful. After all, in Europe it’s possible to get bananas, kiwi fruit and strawberries all year round – and they’re not expensive.
Netherlands and Nordic countries come top in a child well-being study.
In a UNICEF survey, the Netherlands has been ranked as the best country for overall child well-being. The Netherlands was placed first in three out of the five categories studied.
The report looks at a total of five aspects of child well-being in 29 industrialized nations: material well-being, educational well-being, behaviour and risks, health and safety, and housing and environment.
Families have a lot to think about when it comes to choosing health insurance abroad.
Living abroad with your family, you’re likely to want comprehensive health insurance – having to pay astronomical bills after emergency treatment is simply not an option for most as this can wipe out years worth of savings in one go. Here we’ll tell you the five most important things to look out for when getting international health insurance.
1. If you need maternity cover, do your research
Most insurance plans will offer a routine maternity option – something well worth investing in if taking out your own policy and you or your partner plan on being abroad during pregnancy. This should cover all check-ups, scans and the delivery of your child. It’s likely to add a significant amount to your premium, but then it’s hardly an area to skimp on.
Germany has been rated the number one country for raising kids abroad.
The 2013 HSBC Expat Explorer survey is out, and Germany comes top as the best place to raise expat children. Out of the 24 countries in the Raising Children Abroad league table, Germany performed the best overall, meaning it isn’t just beating its European neighbours in the economy stakes.
The table looks at factors such as education, quality of healthcare, childcare options, and environment. For education, Germany is cost-effective without compromising on quality. Nearly a third (30%) of parents spend less on schooling since moving to Germany, and six in ten (58%) say the quality of education is better in Germany than in their home country.
Bupa announces improved maternity benefits on two of its popular plans.
Pacific Prime clients with Bupa International will be able to reap the benefits of changes to Bupa Worldwide Health Option and Premier Worldwide Health Option plans. The insurance provider is increasing the limits on maternity benefits for these two plans.
Specifically, the maternity benefit for the Worldwide Medical Insurance option has expanded its coverage and has increased to US$13,600 (€10,000). Previously, the benefit for childbirth and related hospital treatments was US$11,050 (€8,100). The limit for the maternity benefit on the Worldwide Medical Plus has also increased from US$3,400 (€2,500) to US$5,100 (€3,750).
Do you know what health checks you need to move to the USA?
When applying for an immigration visa or an Adjustment of Status for the USA, there are numerous requirements that must be fulfilled, including satisfying certain health criteria. A medical examination is carried out in order to determine whether your visa will be issued.
Medical examination
The examination screens for conditions outlined in U.S. immigration law. It is made up of a physical exam, review of medical history, a skin test for TB, a blood test to check for HIV and syphilis, and a chest X-ray.
You are also required to provide a vaccination history. A list of compulsory vaccinations can be found here. If for medical or religious reasons the applicant cannot receive one of the prescribed vaccinations then an exemption can be granted on the recommendation of the panel physician.
Expat parents need to know their rights when it comes to parental leave.
Parental leave is the name given to maternity, paternity and adoption leave. This can be paid or unpaid time-off from your job to take care of a child, or make arrangements for a child’s welfare.
The rules and provision for this type of leave vary from country to country. There are only four countries in the world where paid leave for new parents isn’t enshrined in national law: Papua New Guinea, Liberia, Swaziland, and the United States. In total, 163 countries offer women paid leave for the birth of a child.
British expats are happiest with their lives abroad in Canada.
A new survey from Globalvisas.com suggests British expats are happiest in Canada. The results are in contrast with expats in China, where less than half (44%) are happy with their lives.
“Cultural difference” was cited as the biggest cause of discontent among those living abroad, with a “better standard of living” being the biggest source of happiness for expats. Some 1,632 British expats aged 18 and over were questioned on how they feel about their decision to move abroad.
“China is an incredible and exciting place to live.”
For expats, especially families, health care can be a concern when they move abroad. Expat Family Health interviewed Dr. Amanda Barry, an Australian expat who lives in Beijing, about her experience of healthcare in China and what insurance she chose.
Amanda, tell us a bit about yourself.
My husband and I moved to China about six years ago. I was working at the Australian embassy as a cultural relations officer in Beijing. Then we had our first baby, in Beijing, in July this year. I guess we plan to live in Beijing, or probably in Asia, for the next few years with perhaps a longer term plan.
What do you like about living in China?
China is an incredible and exciting place to live, though sometimes it is a little bit exhausting. It will be interesting to see what is like living here with young children, that might make it a different experience I think.
Ophelia Dodds shares her experiences about childcare in the UK compared to the USA.
In the UK, childcare options were pretty much a no-brainer. Everyone I knew had a minimum of six months’ paid maternity leave and most took the additional six to make it a full year. Everyone went back to work, either part or full time and almost all put their kids into nursery. Some nurseries were better than others, but on the whole it was a choice between good childcare options.
So when I arrived in the U.S. I assumed that the options would be the same. Sadly, this is not the case. Some companies offer up to six weeks paid leave, but this is unusual. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) guarantees up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave for births or adoptions. However, this doesn’t cover those who work for smaller companies and only guarantees unpaid leave. Many American women have to use a combination of sick leave, vacation, personal days and unpaid family leave.