Expats need to plan ahead if they plan on starting a family, maternity insurance needs to be bought before you conceive.
If you’re an expat planning on having a baby you need to make sure you have enough insurance in place to cover the whole process. A good policy will cover prenatal care, complications, delivery and routine newborn care. If you a living in a country with public healthcare of a standard lower than you would like, maternity insurance will provide you with access to good quality, private care.
There are many expat health insurance programmes out there, but to find the one that suits you always read the small print. Most international health insurers include a maternity cover option, but all have a “waiting period” which means you must buy cover before you conceive. Read More →
Many beaches can causes infectious disease if they aren’t clean enough.
A factor inspiring many families moving abroad is the promise of great weather and an outdoor lifestyle. This is especially true of the many British families who move to Spain, Australia and Thailand. Recent research however, has shown that dangerous microbes inhabit the sand on many beaches.
The study, published in Environmental Science & Technology, found common sources of bacteria were cats, dogs and birds. Some of these microorganisms can cause gastrointestinal illnesses.
Many women are self-diagnosing online using "Dr Google", with 1 in 4 getting it wrong.
As an expat I am sure you are familiar with the struggle of finding healthcare abroad. The differences in language, cultural norms and even different names for your medication can make getting the right treatment difficult.
It’s not surprising that many people turn to the Internet to find an easy diagnosis before they reach out to a doctor. This has become such a phenomenon that it is now putting people’s health at risk, according to a new report issued this month.
Women who face unexplained health problems are twice as likely to check online before seeing a doctor. The study also revealed one in four British women has misdiagnosed themselves on the Internet. After diagnosing themselves online more than half of the 1,000 women surveyed would then buy a product to treat their illness.
Expats are at high risk of mental health issues – new research recommends meditation to relieve anxiety and depression.
Expatriates are at a higher risk of mental health problems and substance abuse issues than non-expats, according to recent research. As an expat settling into a new culture and way of life is daunting. It isn’t surprising many have reported suffering from anxiety, depression and other mental health issues. Throw a family into the mix and the stress levels can rise.
A study, published this month in the journal Emotion, showed people who underwent short, intensive meditation courses were less stressed, anxious or depressed. The study was comprised of 82 female school teachers aged between 25 and 60. After undergoing the course, blending ancient meditation techniques with modern scientific methods for emotion regulation the teachers were more compassionate and aware of other people’s feelings.
Children raised in bilingual households have an advantage over monolingual children in some skills. Image by milan6 (sxc.hu)
Babies have a critical period during which they attune themselves to their native language. According to scientists the timing of this period can be affected by environmental factors, such as, maternal depression and bilingual upbringing.
In the research, presented to the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), is some of the first to explore the effects of antidepressants and maternal mental health on language acquisition.
Women are protecting themselves less than men – 2012 should be the year women buy health insurance.
According to research, women are increasingly becoming the primary household earners in the UK and the Western world. Why aren’t more of them taking out life and health insurance to protect their families financially?
Scottish Provident, a leading insurance provider, took part in the Customer Impact Scheme 2011. The Customer Impact Scheme is an annual survey of around 34 financial service providers targeting 21,000 customers about their experiences. The results showed that men generally protect themselves with more insurance cover than women.
Pregnant women should make sure they are fully insured when travelling.
A recent news story told the cautionary tale of a Australian woman’s premature labour in Vancouver, Canada. She went into labour in the airport at 26 weeks and now faces a medical bill of over CAD$700,000.
The woman and her partner had taken out medical insurance and extra coverage for her pregnancy but did not realise the protection didn’t cover actual birth. The health authorities and the couple are looking at a compromise on how to repay the amount owed.
So what does this mean for pregnant travellers? What coverage should they take out to be safe?
Expat Family Health helps expatriates and their spouses to keep their family healthy abroad. We provide international health tips and advice on topics such as children’s nutrition, pregnancy and health regulations.
- Expat Health tips: Immunisations, nutrition, general health tips
- Health tips for women: Pregnancy, Children’s health (nutrition, vaccinations etc.)
- Adapting abroad: Cultural differences, psychological issues,
- Insurance News: Industry news, studies, new products