Expats (short for expatriates) from Brazil, New Zealand, Ireland and the USA have long complained that they have to put up with expensive and poor quality health care in their homeland.
Meanwhile, almost two-thirds say they enjoy a higher quality of healthcare in Taiwan than they did at home, against a global average of less than four in 10 who are satisfied with the healthcare they receive at home.
Nearly seven in 10 expats in Taiwan say they spend less on healthcare now than they used to before moving. The island of Taiwan offers the cheapest and best medical facilities of any country in the world, according to a new survey. A list produced by HSBC showing affordable and cheap countries in terms of care named the UK, Thailand, Japan and Saudi Arabia as runners up to Taiwan.
In April and May 2014 an online questionnaire was distributed and completed by more than by 9,000 expats from over 100 countries. These newly collected statistics form part of HSBC’s latest Expat Explorer survey.
Survey Results
Highly regarded by health care tourists around the world, the Taiwanese healthcare system has simple rules and provisions for expats to be granted health insurance, which further sets it apart from the pack according to this year’s survey results.
For example, upon relocation, all expats and their employers are required to register with the National Health Insurance system, which grants them access to medical and dental care.
“Contrary to how many expats feel about the paperwork involved with getting enrolled onto local health care systems, nearly seven in 10 expats in Taiwan agree that organising health insurance is relatively easy compared to a global average of 55 per cent who said the same.” according to the survey report.
The population of the island of Taiwan is around 23 million. Around 120,000 British nationals travel to Taiwan annually and about 3,000 Britons live and work there, according to the Foreign and Commonwealth office.
“As is to be expected of a nation as developed as Taiwan, health care facilities and medical equipment are of outstanding quality. Since 1995, Taiwan has had a socialised health care plan, the National Health Insurance (NHI) which covers nearly all citizens.” noted by the FCO in its guide to the country.
Aptly named, Enclothed Cognition is the official Medelita blog for medical professionals interested in topics relevant to a discerning and inquisitive audience. Medelita was founded by a licensed clinician who felt strongly about the connection between focus, poise and appearance.
