The Growing Need for Global Health Coverage for Expats

In a world where career and lifestyle opportunities increasingly transcend borders, more professionals and families are choosing to live and work abroad. According to Finaccord, there were around 66.2 million expatriates in 2017, growing at nearly 6% annually. Broader data from the United Nations suggests that as of 2024, there are over 300 million people living outside their birth country, accounting for 3.6% of the global population.

Behind these figures is a booming market: the expatriate health insurance industry—valued between USD 17 billion and USD 25 billion in 2024—is projected to reach USD 65–75 billion by 2035. This growth is driven by international mobility, rising healthcare costs, and the increasing importance of health security abroad.

In this iPMI Global Expatriate Life article, we focus on the growing strategic importance of Western-style international hospitals for the highly mobile populations of expatriates and global travelers. It argues that these facilities, characterized by evidence-based protocols, internationally credentialed staff, and transparent administration, are crucial for mitigating clinical and non-clinical risks abroad. For insurers and global employers, a network of such hospitals provides continuity of care, facilitates claims adjudication, and ensures brand assurance, especially given the rising average and extreme costs of overseas medical claims. The text concludes that as international mobility and the related medical tourism market continue to grow, the seamless integration of these high-standard hospitals, insurance products, and mobility services is essential for managing global health risk.

AXA Global Healthcare’s new Mind Health Report reveals a notable generational divide in how expats experience and manage their mental wellbeing. The fifth edition of the report shows that while older expats lean on their resilience and life experience, younger expats are more open about the challenges they face. It also highlights how younger generations are driving the adoption of AI and digital mind health tools, even though many report being adversely affected by excessive use of social media.

In this iPMI Global Expatriate Life article, Virginie Faucon, relocation expert at AXA Global Healthcare talks about smart workplace benefits and how they can benefit expatriates. 

April’s Stress Awareness Month is a timely reminder that the well being of globally mobile employees is more than just a tick-box exercise – it’s a business essential. For expats adjusting to life overseas, the stresses and emotional burden of relocating can be subtle, slow-burning and all too easily overlooked. 

They’re the globally mobile professionals that work around the world in the offices of some of the largest companies – and around half are lonely. 

New research by health benefits provider Cigna Healthcare’s International Health business found that nearly half (48%), of globally mobile workers are lonely - lacking companionship in their new city or country. 

In this iPMI Global Expatriate Life article we look at a proposed "gold card" visa program from President Trump. This initiative aims to replace the existing EB-5 investor visa with a $5 million residency permit that offers a path to U.S. citizenship. The EB-5 program, which requires a $1 million investment and job creation, has been criticized for fraud and being under priced. 

In this iPMI Global Expatriate Life In Focus article, we explore and analyse the Aon 2024 International People Mobility Survey Report.

The Aon 2024 International People Mobility Survey Report explores evolving trends and challenges in global mobility. It highlights the resurgence of business travel, influenced by factors like inflation, talent shortages, and political unrest. The report analyses key aspects of global mobility, including business travel, long-term assignments, and remote work. It examines how companies are adapting policies to address diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) concerns. Compliance, cost containment, and employee well being are identified as major concerns for organizations navigating international assignments and remote work arrangements. The study provides insights into regional variations, industry-specific trends, and recommendations for optimizing global mobility strategies.

A survey of 1,504 expatriate workers in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates has highlighted contrasting views on workplace benefits.

While 84% of those surveyed cited the benefits offered by their employer as playing a role in their decision to move to the Gulf, there is widespread dissatisfaction with the region’s End of Service Gratuity (EoSG) system. These one-off severance payments, a common practice in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, are deemed insufficient for meeting retirement needs by 60% of respondents.

Singapore breaks away from the peloton of six countries that shared the top spot on the Henley Passport Index as we entered the new year, reclaiming its title as the world’s most powerful passport in the latest ranking published today. The city-state also sets a new record score, with its citizens now enjoying access to 195 travel destinations out of 227 around the world visa-free.

4 in 5 (80%) non-native employees are experiencing negative mental health symptoms as a direct result of their working environment. Worrying findings from the fourth non-native Mind Health Report produced by leading international health insurance provider, AXA - Global Healthcare, show that workplace wellbeing has continued to decline for non-native employees.