It is possible to take out private medical insurance (PMI) in Scotland to overcome the main disadvantages of the NHS. A PMI is a complementary insurance that often works in conjunction with the NHS, and it is a classic private health insurance which is valid throughout the UK. Some insurance companies may include the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

Having a PMI makes it possible to consult a private medical specialist and to access tests or treatment very quickly in the private sector, therefore avoiding the long waiting periods in the public sector (although you still need to be referred by a GP first). A PMI also allows you to be hospitalised in private facilities where the stay will be more comfortable.

This type of insurance, which is often cheaper than expat health insurance, may be suitable for those who are generally satisfied with the NHS but wish to avoid its more major inconveniences, while agreeing to receive treatment only in the United Kingdom.

Many UK companies provide PMI-type health insurance to their employees. However for many expats in Scotland, local health insurance does not always meet their needs:

• This type of health insurance does not cover consultations of private GPs, maternity, dental and optical.
• In order to consult a private medical specialist (including a paediatrician or a gynaecologist), you must first go through a GP.
• Dental and optical costs are not covered. These options can be added separately but reimbursement limits are low.
• The monitoring of chronic conditions is not covered (an exception is often made for cancer).
• This type of insurance only covers you in the UK.
• You may only consult specialist physicians who are members of your insurance company’s network. Therefore, as an expat, if you wish to consult a doctor of your nationality practicing in Scotland, it may be that they are not approved by your insurer and therefore not covered by your policy.

Although more expensive than local private health insurance, international health insurance in Scotland is generally the most suitable option for an expat lifestyle. It is not geographically restricted to the UK and you can choose to be covered anywhere in the world (within the coverage area of your insurance policy), unlike local health insurance.

• Consultations with private GPs are supported.
• Maternity, dental care and optical costs may be included.
• You can consult a specialist (paediatrician or gynaecologist etc.) without having to be referred by your NHS or private general practitioner.
• Chronic conditions or potentially recurring illnesses are much better covered than with UK PMI policies, and can even be completely covered.

Please note that although IPMI policies offer maternity cover, there are not private maternity facilities in Scotland. Therefore, if you wish to give birth in a private hospital you would need to travel to a different part of the UK, or abroad.

The best health insurance in Scotland for one expat might not be the best for you, as everyone has different needs and expectations.

In order to find which is the best health insurance in Scotland for you, it is important to consider several aspects such as your medical history, age, specific needs in terms of medical cover, situation in Scotland, alongside other parameters.

NHS care is free, but below is an overview of the private sector’s medical costs.

Consultation with a general practitioner: prices range depending on the duration, from £100 for a 15-minute consultation, up to £300 for a one-hour consultation.

Consultation with a specialist: cost can range from £100 to £250.

Vaccinations

No specific vaccination is required to enter Scotland, but it is recommended to have an up-to-date vaccination schedule.

Emergency numbers

999 – Medical emergencies (ambulance, police, fire brigade and coastguard)

111 – Medical emergencies less urgent than 999 (24-hour service, call if your situation is not an emergency but you need medical help)

101 – Police (non-emergency)

Useful links

• NHS Scotland
• List of NHS hospitals in Scotland
• NHS 111 website

If you have residency status in Switzerland, you must take out basic health insurance issued by a health insurance company and supervised by the KVG. You can also take out international health insurance so that you can be covered in your country of origin as well as other countries.

An international health insurance in Switzerland allows you to be treated in the hospital and with the doctor of your choice, not only in Switzerland but also abroad (within the zone of cover of your insurance policy). Moreover, if after Switzerland you settle in another country, your expatriate health insurance may be able follow you.

It is important to note that an international health insurance will not exempt you from subscribing to the KVG if it is obligatory for you. The private insurance policy will simply cover you on top of the KVG.

The best health insurance in Switzerland for one expat might not be the best for you, as everyone has different needs and expectations.

In order to find which one is the best health insurance in Switzerland for you, it is important to consider several aspects such as your medical history, your age, your specific needs in terms of medical cover, your situation in Switzerland, alongside other parameters.

Medical costs in Switzerland are extremely high compared to certain other European countries, to the point where a certain number of Swiss people avoid going to the doctor, or choose to go to France for their treatment, especially in the case of dental care.

If you are affiliated with LAMal, you must pay for your consultations out-of-pocket up to a certain amount before receiving basic health insurance coverage. This deductible is at least 300 Swiss francs (£230/$300) per year, but the amount may be higher depending on the insurance chosen (maximum 2,500 Swiss francs or £1,900/$2,500). Only maternity and children’s healthcare are not subject to a deductible.

From the moment the medical bills during the year exceed the amount of the deductible, the health insurance covers the following expenses, of which you must still contribute 10%. This share is limited to 700 Swiss francs (£535/$700) per year or 350 francs (£270/$350) per year and per child. In the case of a hospital stay, adults must contribute 15 francs (£11/$15) per day.

If you are a European traveller with a European health insurance card (EHIC), your participation will be 92 francs (£70/$92) for a period of 30 days and 15 francs per day in the case of a hospital stay (for children, only a participation of 33 francs or £25/$33 for a period of 30 days applies).

Cost of a consultation with a doctor: The cost varies depending on the canton, but expect to pay around 18 francs (£14/$18) for the first five minutes. The rate then increases in increments of five minutes. A consultation of 20 minutes is therefore around 72 francs (£55/$72).

Dentist: A check-up and descaling will cost around 300 francs (£230/$300).

Hospital stay: A hospital stay amounts to 9,249 francs ($7,000/$9,200) – 2011 average of the Swiss Federal Statistics Office.

Please note that these costs apply to people with Swiss health insurance (LAMal) and the European Health Insurance Card. In other cases, doctors may set their fees freely.

Vaccinations
No specific vaccination is required to enter Switzerland but it is recommended to have an up-to-date vaccination schedule.
Emergency numbers

Police: 117; Ambulance: 144; Fire department: 118

Useful links

• Social Guide (in French)
• Health guide for Switzerland edited by the Swiss Red Cross

A UK private medical insurance (PMI) is a standard British style insurance, which works alongside the NHS. This kind of insurance compensates the main NHS drawbacks.

PMIs cover you in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Some of them include the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.

Having a UK PMI enables the insured person to avoid waiting lists when needing to see a specialist and for hospital treatment, as well as offering a more comfortable hospital experience in the private sector. This type of insurance, usually cheaper than an expatriate insurance, may be suitable for those who are satisfied by the NHS but would like to avoid the biggest disadvantages of the public health system (e.g. waiting lists) and are happy to only be covered within the UK.

Many companies offer this type of insurance to their employees. However, for some expatriates, a UK-style private insurance may not correspond with their needs for many reasons:

• They do not cover private GPs, maternity or prescriptions. 
• Dental and optical costs are not covered. However, a dental or optical “add-on” may be added to the policy, but the reimbursement limits are often low.
• In order to see a private specialist, you must still be referred by a GP.
• The follow-up of chronic conditions is not covered e.g. general check-up for asthma (an exception is often made for cancer).
• It only covers you within the UK.
• You may only be seen by a practitioner who is registered and approved by your insurance company. Therefore, as an expat in the UK, if you wish to see a doctor of your nationality practicing in the UK, they may be not registered with UK insurance companies.
• These policies apply a no-claims discount (NCD) meaning your premium increases should you use the policy.

An international health insurance for the UK is often a better option for expats than a local health plan. It allows you to avoid the drawbacks of a UK PMI.

• Your health cover is not restricted to the UK: you can opt for treatment anywhere you wish, as long as it is within your zone of cover, which may include your home country.
• Consultations with private GPs are covered.
• You can be covered for maternity, dental, optical, and prescriptions.
• You can see a specialist directly, without needing to ask for a referral from your NHS GP.
• Chronic conditions are usually much better covered. They can even be completely covered.
• Most international policies do not apply an NCD, meaning your annual increase will be based on age, medical inflation and the insurer’s yearly rate review.
• Unlike a UK PMI, you have a choice of currency for the payment of your insurance policy: pounds sterling, euros or dollars.

With so many insurance choices available, an expat in the UK can rightly ask oneself what the best insurance solution is. But when it comes to insurance, there is no “one size fits all” solution. The best health insurance in the UK for one expat might not be the best for you as everyone has different needs and expectations.

In order to find which one is the best health insurance in the UK for you, it is important to consider several aspects such as your medical history, your age, your specific needs in terms of medical cover, your situation in the UK, alongside other parameters.

The price of a medical insurance for expats in the UK varies greatly depending on the personal situation, the age, the medical history of each individual as well as other parameters. The tariffs given below aim to give you an idea of prices but might not apply specifically to your own situation.

If you wish to have an idea of prices first, here are some premium examples for an individual health insurance policy that doesn’t include maternity cover, for a 35 year old person who lives in London (Kensington) and who doesn’t smoke.

These quotes have been made with health insurance companies that offer mid-range market priced policies.

• Example of yearly premium with a health insurance policy valid in the UK only (UK PMI), for a person who lives in London (Kensington):

This insurance policy includes cover in the private hospitals located in central London. The tariff can be lower if London is not included in the zone of cover of the insurance policy.

• Example of yearly premium with an international health insurance policy delivered by a British insurance company and valid worldwide, except the USA:

• Example of yearly premium with an international health insurance policy delivered by a French insurance company, and valid in the UK, in France as well as 8 other countries:

Unlike British health insurance companies, French insurance companies generally tend to offer a better optical and dental cover, and include preventative tests, such as health screenings.

French insurance companies also offer preferential rates for larger families (beyond two children, the following children are covered for free), which is something you may consider if you move to the UK as a family.

An international health insurance for Russia is often a better option for expats than a local health plan. It allows you to be treated in the hospital and with the doctor of your choice, not only in Russia but also abroad. If you prefer to be treated in your home country or in another country, within your zone of cover, your medical costs will be reimbursed by your insurance company (within the limits of your policy). Moreover, if you leave Russia and move elsewhere your international insurance may be able to follow you.

It is always important that your medical insurance complies with local legislation. If you are a permanent or a temporary resident in Russia, an international insurance will not replace your obligation to subscribe to the local system. The international cover will act in addition to the State provided cover.

The best health insurance in Mexico for one expat might not be the best for you as everyone has different needs and criteria.

 In order to find which one is the it is important to consider several aspects such as your medical history, your age, your specific needs in terms of medical cover, your situation in Mexico, alongside other parameters.

The cost of a consultation with a GP or a specialist is generally around £86 ($108). In the international private clinics this fee may increase to around £122 ($154).

The cost of a consultation with a dentist is around £58 ($73). A crown can cost anything between £287 and £1,006 ($362 – $1,270).

In regards to an overnight stay in a private hospital, charges are usually around £431 ($545) for an individual private room.

Vaccinations
Be sure to have your immunisation schedule up-to-date (diphtheria/tetanus/polio). However it is also recommended to be vaccinated for hepatitis A and B, typhoid, Japanese encephalitis, tick-borne encephalitis, and rabies by the NHS Fit-for-Travel website.

Emergency numbers
01: Fire brigade
02: Police
03: Ambulance
04: Gas leak

Medicines
Be aware, counterfeit medication is a big problem in much of Russia. According to the Franco-Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, over 70% of medicines sold in Russia today are either counterfeit or of low quality.

Useful links
UK Embassy – Moscow