Lack of Insurance Compounds Chronic Conditions Burden

For an individual not covered by a company or group insurance policy, private health insurance can often seem like a massive, unbearable and expensive hurdle to overcome.
The choices are numerous and confusing, and taking out a policy for yourself or your family can appear costly. If you have a chronic medical condition, an additional stumbling block can be encountered, as your premiums may become even higher or you may face lengthy periods of no coverage for a pre-existing condition. As a result, people with chronic conditions often face the burden of high insurance premiums and having to also pay for treatments and medicines related to their long-term problems.

A chronic condition is usually defined by insurers as an illness or disease from which a person is unlikely to recover, or for which there is currently no cure. Examples of chronic illnesses include arthritis, asthma, cancer, cardiovascular disease, cholesterol problems, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, depression, diabetes, high blood pressure, multiple sclerosis, and osteoporosis.

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Why Is Expat Medical Insurance Important?

"Duty of Care for Protecting International Assignees," a 2009 executive summary published by International SOS, states that global organizations should consider their employment obligations when it comes to "health safety, and security of their employees," including those traveling overseas or assigned there. Companies that take interest in global mobility and expatriate assignments are advised to make every effort to provide specifically designed medical coverage for individuals and their families working and living abroad on temporary expatriate assignments.

Significance

While home-country health insurance plans will generally restrict or completely eliminate coverage for international assignees, expatriate medical coverage guarantees access to local health care professionals abroad. Some international medical plans provide limited coverage, however, so the U.S. Department of State urges outbound expatriates to check for policy limitations related to conditions or location.


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Dealing With Your Medical Insurer


If you ever face a medical crisis, you’ll be amazed at how quickly the bills mount up, even with great insurance.

You could argue about whether insurers are inherently evil, coldhearted, or callous, but the bottom line is that insurers are businesses that want to get the most money they can out of you. Sometimes you will have to pay and there’s no way to get around that. However, there are so many mistakes, wrongly denied claims, double bills, and unnecessary charges at times that you may be able to reduce your bills somewhat, but only if you’re prepared to fight. Your insurer isn’t going to suggest ways for you to reduce your bills and they aren’t going to help you very much. Your insurer hopes that you will just pay the bill. You want to question everything and only pay what you need to. Here are some ideas if you ever need to go to war with your insurer.

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Global Health Asia is an exceptional provider of innovative expat health insurance. Global Health Asia International Group was created with one goal in mind – to become the best personal and family medical insurance service provider in Asia.

Work While You Travel: Strange Ways to Save Money

If you’ve ever wanted to travel extensively but aren’t sure how you could afford to be on the road for months at a time, work share arrangements might be the answer you’re looking for.


When you work share, you receive either free or discounted lodgings or meals in exchange for your labor. The work you may be asked to perform can include landscaping, maintenance tasks, cleaning, receptionist work, or helping arrange/host special events or parties. If you have special skills such as photography, accounting, or design skills, you may be asked to help with the books, or design a new brochure for a bed and breakfast.
If work share arrangements don’t appeal to you, you can also find other work in many destinations. Temporary work, seasonal jobs like farm work or Christmas tree sales, and part time jobs are also alternatives. If you need to supplement your income while you’re on the road, here are some ideas:

Work camping: As a work camper you will usually receive your site rental for free and possibly a discount on any metered utilities. You may also get some meals for free if the campground hosts a special event. You may have to mow the grass, answer the phones, clean the bathrooms, or help maintain the facilities in exchange for your freebies. Some work camping arrangements can be short term (just a week) or long term (a whole season). Many campgrounds post openings on their web site, but it can’t hurt to call and ask campgrounds in your area if they need help.

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Investigate Before You Expatriate

Retiring abroad sounds intriguing to those seeking balmy climes and cheaper living. But there are pitfalls.

Planning a postretirement move from, say, New York to Florida is relatively simple. But if you're thinking about spending your golden years abroad, there are many more unknowns. How can you check out a prospective retirement haven before you make a big move--and maybe a big mistake?

Taxation. The U.S. taxes its citizens' income no matter where they live. Those living abroad can claim an annual $91,500 exclusion of income from work, which retirees often don't have. Tax treaties usually protect against double taxation, but many countries have higher rates than the U.S.

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Hong Kong Expat Medical Insurance


The GlobalHealth Advantage Range

Advantage 100
Features
> Worldwide coverage
> Plan maximum up to US$250,000 per disability
> Choice of deductibles starting at US$500 per disability
> Lowest premiums


Advantage 200
Features
> Worldwide coverage
> Plan maximum up to US$250,000 per year
> Nil deductible up to US$5,000 per year deductible available
> Choice to add coverage for out-patient treatment



Advantage 300

Features
> Option to exclude North American coverage to lower premium
> Plan maximum up to US$2,000,000 per year
> Nil deductible up to US$5,000 per year deductible available
> Fully covered in-patient with extensive pre and post-hospitalization cover


Advantage 400
Features
> Option to exclude North American coverage to lower premium
> Plan maximum up to US$2,000,000 per year
> Nil deductible up to US$5,000 per year deductible available
> Fully covered in-patient and out-patient


Advantage 500
Features
> Option to exclude North American coverage to lower premium
> Plan maximum up to US$2,000,000 per year
> Nil deductible up to US$5,000 per year deductible available
> Fully covered in-patient and out-patient
> Maternity cover up to US$10,000 per pregnancy


To Know About Their Optional Extra Benefits
Visit Hong Kong Expat Medical Insurance

Filipino Expat Miguel Syjuco's Breakout Novel

In Spanish, Ilustrado means "enlightened one." During the 19th century, it referred to the Philippines' Europe-educated literati, whose revolutionary ideas helped establish the foundations for Asia's first democracy. Fast-forward 200 years: expatriate Filipino author Miguel Syjuco has put a modern spin on this dated term with his 2008 Man Asia Literary Prize–winning novel Ilustrado. Syjuco's novel follows the exploits of a young Filipino protagonist — also named Miguel Syjuco — who returns to the Philippines and the past he left behind to investigate the death of his dissident mentor Crispin Salvador.

This satire of Philippine society comes at a time when this Southeast Asian nation stands at a political crossroads. Born into a well-to-do political family himself, Syjuco is not unfamiliar with the elite class he parodies, but he is quick to point out the differences between himself and his fictional namesake. During his whirlwind Asian promotional tour, Syjuco spoke with TIME in Hong Kong about the power of the written word and his transnational exploits as a modern-day Ilustrado.

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