Medibroker Highly Commended at Health Insurance Industry Awards

We are proud to share the news that Medibroker have been awarded a Highly Commended prize at the Cover Excellence Awards 2013 in the Customer Service category.

The Cover Excellence Awards seek to reward the achievements of those in the health and protection areas of the insurance industry. The awards were given at a black tie event held at hotel in Central London with attendees networking with peers from all areas of the protection industry.

We were up against some of the biggest names in the health insurance industry, which made winning even more special for us. Medibroker have been recognised in previous Cover Awards. But, this is our first award since 2010, and it is very satisfying to have been commended again.

Please visit our website to meet our Customer Care Team and learn how we help expatriates with their health insurance needs.


Thanks for reading this post.
The Medibroker Team



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Professional Expats Living and Working in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi, Arabic for the 'Father of Gazelles', is the capital and the second largest city in UAE. Located in an island in the North-Eastern part of the Arabian Gulf, it is a popular choice for professional expatriates and a good alternative to Dubai in terms of employment opportunities.

In fact, this small emirate has one of the largest expat populations in the world. More than 1 million expats out of a population of just 2.5 million live there. It is interesting to note that, according to the UAE government, there were only 211,000 people living in this city in 1975.


Like in the rest of UAE, people in Abu Dhabi are proud of their traditions, despite the modernisation. So, it offers expats a variety of experiences, which expats might enjoy such as camel races pictured above.

With Abu Dhabi holding 9% of the world's oil reserves, it is no surprise that the majority of expats in Abu Dhabi work in the oil and gas industry. Although their economy relies mostly on natural resources, other sectors are becoming increasingly important. Finance, real estate, business services, construction and tourism are all growing sectors and help to make Abu Dhabi the strongest contributor to the UAE's total GDP.

Let's take a look at what Abu Dhabi has to offer to professional expats who are looking to relocate or are already living there, and some tips to make their life easier.

• It has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the world. 
• Many positions require expats with specialised knowledge and good language skills.
• A number of international groups have their headquarters in the area.
• For expats looking for work, job websites and the local Reception Office are a good point to start when doing their job search.
• Different government entities offer recruitment opportunities on their websites. For example, the Ministry of Presidential Affairs (in Arabic, though). 

Some hints and tips

• The city and the social life are heavily influenced by Muslim traditions and it is very conservative.
• Smoking is banned in public areas.
• Expats should avoid wearing revealing clothes.
• Always wear sun lotion to protect yourself from strong sunlight.
• Although healthcare in Abu Dhabi is regarded as good, it is also very expensive.
• There is a slower pace of life to Dubai.
• The volume of expat clubs make adjusting to expat life in Abu Dhabi easier than in some countries.

Have you got any tips or feel we haven't covered everything? Then, please let us know!

Thanks for reading this blog.

The Medibroker Team


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5 Reasons to Use a Specialist Health Insurance Broker

In the digital age, comparison websites may seem to be the best place to look for the best deal in a variety of products, such as plane tickets. Even insurers have ventured in this area, with products such as car and home insurance being available for comparison.

When it comes to private medical insurance though, comparison sites have not yet overtaken the private medical insurance sector. This week, we explain the main reasons why expats and UK residents may find easier to use a health specialist broker.

1. Ease

Using a specialist broker can make it easy for expats and UK residents. The sheer complexity of the product on offer is one of the main reasons why comparison sites do not currently provide much value in this area. 

Insurers do not have the same level of cover across the same countries. They are also likely to consider each client differently given their medical history or any that they might have pre-existing conditions. The complexities multiply even further when it comes to corporate cover and group schemes. Insurers may offer discounts and special deals to win the day. 

2. Speed

Given the wide level of choice available, finding the right private health insurance product can be time-consuming and frustrating. Since specialist brokers are used to the intricacies of private medical insurance and know the market, they are able to offer impartial, one-to-one advice based on clients' specific needs in much shorter time.

3. Customer service

Brokers place a huge importance on customer care. They do not only provide assistance to find the most suitable policy, they also offer help with paperwork as part of their service. This is specially useful when expats are based somewhere remote.

4. Less financial risk

The complexity of the product may also lead to the poor, but common decision of not buying any insurance or not taking out the most suitable policy. With the costs of healthcare on the increase globally, this would not be the best option for expats.

Take the position of a resident in any country around the world who has enjoyed free social security and is starting work abroad as an expat. They may not know the actual costs of medical treatment abroad. For example, in Hong Kong a fractured ankle can cost you £12,000. So, the search is well-worth it.

Also, it is worth pointing out that private health insurance is becoming compulsory for expatriates in some countries around the world.

5. Peace of mind

It can be hard for expats living and working away from home. Knowing that you are covered for any health related issues can ease the burden of living abroad. 

This is particularly important in the case of any unexpected events, such as road accidents, which are common in developing countries. Pollution-related health issues are also common in some countries.

Thanks for reading our blog.

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Expats around the World in Numbers

We have written that the numbers of professional expats going abroad might increase during 2013, with over 70% of employers expecting to increase overseas business assignments this year. So, we thought we'd look at the number of expats around the world for this week's blog entry.

According to the infographic below, expatriates now make 3.1% of global population. There currently is 230 million expats worldwide, as opposed to 73 million expatriates back in 1960. This would make up the fifth most populous country in the world, if all of expats were to form a new country.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the countries that attract the biggest share of expats in total population are oil countries, ie, Qatar, Kuwait, and UAE. As we have mentioned in previous posts, these countries tend to use professional expat labour to cover for a skillset gap in their national workforce. These countries and some others are now introducing new changes in their healthcare regulation, which can affect expats in a negative way. Expats are advised to discuss this matter with a health specialist broker.

Some more numbers, there are 6.32 millions of Americans and 4.7 millions of British people living and working abroad. Women make 49% of the expat population around the world.

We hope that you find the infographic useful. Thanks for reading, and hope your visit soon!

Source Feedbacq.com blog.

Failure to secure expat health insurance risks more than money

Insurance is now an integral part of life. When it comes to your home, you may well have both buildings and contents cover. Meanwhile, if you own a vehicle, you will have car insurance. Also, if you book a holiday, you might also take out cover in case your trip is cancelled or to protect you in the event of an emergency while you are abroad. Without such policies in place, your finances may be at considerable risk. Therefore, not taking out the relevant policies can be highly irresponsible and may cause you financial strife in the long-term. Indeed, in some cases insurance is a legal requirement.

However, when it comes to international medical insurance, the stakes are even higher. It is not only your finances you place in jeopardy if you fail to take out the appropriate cover, but also your wellbeing.

If you are living abroad and suffer an illness or sustain injuries and you are not covered for treatment, your suffering will be increased and you might even place your life at risk.

Therefore, if you are planning to make the transition to life in a new country, it is vital that you investigate the relevant expat health insurance. It is only by ensuring you have the necessary policy in place that you can protect yourself.

Health issues can seem abstract and remote if you are currently healthy and fit, but there is no way of ruling out the possibility that problems will arise and it is therefore only prudent to take out international medical insurance.

Remember, it is not only your bank balance that you place at risk by failing to secure expat health insurance. Your entire existence may be endangered.
 
When you are working or living abroad, or have plans of relocating into another country, it is very important that you protect you and your family’s health and their wellness.

Expatriates make sure you are covered for International Medical Insurance, April Medibroker assists & advises clients living or working abroad to both choose & place the right international Health and Medical insurance products, to suit their needs & budget.

April Medibroker is here to help you - from the initial advice on what expatriate health insurance policy to buy, through to any assistance that you may need in the future. Our staff are only a phone call or email away. Whether you need changes to cover or payment, need help with a claim or have questions about your international medical insurance policy we will gladly help.

Expats In Turkey Face Confusing New Law

Expatriates living in Turkey scrambled this week to try to fulfill a new requirement that foreign residents register and pay for national health insurance by Tuesday, January 31, or face a fine said to be 886.50 lira, or about $495. Early reports indicated that an as-yet unspecified level of coverage would cost foreign residents about 2,500 lire per year.

Confused Americans and Britons flooded their consulates in Istanbul with phone calls and e-mails, struggling to learn how to register, or whether they might be exempt if already covered by their home country’s national health plan or a private insurer.

Others went directly to their neighborhood office of the Sosyal Guvenlik Kurumu, or Social Security Institution. The result? Hours-long lines and office workers who either hadn’t heard of the law or gave conflicting instructions on how to comply.

One American expat, who is covered by Medicare, the government insurance plan for the elderly in the United States, visited two S.G.K. Offices.

At first, the director “threw the blame for the ignorance of expats on their consulate,” they said. “He then told us we needed a signed document describing the kind of coverage we have in the States,” and to take it to another office that deals with foreign applications. At the second office, she was told that she needed a signed, notarized and translated letter from the U.S. Consulate testifying to her insurance status in the United States. Although the S.G.K. employees did not necessarily know the details, “They really did try to help us.”

In a message to Americans living in Turkey, the American Embassy in Ankara acknowledged that “exactly how this new law applies to U.S. Citizens and the foreign community is difficult to interpret.”

The American expat then called the consulate’s American Citizens Services office, and was told that the Tuesday deadline was being postponed to Feb. 29 and that the “consulate was negotiating with the Turkish government to try to come up with a clear procedure.” The consulate on Thursday did not confirm the extension.

“I was very relieved when I heard that,” they said, “because we wouldn’t have to spend the next few days going nuts, getting documents copied, etc., standing in line.”

Could there be a silver lining in all the confusion?

Some expats without health insurance coverage living in Istanbul said they would welcome the chance to sign up for local health insurance, if the Turkish authorities would only clarify — and simplify — the procedure.

Meanwhile, the British Embassy in Ankara posted a statement about what it called “the sudden changes to the Turkish health insurance system.”

The statement said that after the British ambassador and a consular team met with Turkish authorities about the “the substance, cost, lack of clarity and short notice of the change,” British residents in Turkey would be exempt. But that those who had already chosen to join the Turkish system would be allowed to remain in it.

When you are working or living abroad, or have plans of relocating into another country, it is very important that you protect you and your family’s health and their wellness.


Expatriates make sure you are covered for International Medical Insurance, April Medibroker assists & advises clients living or working abroad to both choose & place the right international Health and Medical insurance products, to suit their needs & budget.

April Medibroker is here to help you - from the initial advice on what expatriate health insurance policy to buy, through to any assistance that you may need in the future. Our staff are only a phone call or email away. Whether you need changes to cover or payment, need help with a claim or have questions about your international medical insurance policy we will gladly help.

Shanghai launches expat recruitment drive

China has developed a five-year plan to turn Shanghai into an international financial hub, relying on a foreign recruitment drive to increase its financial sector workforce by 40 per cent.

Shanghai has long-held ambitions to create a finance district capable of rivalling the likes of New York, London and neighbouring Hong Kong but has struggled with finding enough skilled financial professionals, especially high-level managers and sector specialists.

The news comes at the same time as economists forecast a loss of 27,000 jobs in London's Square Mile by the end of 2011.

According to the "five-year plan for human resources development in Shanghai's financial sector" released this week, China's second biggest city aims to take on 90,000 financial employees, 70 per cent of whom would have a BA degree degree and 15 per cent an MA degree.

This would mean that by 2015 Shanghai would have a total number of 320,000 employees working in finance, if things go to plan. As things stands, less than two per cent of Shanghai's total workforce work in finance, compared to 10 per cent in New York. An improved medical care system, social insurance, and children's education services have been built into the plan in a bid to lure expats who would have previously favoured Singapore or Hong Kong.

A British Expat, who has been running his own education company, in China since 2003 said: "If it has been decreed by the government it will probably get done.

"As China drives towards an economy fuelled by domestic consumption, then they will have the opportunity to put in place huge incentives to make things work for firms that are keeping the money onshore.

"Logistically, Hong Kong was the gateway to China but now China is open, it’s almost superfluous and only has the advantage of the legal system left over from the UK."

Shanghai's income tax rates appear to present the main stumbling block: they are as high as 45 per cent in certain cases. Compared to Hong's maximum of 15 per cent and Singapore's 20 per cent, it means exceedingly generous expat packages will be required to coax financiers across the waters.

Coupled with this is new legislation that will require expat workers and their employers to pay into China's social welfare pot, although it is yet to be made clear exactly how much of their salaries they'll be required to hand over.

When you are working or living abroad, or have plans of relocating into another country, it is very important that you protect you and your family’s health and their wellness.

Expatriates make sure you are covered for International Medical Insurance, April Medibroker assists & advises clients living or working abroad to both choose & place the right international Health and Medical insurance products, to suit their needs & budget.

April Medibroker is here to help you - from the initial advice on what expatriate health insurance policy to buy, through to any assistance that you may need in the future. Our staff are only a phone call or email away. Whether you need changes to cover or payment, need help with a claim or have questions about your international medical insurance policy we will gladly help.

More expats cancelling plans to return to Britain

This is according to a recent survey, A combination of improved financial prospects and the belief that quality of life is higher overseas seemed to be the main motivation behind expats’ decision to stay.

Despite the financial hardship that many expats, particularly those in Europe, have suffered due to adverse currency fluctuations since the beginning of the economic crisis, 64 per cent said they were still financially better-off abroad, with only a quarter saying that the cost of living was higher.

Britain’s grim economic outlook and the summer’s riots may have contributed to putting more than 800,000 expats off returning to their home country this year.

In February, Lloyds TBS International released a survey that suggested 67 per cent of expats had no plans to return to Britain – compared to just 56 per cent when the same survey was conducted six months before.

Now, research by the company has revealed that even more people (69 per cent) are planning to stay abroad permanently, with 15 per cent saying they have cancelled plans to return in just the past year.

A combination of improved financial prospects and the belief that quality of life is higher overseas seemed to be the main motivation behind expats’ decision to stay. Despite the financial hardship that many expats, particularly those in Europe, have suffered due to adverse currency fluctuations since the beginning of the economic crisis, 64 per cent said they were still financially better-off abroad, with only a quarter saying that the cost of living was higher.

Nearly three-quarters (74 per cent) per cent said their quality of life was higher, with 51 per cent agreeing that their new home was a better place to bring up children. Many expats also felt safer abroad, with just 13 per cent saying that their neighbourhoods in Britain had been less dangerous.

When you are working or living abroad, or have plans of relocating into another country, it is very important that you protect you and your family’s health and their wellness.

Expatriates make sure you are covered for International Medical Insurance, April Medibroker assists & advises clients living or working abroad to both choose & place the right international Health and Medical insurance products, to suit their needs & budget.

April Medibroker is here to help you - from the initial advice on what expatriate health insurance policy to buy, through to any assistance that you may need in the future. Our staff are only a phone call or email away. Whether you need changes to cover or payment, need help with a claim or have questions about your international medical insurance policy we will gladly help.

Expat workers move abroad to improve their career

Three in four expat global workers work abroad in order to make a career jump which is seen as the main reason for taking a job overseas, new research reveals. But while 84% take an overseas job to improve their career, 83% also say it is for the diversity of experiences that they will encounter and 79% say it is to experience different cultures.

An increasing numbers of British workers are being posted globally on temporary assignments while maintaining a UK base, the fourth annual NatWest International Personal Banking (IPB) Quality of Life Index also shows.

Around three quarters of a million British workers currently travel overseas to work abroad each year. The ratio of temporary to permanent workers is currently five to one however, it looks set to rise to ten to one by 2020.

The increased use of temporary global workers means that the traditional definition of expatriation is blurring as Britain engages in a global market of brain exchange, says the report.

Countries are progressively sharing their talent rather than keeping hold of it, a phenomenon fuelled by global expat commuters.

The research says there is a new group it calls GenXYpats with Generations X born between 1964 and 1981 and Y born between 1982 and 1992 who choose to live and pursue careers on foreign shores. They are a new niche demographic and psychographic spanning the life stages, generations of knowledge nomads, seeking temporary work overseas.

Expats view working overseas as a positive experience with 52% rating their overall quality of working life as either excellent or very good. English speaking countries are most popular amongst professional expats with Australia, Canada and the USA emerging top of the list. The GenXYpats are drawn to global working, with 48% choosing to take up temporary posts overseas compared to 28% aged over 50.

Expatriate workforces are also becoming more cosmopolitan with more than 50% of companies now employing more than one nationality. Women make up 22% of the expatriate workforce, up from 6% 15 years ago. In terms of the time spent overseas, the average time spent working out of the country on various assignments is 5.4 years.

When you are working or living abroad, or have plans of relocating into another country, it is very important that you protect you and your family’s health and their wellness.

Expatriates make sure you are covered for International Medical Insurance, April Medibroker assists & advises clients living or working abroad to both choose & place the right international Health and Medical insurance products, to suit their needs & budget.

April Medibroker is here to help you - from the initial advice on what expatriate health insurance policy to buy, through to any assistance that you may need in the future. Our staff are only a phone call or email away. Whether you need changes to cover or payment, need help with a claim or have questions about your international medical insurance policy we will gladly help.

Number of expatriates on the increase

More people head to China seeking out job opportunities as Western economies suffer hardship.  An increasing number of foreigners are being attracted by China's prosperous economy and have come to work in the country.

Figures released by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security showed that 231,700 foreigners were employed in China at the end of 2010, compared with 223,000 in 2009.

Foreigners are finding jobs in China on the back of its strong economy, which is performing vastly better than that of the United States or Europe, suggests a spokesperson for a leading Consulting firm in China.

"This year, China's average gross domestic product increase is about 8 to 10 percent. This has created more opportunities, especially within the financial services, pharmaceutics as well as the retail industry,".

"The country provides an abundance of bigger career platforms and opportunities. We have witnessed both international investment companies and local Chinese companies focusing on expansion plans within the past decade. Besides the strong need for international talent to grow their businesses in China, they also require top-tier candidates for their businesses in international markets."

The talent consultant added there was a rising trend for local Chinese companies capable and willing to offer international compensation packages and benefits that are targeted for expatriates working in China.

The spokesperson went on to point out that managing skilled people from other cultures posed a special challenge to companies because it is essential to be fair and culturally sensitive to both nationals and expatriates, especially given that talent management is the top priority for most chief executive officers today.

When you are working or living abroad, or have plans of relocating into another country, it is very important that you protect you and your family’s health and their wellness.

Expatriates make sure you are covered for International Medical Insurance, April Medibroker assists & advises clients living or working abroad to both choose & place the right international Health and Medical insurance products, to suit their needs & budget.

April Medibroker is here to help you - from the initial advice on what expatriate health insurance policy to buy, through to any assistance that you may need in the future. Our staff are only a phone call or email away. Whether you need changes to cover or payment, need help with a claim or have questions about your international medical insurance policy we will gladly help.

Malaria vaccine trial raises hope

Expatriates in malaria hotspots will be interested to read that researchers are to expand a clinical trial of a new malaria vaccine after promising results in a preliminary study in Burkina Faso.

The trial was designed to test safety, but researchers found that vaccinated children had high levels of protection. Described as a "most encouraging" result, a larger study involving 800 children is now to take place in Mali.

Described as a "most encouraging" result, a larger study involving 800 children is now to take place in Mali. The scientists involved say they are hopeful that the vaccine will ultimately be very cheap to produce.

Around a hundred different malaria vaccine candidates have been developed to date but the MSP3 vaccine tested in Burkina Faso is only the second one to show a substantial level of protection against the illness.

The randomised, double blind study involved 45 children. It set out to test the safety of the vaccine but this follow up study found that children who received it had an incidence of the disease three to four times lower than children who did not.

Initially the children were split into three groups, with two of them receiving the experimental malaria vaccine developed by Dr Pierre Druilhe at the Pasteur Institute in Paris.

"Those two groups had very similar types of immune response, elicited by the vaccine, and the protection is almost identical, so it reinforces the confidence despite the fact that we are still dealing with a small group," he said.

The vaccine is based on the fact that some adults in Africa acquire immunity because they are constantly exposed to the disease. Dr Druilhe and his team discovered a key protein, MSP3, which provokes the body into producing antibodies that kill the parasite. He said the protein is unique as it does not change much between different strains of the plasmodium parasite that causes malaria. This is believed to be a critical factor in developing an efficient vaccine.

He added: "We performed a large number of epidemiological studies that confirm that there was an association between that vaccine candidate and acquired protection, so when you immunise with this molecule you indeed induce protection."

Another scientist involved with the Burkina Faso study was Dr Louis Miller, the former head of the Malaria Vaccine Branch of the US National Institutes of Health. He said: "I was always in favour of this approach as it offered a chance in a field with few successes. I found the results of this preliminary study in Burkina Faso to be most encouraging."

When you are working or living abroad, or have plans of relocating into another country, it is very important that you protect you and your family’s health and their wellness.

Expatriates make sure you are covered for International Medical Insurance, April Medibroker assists & advises clients living or working abroad to both choose & place the right international Health and Medical insurance products, to suit their needs & budget.

April Medibroker is here to help you - from the initial advice on what expatriate health insurance policy to buy, through to any assistance that you may need in the future. Our staff are only a phone call or email away. Whether you need changes to cover or payment, need help with a claim or have questions about your international medical insurance policy we will gladly help.

New medical tests for UAE expats

Thousands of expat workers are to be subjected to medical tests in their home countries before they are allowed to enter the UAE, it has been announced.

The new rules will apply to foreign workers from 10 countries, the UAE’s ministry of health said at a recent press conference. The ministry of Health in the U.A.E. (United Arab Emirates) is preparing to implement the new regulations in an effort to cut down the amount of communicable diseases brought into the country.

The U.A.E. is particularly vulnerable to this problem as almost 90% of it's residents are Expats, meaning the potential for diseases to be brought into the country is considerable.

Designed to stop newcomers from bringing dangerous diseases into the UAE, the scheme is expected to be rolled out from October 1, with Indonesia and Sri Lanka the first countries affected.  Eight more countries – India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Nepal, Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia – will be added later.

Expats will be screened mainly for contagious diseases, including tuberculosis, hepatitis B and HIV/Aids, at approved medical centres, with those who test positive refused entry. They will also be subjected to confirmatory re-tests once they are in the country.

Dr Sneh Khemka, medical director at Bupa International, said the changes seemed “sensible“. “The UAE has long been very stringent about disease control, as they have many workers coming in from other countries. These workers carry two risks: firstly, transmission, and secondly, a burden on the health system," he said.

He raised doubts however about the effectiveness of the system, as identifying latent cases of diseases such as TB "could be diagnostically challenging". He also said there was a risk that test results from the countries in question, "where there is often medical fraud...might not be 100 per cent reliable".

The changes are being implemented as part of the Gulf Co-operative Council's expatriate worker medical examination programme, which began in 1995.

When you are working or living abroad, or have plans of relocating into another country, it is very important that you protect you and your family’s health and their wellness.

Expatriates make sure you are covered for International Medical Insurance, April Medibroker assists & advises clients living or working abroad to both choose & place the right international Health and Medical insurance products, to suit their needs & budget.

April Medibroker is here to help you - from the initial advice on what expatriate health insurance policy to buy, through to any assistance that you may need in the future. Our staff are only a phone call or email away. Whether you need changes to cover or payment, need help with a claim or have questions about your international medical insurance policy we will gladly help.

Which banks are the safest for expats?

UBS's rogue trader scandal is just the latest incident to weaken savers' faith in banks.

Banks are hitting the headlines for the wrong reasons at the moment. Just in the last few weeks we’ve had the Independent Banking Commission report recommending banks split their traditional and investment banking arms to reduce the risk for personal customers. Then it was reported that Swiss-owned UBS had discovered that a rogue trader had generated losses for the bank of £1.3 billion.

Although savers with offshore banks are covered by protection schemes, if you did want to find out how secure a bank is seen to be you could look at the recently-published Global Finance Review’s list of the World’s 50 safest banks.

But it doesn’t make comfortable reading for UK expats. The ‘top 50’ features just three UK-owned banks or building societies, each of which has offshore operations. It also includes two overseas-owned banks that are significant operators in the UK onshore and expat market.

Spanish-owned Santander, which owns Alliance & Leicester International and Santander Private Banking, both of which are big in the expat market, is assessed as the 10th safest bank in the world. National Australia Bank, owner of Yorkshire and Clydesdale banks, the latter of which has an offshore subsidiary, comes in 12th place. HSBC comes 16th, Nationwide Building Society, 41st and Barclays, 49th.

As offshore savers know all too well, there are a limited number of banks aimed at expats which are actually competing for their deposits. Of those mentioned in the top 50 safest, Barclays seldom troubles the best savings rates table: neither does HSBC, although it does offer some reasonable fixed rate deals.

Clydesdale International does offer one of the best five-year fixed rate deals at 4.15 per cent, and its three-year fixed at 3.75 per cent is a good deal. Its 30-day notice account at 1.25 per cent is also good – although why have a notice account when you can get double that rate on a no-notice deal? Santander Private Banking is aimed at the private banking market rather than ordinary savers.

That leaves Nationwide and Alliance & Leicester International out of the list of the top 50 safest banks with offshore operations. Both offer some good deals on savings, with Nationwide offering the best deal on easy access by an UK-owned bank at 2.4 per cent. Alliance & Leicester has one of the best two-year deals at 3.3 per cent, and equals the Clydesdale at 4.15 per cent over five years.

However, the Global Finance Review report only looked at the 500 largest banks in the world and some of the popular offshore operations fall outside these limits. Skipton International and Co-operative Bank International (and its sister, Britannia International) are keen players in the offshore market. Skipton International’s parent is Britain's fourth largest building society and the Co-op/Britannia are both owned by the members of the huge Co-operative organisation.

There are no Irish banks in the top 50 safest banks. Irish-owned banks are still keen on the offshore market, with three dominating the short-term fixed rate and easy access tables.

One of them will soon be disappearing, however, as the Anglo Irish name goes forever. With effect from September 26, it is being renamed AIB International. The name change comes after Anglo Irish had to be rescued by the Irish government in 2009 and in February this year most of its deposits were transferred to Allied Irish Banks (AIB).

Anglo Irish savers are being reassured by AIB that there will be no changes to their accounts as a result of the name change, although it added that it plans to launch new savings accounts in the next few months "which will be tailored to meet what we believe to be our customers’ requirements".

Anglo Irish has just four currently-available accounts (there are a number of accounts closed to new customers) and all of them are top interest-paying deals. It has the top three-month fixed rate at 2.78 per cent and one of the top one-year deals at 3.3 per cent. It also has the best easy access account deals, with 2.7 per cent on Privilege Demand and 2.45 per cent on Privilege Access.

Deposits in Irish-owned banks are 100 per cent protected by the Irish government until the end of this year, and this includes the offshore operations. There’s also the Isle of Man deposit scheme which covers deposits up to £50,000.

With the Isle of Man scheme (and indeed similar ones in the Channel Islands), the crucial thing is your account is covered if it’s with a bank based on the Island. It doesn’t matter where in the world the ultimate owner of the bank is based.

When you are working or living abroad, or have plans of relocating into another country, it is very important that you protect you and your family’s health and their wellness.

Expatriates make sure you are covered for International Medical Insurance, April Medibroker assists & advises clients living or working abroad to both choose & place the right international Health and Medical insurance products, to suit their needs & budget.

April Medibroker is here to help you - from the initial advice on what expatriate health insurance policy to buy, through to any assistance that you may need in the future. Our staff are only a phone call or email away. Whether you need changes to cover or payment, need help with a claim or have questions about your international medical insurance policy we will gladly help.

China to introduce expat social insurance tax

China may have dented its attractiveness as a destination for expats after announcing a social insurance tax on foreign workers.

From October 15, expats working in mainland China will be forced to pay 11 per cent of their salaries to the government in exchange for access to benefits such as pension coverage and medical insurance.

While employees will see a significant chunk of their tax-home pay disappear, their employers are also being hit by the new tax, as companies are forced to contribute a further 37 per cent of the foreign staff’s salaries.

The move could discourage multinationals from sending foreign workers to China in the future, while employees will be concerned about another raid on their salaries. Income tax in some cities in China is already charged at 45 per cent at the top tier.

Given China’s hunger for foreign talent, especially in cities such as Shanghai, it has been quick to promote the benefits for foreign workers.

The government states that expats will be able to enjoy five different programmes – pension provision, unemployment benefit, occupational injury compensation, medical cover and pregnancy insurance.

But some expats have questioned the relevance of these perks, as many already enjoy them as employee benefits. Ben Warner, who works for a multinational based in Shanghai, said: “Like many other expats, I already have more than adequate medical coverage from my employer, so for me it makes no sense to pay this tax. I’d rather keep the money than pay it to the government.”

And the American Chamber of Commerce in the People’s Republic of China has questioned the compulsory pension payments. A spokesman commented: “Foreign employees often work in China for short periods of time. China’s pension plan, however, requires that all foreign employees must participate in the pension plan for at least 15 years before they can draw on the pension. Such requirement is not practical for foreign employees.”

He added that it was also unclear what happens to any accrued pension once an expat returns to their home country.

Other countries allow foreign workers to opt-out of local social insurance payments if they are contributing into a similar scheme in their home country. British expats are allowed to continue paying National Insurance Contributions while living and working overseas to qualify for a UK state pension in retirement.

When you are working or living abroad, or have plans of relocating into another country, it is very important that you protect you and your family’s health and their wellness.

Expatriates make sure you are covered for International Medical Insurance, April Medibroker assists & advises clients living or working abroad to both choose & place the right international Health and Medical insurance products, to suit their needs & budget.

April Medibroker is here to help you - from the initial advice on what expatriate health insurance policy to buy, through to any assistance that you may need in the future. Our staff are only a phone call or email away. Whether you need changes to cover or payment, need help with a claim or have questions about your international medical insurance policy we will gladly help.

Australia 'is easy transition for expats'

Expatriate international health insurance customers considering relocating abroad to Australia might find it to be an easier transition than other places, especially if they are originally from the UK.

This is according to Australian Property Investor editor Eynas Brodie, who said there is "no language barrier and the cultures are in many ways similar".

People are also attracted to the country because of its pleasant weather, she continued.

It has a high amount of available land, strong business opportunities and a good education system, the expert asserted.

She claimed the nation is "politically safe" and has good opportunities for foreigners, who can borrow up to 80 per cent of a property's value to make a purchase, "just like Australians".

The most active overseas investors in residential buildings in Queensland are now South Africans, the Chinese and Brits, research from Colliers International found.

Ms Brodie stated that these individuals generally buy real estate near to transport infrastructure and universities.

When you are working or living abroad, or have plans of relocating into another country, it is very important that you protect you and your family’s health and their wellness.

Expatriates make sure you are covered for International Medical Insurance, April Medibroker assists & advises clients living or working abroad to both choose & place the right international Health and Medical insurance products, to suit their needs & budget.

April Medibroker is here to help you - from the initial advice on what expatriate health insurance policy to buy, through to any assistance that you may need in the future. Our staff are only a phone call or email away. Whether you need changes to cover or payment, need help with a claim or have questions about your international medical insurance policy we will gladly help.

New cut-off dates decided by Emirates Identity Authority

New cut-off dates decided by Emirates Identity Authority, Those who miss new identity card deadlines face Dh20 fine per day.

The Emirates Identity Authority announced fresh deadlines for Emiratis and expatriates to apply for ID cards, after which a fine of Dh20 a day will be applicable, up to Dh1,000.

October 31 is the new deadline for Emiratis. The deadline for expatriates depends on which emirate they live in.

Expatriates in Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain and Ajman, and all those doing government jobs across the UAE, start paying the late fee from December 1. Those in Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and Dubai will be fined from February 1, April 1 and June next year respectively.

A meeting of the Board of Trustees, chaired by Lieutenant-General Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior and Vice Chairman of the Board, also decided to exempt all children under 15, whether Emirati or expatriate, from the late fee until October 1 2012. The decision to enforce the late fee came after a series of deadlines was issued by the cabinet for the entire UAE population, the most recent of which were June 30, 2011 for nationals, and December 31, 2010 for expatriates.

When you are working or living abroad, or have plans of relocating into another country, it is very important that you protect you and your family’s health and their wellness.

Expatriates make sure you are covered for International Medical Insurance, April Medibroker assists & advises clients living or working abroad to both choose & place the right international Health and Medical insurance products, to suit their needs & budget.

April Medibroker is here to help you - from the initial advice on what expatriate health insurance policy to buy, through to any assistance that you may need in the future. Our staff are only a phone call or email away. Whether you need changes to cover or payment, need help with a claim or have questions about your international medical insurance policy we will gladly help.