Expats prioritise physical over mental wellbeing
When asked to consider the impact of the pandemic, 59 per cent of expats believe that their employer health care packages should prioritise physical over mental well-being
The new research of expats by insurer Aetna International also found those with dependent children (under 16) were the ones who largely believed that their employers should focus on physical wellbeing with their health care packages and benefits. Sixty-five per cent of those with dependents thought this, compared to 55 per cent of those without.
This relates to 87 per cent of those surveyed who said that when considering a job opportunity abroad that family health care related employment benefits to be important, and 44 per cent expect their employer to provide full health care cover for expats and their families for a role abroad.
Dr Hemal Desai, Global Medical Director at Aetna International, said: “In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, people understandably want to ensure their families are looked after and are looking to their employers for support.”
Access to healthcare biggest challenge for expats
Almost one in three (30 per cent) highlighted access to quality healthcare to already be one of the top three biggest challenges of living as an expat when asked as part of this research.
“At least we have seen a change in attitudes and increased conversation around employee well-being given the challenges many have and are yet to face,” added Dr Desai.
Prioritising physical well-being may have come out top, but when taking into consideration Aetna International’s 2016 Pioneering Change survey of globally mobile individuals which found that only six per cent of expats were concerned with issues relating to mental health then, there is a clear shift in attitudes with 41 per cent of 2021 respondents who felt mental wellbeing should be prioritised by their employer health care benefits.
Dr Desai suggested: “We need to keep evolving the conversation and help employers and employees alike consider the relationship between physical and mental wellbeing. As one can affect the other, and we consider both to be equally important.”