Majority of expats want to choose health care inclusions
Aetna International has found that 88 per cent of expats in key global markets want the choice to pick their employer health care package inclusions
With proactive self-care now a central part of expat lifestyles, those surveyed noted a desire for more holistic benefits that supported both their mental and physical needs and wellbeing, alongside clinician-directed treatments. Over half (52 per cent) stated that having tailored benefits featuring wellbeing elements was more important now than pre-pandemic.
This demonstrates a desire for greater flexibility and choice. Allowing individuals to select the wellbeing benefits that suit their needs and lifestyle signals a move towards a more holistic approach to healthcare. The interest in having a greater choice of wellbeing benefits on offer as part of an employer health care package further suggests a growing desire from both employer and employee to break down workplace taboos around managing stress and create an open forum of discussion around employee mental health.
Furthermore, Aetna’s latest survey revealed that a quarter (25 per cent) of expats thought counselling and therapy sessions should be included in packages. Overall, this was the largest endorsement for any wellbeing offer which respondents were surveyed on.
Growing recognition of mental health
Of the markets surveyed, counselling and therapy topped the inclusions list in the USA and Singapore, ranked second in the UK and UAE, and fourth in Hong Kong. These findings underline a growing global recognition of the importance of mental health. Fitness sessions and apps, life coaching and yoga and meditation sessions round out the top inclusions respondents were keen on. Mindfulness app subscriptions followed closely at six on the list, overall demonstrating an appetite for a more well integrated healthy lifestyle offer.
Dr Hemal Desai, Global Medical Director at Aetna International, commented: “People are becoming more aware of all areas of their health. They are understanding that a healthy lifestyle amounts to more than just exercising and eating well, and that each person is different.
“Mental health is clearly growing in focus and more people are learning about how to manage it. There are plenty of tools available to help an individual with everything from mindfulness and sleep to calming and alleviating stress. We’re also observing that convenient access to these tools included as part of an employer's benefits offer appears to be a growing priority for busy expats.”
Interestingly, 40 per cent of expats surveyed ranked a health care benefits package as the most important job offer consideration, compared to 52 per cent who stated salary. Though it’s unsurprising that salary wins out, the gap between health and wealth is narrower than might have been expected.
Another recent study showed that over a third of the expat workforce (37 per cent) are more likely to relocate to their home country since Covid-19.