This report does not come as a surprise to many and is on target with a projection made less than a year ago that Kuwait would decrease its expatriate community by half over the next five years by limiting the number of expat workers permitted.

In the past, Kuwait has attempted similar efforts to reduce the percentage of expats in its workforce, however, expat workers have been able to skirt around most  initiatives that would limit the number of working expats, by exchanging issued visas for a work permit. The allowance of this type of replacement has since been restricted.

Although the number of expats in Kuwait is on the decline, statistics show that as of April 2012, there were still 2,167 million expat workers from 23 different nationalities in Kuwait and only 606,482 domestic workers.

The largest majority of expat workers are made up of individuals from India (653,223), Egypt (456,543), Bangladesh (189,461), Philippines (144,633) and Syria (131,610).

Previous to this effort to limit the amount of expatriate labor, the percentage of expatriates that made up the workforce in Kuwait was 70 percent. Kuwait officials set a target to bring that number down to 34 percent over the next five years according to The Times of India.

If you are an expatriate in Kuwait and have noticed your expat social circle growing smaller, you might not have seen the end of it as the number of expats in Kuwait is expected to decline even further over the next five years.

Something else to put on your to-do list before your journey begins is find a trustworthy weather alert system that is able to give you the most accurate and current weather information from around the world. Getting the local weather report is beneficial, but for an avid traveler, it’s sometimes not enough. Although there are a few disasters that can be prepared for days before the actual event, others only give minutes for preparation. For a traveler, it is best to know ahead of time where you can go to get the most updated information on weather warnings around the world.

If you will be traveling outside of your home country and looking for a travel insurance plan that includes a natural disaster benefit, one popular option is the Atlas Travel plan. In the event of a natural disaster like as a hurricane, tornado, tsunami or flood, that causes the covered individual to be displaced from planned, paid for accommodation, this plan provides up to $100 a day for 5 days.

Since avoiding a natural disaster is almost impossible, being prepared is the next best thing. If you would like more information about the Atlas Travel Plan and it’s natural disaster benefit, contact one of our agents today.

Individuals residing in France for three months or longer have access to the French universal health coverage, this includes expats who qualify. However, although an expat might qualify for the universal health coverage, they will want to decide if it will be enough. Those who are unsure of where their job, retirement or life in general will take them next will want to make sure they have an insurance plan that they can rely on to follow them wherever they go.

Whether they will be spending one year or a few years in France as an expatriate, it is recommended to find a major medical insurance plan in France that they are able to keep no matter where they journey to in the future.

Expats searching for Major Medical Insurance in France that also offers flexibility specific to their travel plans are able to purchase worldwide coverage or worldwide coverage excluding the US and Canada with the Citizen Secure plan.

The Citizen Secure plan offers comprehensive coverage that includes hospitalization and outpatient treatment, prescription medication, emergency medical evacuation, mental health, pre-existing conditions, maternity, physical therapy and repatriation of remains. This plan also allows individuals to choose their deductible.

Individuals who are or will be an expat looking for major medical insurance in France can contact one of our licensed agents today to see if they are eligible for the Citizen Secure plan.

In 1862 the French troops invaded Mexico but were defeated by a last-minute round up of local villagers in the small town of Puebla. Although this did not mark the end of the war, the Battle of Puebla has since become symbolic of unlikely victory.

As an expat living in Mexico, it is important to know that Cinco de Mayo is not the Mexican Independence day. May 5 is not even considered a federal holiday in Mexico, but the historic victory of this day is still celebrated by many. Some of the largest celebrations can be seen in Puebla and Mexico City, Mexico. There are street festivals that include dancing, food and music as well as military parades and battle reenactments that offer impressive performances.

If you are not yet an expat in Mexico but will be in time to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, make sure you will have the expat health insurance you will need while in Mexico. The Citizen Secure plan is a popular option for both US citizens and non-US citizens that is able to provide you with worldwide coverage, including your home country. If you would like more information on the Citizen Secure or to purchase this plan, please contact one of our licensed agents.

The Citizen Secure assistance services are available twenty-four hours a day, 7 days a week while the plan is in effect. A few of the services available include the following:

Emergency Message Relay: In an emergency it is important that your family knows you are safe, but it is not always possible to contact them and let them know. This service allows you to relay messages to your family, friends or co-workers when the need occurs.

Pre-Trip Destination Information: Limit the amount of research you have to do for your trip. We will provide you with up-to date information on health risks, required vaccinations, travel restrictions and weather conditions for your destination country.

Provider Referral: It’s not always an easy task to find a western-style health provider when in a foreign county. This service will provide you with contact information for medical facilities and pharmacies that speak English.

Lost Luggage Assistance: This will provide you with a tracking service for lost luggage while on the go.

Other assistance services include prescription drug replacement, emergency travel arrangements, dispatch of a physician, translation assistance, credit card/traveler check replacement, travel document replacement and medical monitoring.

If you would like further information on the Citizen Secure assistance services available or to purchase the Citizen Secure plan, contact one of our licensed agents today.

• A fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 Celsius) or above
• A skin rash
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• A severe cough that lingers
• Spontaneous confusion
• Bleeding or bruising that occurs without impact
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting other than that due to motion sickness

Anyone traveling with one or more of these symptoms is considered an ill traveler and should contact their doctor.

Blood clots (DVT) are another common condition that travelers should be aware of and prepared for. Those who fly often, especially on flights longer than 8 hours may have an increased risk for blood clots. Individuals who are pregnant, smoke, taking birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy pills, have had DVT in the past, recent surgery or a blood-clotting problem may also have an increased risk according to the CDC. Know what your risk is before you travel and discuss with your doctor what you can do to help prevent this condition. Here are a few tips to help you avoid getting blood clots during a long journey:

• Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated
• Wear loose clothes
• Walk and stretch periodically throughout the trip
• Ask your doctor if wearing special stocking that help encourage blood flow are right for you

As a traveler, you will want to be prepared for any illness relevant to your host country. To do this, it is a good idea to research any current disease outbreaks in your destination country and follow any specific warnings or guidelines given to help prevent you from contracting the illness.

Before your trip, also check your health insurance plan and ensure they will cover health expenses acquired while abroad. If your current plan will not provide overseas health coverage, find a plan that will cover you while on your journey so you can be prepared for the unexpected.

There is also the unique cultural experience that India has to offer. Many tourists are able to see the rich history of India by traveling the Golden Triangle and viewing its wonders such as the Taj Mahal, but expats often have the advantage of extra time to experience India more in-depth. Learning the local language in India and developing a social life are both ranked tenth in the expat survey, access to local culture is ranked 16th and enjoying local food is 15th.

When submerged in a culture you get a first hand glimpse at the benefits as well as the disadvantages. One of the lowest ranked aspects of India in the survey is their healthcare access and quality, which is ranked 26th. As an expat, once good healthcare services are found, you won’t want to be limited by your expat health insurance in India. If you will be or are already living in India as an expatriate but want a health insurance plan that meets your needs and potentially follows you wherever you go, you will want to explore your expatriate insurance options.

If you are looking for expat health insurance in India, one of the easiest ways to evaluate your options is to compare plan information and benefits side-by-side in order to choose the plan that will fit you and your family’s needs. You are also able to contact one of our licensed agents with any questions you might have.

After you have found a plan that has the type of coverage you are searching for, you will want to research the out of pocket expenses that will be expected of you. Plans often have a deductible or coinsurance that you will be responsible for if you utilize the insurance.

For those wondering what exactly a deductible and coinsurance are, here is some insight that might help you out:

Deductible: The deductible is the amount you are required to pay out of pocket before your insurance company will pay on any eligible expenses. Some plans have a deductible that is already established while other plans allow you to choose your deductible. Depending on the plan, certain benefits might be exempt from a deductible.

Coinsurance: The coinsurance is what you pay along with the insurance company and can vary greatly from plan to plan. The coinsurance is broken down by percentage such as 20/80 meaning you would be responsible for 20 percent of the eligible expenses while the insurance company would be responsible for 80 percent. The coinsurance will continue to a pre-determined cap, and then usually the insurance company will cover the remaining expenses up to the policy maximum. Depending on the plan, benefit and circumstance of usage, the coinsurance is sometimes waived.

In order to know what you can expect regarding out of pocket expenses, it is important to know your international health insurance plan’s deductible and coinsurance. If you would like assistance in finding a plan that has a deductible and coinsurance that fit your needs feel free to contact one of our agents today.

To help make this task more manageable for those looking to relocate, HSBC Bank has created a list of top countries to live in overall, based on a survey given to more than 4,000 expats.

Here is the list of the top ten best countries for expats to live:

1. Singapore
2. Hong Kong
3. United Arab Emirates
4. Canada
5. Spain
6. Qatar
7. Australia
8. Belgium
9. France
10. China

Although China was ranked tenth overall, if you have children and are considering becoming an expat, you will want to keep China in mind. China has become a very cost effective country to raise children in and the quality has not suffered for it. Expats have actually reported a 22 percent decrease in the cost of childcare since relocating to China, and while the global average for improvement in the quality of childcare is 48 percent, China has seen a 56 percent increase in the quality.

If it’s balance you are searching for, 60 percent of expats in Canada claim this is what they have found since relocating. Along with this balance also accompanied a 69 percent increase in earnings for these expatriates.

Singapore might not be the first place that comes to mind when brainstorming the best places in the world to become an expatriate in, but 66 percent of expats agree Singapore has offered them an improved quality of life (compared to the global average of 53 percent) and 65 percent agree it has improved their career (compared to a global average of 40 percent). Based on the surveys, Singapore is able to provide positive feedback both economically and socially.

There are many locations to choose from around the world, and each varies with the benefits they have to offer. This list is a good place to start when researching the best countries for expats to live and where will be the perfect match for you.

Although living somewhere that has as much to offer as Spain is fulfilling a dream for most, it is important to make sure that responsibility is not thrown to the wind. Spain’s healthcare in reference to access and quality was ranked sixth in the race against other expat-occupied countries, but as a visitor or expat, it is important to find an insurance plan that will cover you in the event that you will need to seek emergency treatment at the best suited facility for your illness or injury. Emergency medical evacuation insurance in Spain is just as necessary to have as in any other country.

A popular plan that those who only need emergency medical evacuation in Spain purchase for their visit of one year or less is the Sky Rescue plan. This plan provides emergency medical evacuation insurance in Spain for up to $100,000.

Expats that are in need of emergency medical evacuation insurance in Spain along with other coverage often turn to the Global Medical plan. Combined with emergency medical evacuation is comprehensive major medical coverage such as outpatient care, mental and nervous health coverage, transplants, surgery, adult and child wellness, prescriptions, physical therapy, recreational scuba, maternity and vision.

If you would like to know more about one of these plans or other options for emergency medical evacuation insurance in Spain, contact one of our licensed agents.