The 2026 Expat Health Barometer
The 2026 Expat Health Barometer is a substantial international survey of more than 6,400 expatriates living in over 80 countries, conducted by Expat Communication in partnership with APRIL International and the Caisse des Français de l’Étranger (CFE). Its findings covered expats, including French nationals abroad, but are not confined to this demographic.
The report is revealing because it illustrates a gap between coverage and protection. A total of 93% of expatriates reported having health insurance, yet 53% said they had delayed or forgone medical care that they felt they needed. There are a variety of reasons for this, including:
- unexpected bills
- exclusions
- deductibles
- reimbursement delays
- rising healthcare costs
Complexity of access is often cited as a reason for delaying or neglecting treatment. Respondents also told the report that they preferred straightforward policy wording, digital claims and telemedicine, alongside multilingual support and rapid access to healthcare professionals. Cross-border care proved problematic, and accessing medical staff who did not speak the expat’s native language was also off-putting.
Consequently, the report presents international health insurance as a service that should help people navigate healthcare systems, not simply reimburse invoices.
Global Health Summit Brings Healthcare Leaders to Hong Kong
Healthcare leaders from around the world gathered in Hong Kong for the 2026 Global Health Summit on 10 August, a two-day event focusing on how new medical discoveries and technologies can be translated into practical treatments for patients.
The summit, jointly hosted by New Frontier Group and the Hong Kong Investment Corporation (HKIC), attracted more than 3,000 participants and around 200 speakers from areas including healthcare, science, technology, government and investment. Key issues under discussion included artificial intelligence, medical research, clinical applications and investment in new healthcare technologies.
Hong Kong is seeking to strengthen its position as an international centre for biotechnology and health technology, while also acting as a bridge between China’s rapidly developing life-sciences sector and overseas markets. Its internationally recognised healthcare and research standards, financial sector and regulatory links with mainland China are seen as important advantages.
The growth of medical tourism is another significant theme. New Frontier chairman Antony Leung predicted that China would increasingly become a destination for overseas patients during the next decade, with Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area playing an important role.
AI is also becoming increasingly embedded in healthcare. New Frontier says its own AI systems are now widely used by its clinicians, reducing administrative workloads and allowing doctors more time for patient care.
Balearic Health Service Is Under Severe Summer Pressure
Healthcare services across Spain’s Balearic Islands are facing severe pressure during the peak summer season, with nursing representatives warning of overcrowding, staff shortages and lengthy waits for treatment.
The SATSE (Sindicato de Enfermería) nurses’ union says the seasonal increase in population is placing additional strain on hospitals, primary care centres and the 061 emergency service. At Son Llàtzer Hospital in Mallorca, an average of 35 patients a day were reportedly waiting for admission during July, while a ward that could provide additional beds has remained closed.
Staff shortages are also affecting Son Espases, the Balearics’ main referral hospital, where 60 nursing posts and seven midwife positions are reportedly unfilled.
In Menorca, healthcare staff are dealing with sharply increased demand as the summer population swells, while patients at Can Misses Hospital in Ibiza have faced A&E waits of up to 12 hours.
Emergency services are also under pressure, with 061 call-outs reportedly tripling during the summer population surge.
SATSE argues that the underlying staffing problem is being exacerbated by the Balearics’ high housing and living costs, which make it increasingly difficult to attract and retain healthcare professionals. The union is calling for additional financial allowances for staff working in Mallorca.
Wildfire Health Checklist for Expats
Wildfires across Europe have been causing health issues for residents, including those who are not at risk of evacuation. We have compiled a general checklist for dealing with this emergency situation, including some healthcare tips:
- Follow official local alerts. Sign up for the relevant national or regional emergency-alert system and take evacuation instructions seriously. Keep your phone charged and emergency numbers accessible.
- Know your evacuation route. Identify at least two ways out of your area and establish where you would go. Don’t wait until you can see flames before preparing to leave.
- Prepare essential medication. Keep several days’ prescription medicines together and ready to take with you, along with prescriptions or a medication list. Include inhalers, insulin and other time-critical medicines.
- Keep documents accessible. Have passports/ID, EHIC or GHIC, residence documents and health insurance details ready to take.
- Protect yourself from smoke. Stay indoors when advised, close windows and doors, and reduce outdoor exercise. Air conditioning should be set to recirculate where possible.
- Use the right mask. A well-fitting FFP2 or FFP3 respirator can substantially reduce inhalation of wildfire particles outdoors. Ordinary surgical or cloth masks provide much less protection against fine smoke particles.
- Check air quality. Don’t judge conditions simply by whether you can smell or see smoke; fine particulate pollution can travel hundreds of kilometres.
- Take extra care if vulnerable. Older people, children, pregnant women and people with heart or lung conditions are particularly susceptible to wildfire smoke.
- Watch for smoke-related symptoms. Irritated eyes and throat, coughing, headache and breathlessness can occur. Seek medical help for severe breathing difficulty, chest pain, confusion, fainting or rapidly worsening symptoms.
- Keep indoor air cleaner. If available, use a portable air cleaner with a HEPA filter and avoid adding indoor pollution through smoking, candles or unnecessary frying/grilling.
- Keep hydrated and avoid overheating. Wildfires often coincide with extreme heat, so smoke precautions should not result in someone becoming dangerously hot inside an unventilated home.
- Prepare for power cuts. Keep water, torches, charged power banks and essential supplies available. Consider how loss of electricity would affect refrigerated medicines or medical equipment.
- Don’t return too soon. Wait for the authorities to declare the area safe. Ash and damaged buildings can present respiratory, chemical, electrical and structural hazards even after the fire has passed.
- Think about pets. Have carriers, leads, water, food and any animal medication ready.
- Know how you’ll obtain healthcare. Expats should know the local emergency number — 112 works throughout the EU and in many other European countries — and where the nearest emergency department or urgent-care facility is.
Finally, we would note that it is important not to rely solely on English-language expat social media groups for emergency information. They can be extremely useful, but evacuation zones and road closures can change quickly. Official municipal, regional police, fire and civil-protection sources should be your primary reference.