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Research · 13 min read · November 25, 2025 · Fact-checked October 7, 2026

Healthcare for Expats: How Countries Compare

Healthcare for Expats: Comparing Countries

Healthcare is one of the first things people check before moving abroad. The questions that matter most are practical: can you join the local system, what will it cost, and do you need private insurance? This article looks at how several countries handle these questions, using official sources. It is not a ranking: there is no current official league table of health systems, and the rules for newcomers differ from country to country.

Measuring Healthcare Quality

Quality is usually assessed through health outcomes, access to care and the financial protection a system offers. No single indicator captures all of this, so it is worth looking at several.

  • France: France was placed first in the World Health Organization's World Health Report 2000. That assessment dates from 2000 and should not be read as a current ranking. Today, people who live in France in a stable and regular way, generally for more than three months, can have their healthcare costs covered under universal health protection (PUMa).
  • Japan: Japan has one of the highest life expectancies in the world, at around 84 years according to World Bank data.

Access for Newcomers

  • Sweden: healthcare is run by the regions and is subsidised rather than free. Patient fees vary by type of care and are often waived for children and young people, and a national high-cost protection scheme caps outpatient fees at SEK 1,450 over a 12-month period (regions may set a lower cap). If you move to Sweden for a year or more, you should register with the Swedish Tax Agency.
  • Germany: everyone who lives in Germany is required to have health insurance, either statutory or private. Which one applies depends on your employment and income situation.
  • Australia: Medicare is open to citizens and permanent residents living in Australia, and to some people who have applied for permanent residence. Visitors from countries with a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement may have limited access, generally for immediately necessary treatment.

Costs of Public Healthcare

  • Spain: foreign nationals with legal and habitual residence in Spain who are not required to prove health coverage by other means are entitled to publicly funded care through the National Health System.
  • Portugal: since 2022, user fees in the National Health Service (SNS) have been abolished for almost all services. Fees remain only for hospital emergency visits without a prior referral from the SNS (for example through a health centre or the SNS 24 line) and that do not lead to admission.

Whatever the public system offers, check whether your visa requires private insurance and what it would cost to cover any gaps.

Practical Tips

  • Check eligibility first: find out when and how you can join the public system as a newcomer, and what you need in the meantime.
  • Know the insurance rules: some countries, such as Germany, require every resident to hold health insurance.
  • Compare insurance options: look at both public and private cover before you move.
  • Consider language: look for providers who can treat you in a language you are comfortable with, or who offer interpreting.

Final Thoughts

Choosing a country for its healthcare means balancing quality, access and cost, and checking the specific rules that apply to newcomers. Official health ministry and insurance websites are the best place to confirm the details for your situation.

To find countries that match your priorities, including healthcare, take the Switch Horizon questionnaire.

Sources