Pitfalls of being an expat in Bali
The local free paper the Bali Advertiser features expat writers who share opinions on health, travel, business and other subjects.
I recently read an article by a guy who is a financial advisor and his article was about the pitfalls some expats fall into. Very interesting article and raised topics such as ‘how will you support yourself if your next contract doesn’t come through or you lose your job?’ He said that many people get used to the highpaying overseas jobs and spend freely fully expecting those contracts to keep coming in. Sometimes they don’t.
Another issue was how to handle assets in a mixed marriage. Property will usually be in the name of the local partner and if both parties seek an end to their relationship it can be tough for the expat to get any part of that.
One point that got me thinking was healthcare. For those people not on their company health care insurance the cost of an operation can be astronomical. I had an acquaintance who went to BIMC medical clinic for a check up as he was feeling run down, $450 later they told him he was dehydrated.
Many people who live in Bali and visit Bali, not to mention other places in the world don’t have any kind of travel insurance. Some are not even aware that ‘travel insurance’ exists. I am on a plan covered by Atlas that is good for a year and provides me with up to $1m of medical coverage, plus all kinds of coverage for trip cancellation and baggage loss.
A German friend of mine once asked me if I had travel insurance and I said no. He replied that if someone couldn’t afford travel insurance they couldn’t afford to travel. Very good advice. Incidentally my mate Mick who moved to Japan bought travel insurance online here in Bali and it covered his broken leg expenses in Spain AND his operation in Australia.
One of the items in the newspaper article was that expats usually get too caught up in the nightlife and their work suffers. At least that part I am not worried about.
By Sean | Permalink
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Comments
Yup, Travel insurance was my savour..
Worth every cent.
cheers Mick
Thanks for posting that article, Barrie. There’s a limit to how much can be charged for anything.
Thanks for posting that article, Barrie. There’s a limit to how much can be charged for anything.
BIMC is a rip off.
“One of the items in the newspaper article was that expats usually get too caught up in the nightlife and their work suffers. At least that part I am not worried about.”
Yeah! It’s us readers who suffer from your work…
“One of the items in the newspaper article was that expats usually get too caught up in the nightlife and their work suffers. At least that part I am not worried about.”
Yeah! It’s us readers who suffer from your work…
AS A HEALTH INSURANCE BROKER IN BALI AND INDONESIA THE ADVISE THAT IS BEING DISTRIBUTED WIH REGARDS TO TRAVEL INSURANCE ABOVE IS ONLY GOOD FOR TRAVELERS OR HOLIDAY MAKERS ITS NO GOOD FOR YOU IF YOU ARE AN EXPAT AND THINK IT WILL COVER YOUR HEALTH REQUIREMENTS FOR THAT YOU WILL NEED FULL EXPAT HEALTH INSURANCE
I WOULD LIKE TO WRITE AN ARTICLE FOR BALI BLOG ON HEALTH INSURANCE AS IT IS A MUST TO OWN ONE IF YOU ARE AN EXPAT. DOES ANYBODY KNOW HOW I CAN DO THIS????????
G’Day Nick,
Wise words regarding travel insurance.
Here is an article in today’s Jakarta Post (in reference to Nick’s earlier post) which explains why the Olympics will not be shown in Indo:
http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailheadlines.asp?fileid=20040805.@04&irec=3