When planning an expatriation, quality of care is not just a line on a checklist: it’s the cornerstone of security for you and your family. In 2026, global disparities are becoming more pronounced, and choosing a destination with a high-performance healthcare system has become the number 1 priority for future international movers.
In this comprehensive guide, we decipher the 5 countries at the top of the world rankings, their specific features for foreigners, and our expert advice on how to avoid being caught off guard.
France: The excellence of a universal, solidarity-based system
In 2026, France will remain an absolute benchmark. Its model is based on the principle of solidarity, offering access to high-tech care at a controlled cost.
- The expat scheme: After 3 months’ residence, you are entitled to PUMa (Protection Universelle Maladie).
- Highlights :
- Hospital network: Among the best in the world for serious pathologies and emergency care.
- Costs: The state regulates consultation and drug prices.
- Prevention: Free screening programs and exemplary paediatric follow-up.
Santexpat tip: Although public, the system leaves you to pay around 30% of the costs (ticket modérateur). International health insurance (such as 1er euro or CFE top-up) is essential to cover excess fees, which are common in big cities.
Japan: Technology for longevity
Japan boasts one of the highest life expectancies in the world, supported by a highly efficient healthcare system.
- Expat benefits: Membership of the National Health Insurance (NHI) is compulsory for all residents of more than 3 months.
- Highlights :
- Equipment: The highest rate of scanners and MRIs per capita.
- Free choice: You can consult any specialist without going through a general practitioner (“open access” system).
- Speed: Waiting times are virtually non-existent compared to Europe.
The challenge: The language barrier remains high. In Tokyo or Osaka, international clinics are excellent but extremely expensive.
Spain: The champion of quality of life and prevention
Spain’s public healthcare system (Sistema Nacional de Salud) is highly attractive to retirees and “digital nomads” alike, thanks to its human touch and focus on proximity.
- The expat scheme: free access for contributing workers (via the Tarjeta Sanitaria) and specific protocols for EU pensioners (S1 form).
- Highlights :
- Preventive medicine: A very strong culture of screening and local follow-up via the Centros de Salud.
- Quality/price ratio: top-quality private healthcare at rates 30% to 40% lower than in the USA or the UK.
Good to know: The public system can suffer from waiting lists for elective surgery. Public + private” is the norm for expatriates in Spain.
South Korea: The future of digital healthcare
Seoul has become the “Smart Health” capital of the world. Here, healthcare is run like a cutting-edge industry: fast, precise and digitalized.
- The expat scheme: NHIS (National Health Insurance Service) is automatic and compulsory for holders of work visas.
- Highlights :
- Digitization: shared medical records, test results on smartphone in a matter of hours.
- Check-ups: Korea has popularized ultra-fast, affordable screening.
- Efficiency: Hospitals open late at night and at weekends.
The downside: the Korean system applies a co-payment that can rise rapidly in the event of lengthy hospitalization.
Australia: The flexibility of the mixed system
Australia offers an exemplary hybrid model between a robust public sector (Medicare) and a private sector encouraged by the government.
- The expat scheme: Reserved mainly for permanent residents. For holders of temporary visas (482, Working Holiday), private insurance(OVHC – Overseas Visitor Health Cover) is often a legal requirement.
- Highlights :
- Standard of care: Ultra-modern infrastructures, especially in urban areas.
- Health and safety: Hygiene and safety protocols among the strictest in the world.
Tip: taking out private insurance in Australia avoids the Medicare Levy Surcharge for high-income earners.
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Expatriate checklist: Before you leave in 2026
To prevent your expatriation dream from turning into a financial nightmare, here are our 3 golden rules:
- Check visa requirements: In countries such as Thailand, the Emirates (Dubai) or the USA, the absence of certified insurance can lead to visa refusal or expulsion.
- Anticipate the “rest à charge”: Even in a country with a good public system, you will often have to pay for optical, dental and alternative medical care.
- Repatriation: This is the most neglected element. Excellent local medicine is no substitute for a medical repatriation clause to your home country in the event of a critical situation.
In brief: Comparatif Santé 2026
| Country | Main highlights | Expatriate Accessibility | Note Santexpat |
| France | Universal coverage & low cost | Excellent (via PUMa/CFE) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Japan | High technology & Speed | Mandatory (NHI) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Spain | Prevention & Cost of living | Easy (EU/Retired) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| South Korea | Modern & Digital | Automatic (workers) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Australia | Quality of life & Public/private mix | Depending on the type of visa | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Why is International Health Insurance essential?
While the above-mentioned public systems are efficient, they often present limitations for expatriates: waiting times, language barriers in the public sector, or high out-of-pocket expenses. This is whereInternational Health Insurance (IPMI) comes in. Unlike local insurance, it is designed for mobility:
- Worldwide Portability: You are covered in your host country, but also during your vacations anywhere in the world and during your temporary returns to France.
- Free Choice of Practitioner: This opens the door to the international private sector, where doctors are often English- or French-speaking, thus avoiding the waiting lists of the public system.
- Continuity with France: For French nationals, this can be combined with CFE (Caisse des Français de l’Étranger), enabling you to maintain a link with French social security and facilitating your definitive return.
- Specific cover: This includes vital services such as repatriation assistance, emergency medical transport and often 24-hour teleconsultation services in French.
The expert’s opinion: In 2026, with global medical inflation, a simple emergency hospitalization in the U.S. or Singapore could exceed €50,000. International insurance is no longer a luxury, but an indispensable financial shield to secure your assets.
