Plan Before You Go

Getting ready to move abroad 

Preparing to move yourself or your family overseas can be a mammoth task. Here at Aetna International, we have a team of highly skilled medical experts, who can help guide you through some of the crucial steps to take to ensure you and your family are kept in the best possible health during this stressful moving period. They can help you manage your health through the move itself and while you are settling into your new surroundings overseas. 

A team of health care experts ready to help

With an international health insurance plan, you have access to expert clinicians who are available 24/7 as the primary point of contact supporting your healthcare needs, including:

• Pre-trip planning
• Assistance locating providers and obtaining medications or medical equipment
• Coordination of medical evacuation services
• Discharge planning
• Assistance with benefit coordination
• Assistance with medical needs for your return to your home country after you complete an assignment.

A handy to-do list

It is highly recommended that you can speak the language of your destination country. So consider taking language classes before you go.

Here are some other suggestions of ways to prepare for your move.

Documents

• Be sure you have a valid passport or national identity card.
• Check whether you’ll need to exchange your driver's license. If your national driver's license needs renewing, do so before you leave.
• Make copies of all important documents: passport, diplomas, insurance papers, etc.
• Check the documentation requirements for the country you are moving to. Many countries require that official paperwork is certified before it can be accepted.
• Create a tax and finance folder with any information that can be claimed back on tax. If you are getting your expenses paid for you, put all receipts in this folder.

Home

• Inform banks and credit card companies about your move.
• Confirm that all of the important authorities, as well as your friends and family, have your new contact details.
• Arrange to have your mail forwarded.
• Contact the various utilities departments and ask them to discontinue your supply of gas, electricity, water, cable TV and telephone or if you are renting your house out, change the name on the bills.
• Print out change of address cards to hand to friends and family. Let everyone important know about your departure and change of address — the post office, family and friends.
  

School

• Inform your children’s school that you will be moving abroad and ask for transfer certificates and any information that will be relevant when you move.

Health

• Ask your doctors, vet and dentist for copies of medical records.
• Find out what the local names and equivalents are for any prescription medications that you or your family members take. Make sure that they will be available in your destination country. If not, you will need to arrange to take a supply with you, together with proof of your need for the medication for customs and excise purposes.
• Check quarantine requirements in your destination country and arrange for any pet relocations.
• Find out if you, your family and your pets need to have any vaccinations and when you need to get them.
• Remember to savour the moment as you step onto the plane, as it is a very important milestone in your life after all.

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