The survey report said: “The Taiwanese health care system is coveted by health care tourists around the world, but its simple rules for expats and provisions for health insurance are what distinguish it from the pack in this year’s survey.  “Upon relocation, all expats and their employers are required to register with the National Health Insurance system, which grants them access to medical and dental care.  “Contrary to how many expats feel about the paperwork involved with getting enrolled onto local health care systems, nearly seven in 10 expats in Taiwan agree that organising health insurance is relatively easy compared to a global average of 55 per cent who said the same.”  Nursing staff take care of new-born babies at Hau Sheng hospital in Yuanlin, in central Taiwan (SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images)  According to the Foreign and Commonwealth office, around 120,000 British nationals travel to Taiwan annually and about 3,000 Britons live and work there. The population of the island is around 23 million.  The FCO states in its guide to the country: “As is to be expected of a nation as developed as Taiwan, health care facilities and medical equipment are of outstanding quality. Since 1995, Taiwan has had a socialised health care plan, the National Health Insurance (NHI) which covers nearly all citizens.”  According to the Internations expat forum, the NHI premium is 4.91 per cent of gross earnings. The employee pays 30 per cent and the rest is contributed by the employer and by government subsidies. Those who travel to the country on a short-term basis can expect to pay in cash for any medical services they require.  For more expat health stories, sign up for our email bulletin.
The island offers the cheapest and best medical facilities of any country in   the world, according to a new survey