There is a significant gap between what the international health insurance assignees and their families currently receive and what they would expect for a future placement.
This is according to Axa’s Setting up for success report, which polled 689 HR decision-makers and 641 non-native assignees across 10 markets and three continents.
Expat expectations
The report found that while 39% of assignees expected cover, only 32% of employers currently provide it.
According to the report, in terms of preparation, this gap can be significant, especially as health protection is an integral part of making sure assignees and their families feel secure before relocating.
Exacerbating the issue is data around broader global mobility trends. The findings show nearly three quarters (73%) of HR decision-makers expect more digital nomadism in their workforce over the next five years – which the report concludes is a strong indicator that benefits will need to have more focus on location-fluidity and flexibility in order to give international workers, and their families, consistent health protection wherever they are based.
Wellbeing services
Significant gaps were also noted around expectations for wellbeing services as while 58% of assignees most valued stress management, just 40% of employers provide it.
It was a similar story for physical health support, with 55% most valuing this support and just 49% providing it.
The gap was much narrower for neurodiversity, however, with 27% most valuing this benefit and just 24% offering such support.
