Relocating overseas with your family? Kevin Melton, sales director at AXA PPP International, has some advice on how to ensure the children stay healthy

Choosing to move to another country with your children can be a challenge for many reasons. Not only might you have to ‘sell’ the idea to your children, you also have to make sure the move is as safe and secure for them as possible.

Most importantly, you wouldn’t take any chances on your children’s health at home, so why would you when you go abroad?

Depending on where you’re going, your children may be exposed to a whole new set of germs, viruses and bacteria, so you may want to prepare for them becoming sick with minor ailments more frequently than might be normal. Coughs, colds, tummy bugs, rashes, allergies and viral illnesses are all possibilities. You can be prepared by taking basic medicines from home that you know your children are familiar with and respond well to.

There are also things you can do before you leave. Making sure you have appropriate private health insurance is crucial. Don’t forget that some countries may only have basic state covered medical facilities or may even not have any at all!

A good international health insurer will be able to help you with many things before you move. They should be able to guide you regarding what immunisations you and your children will need and any particular health warnings/concerns for the area you’re moving to, and also help you to locate a local, English-speaking clinic and physician.

It would also be a good idea to locate the nearest medical emergency department to your new home. Being prepared in advance could save you crucial time should an emergency happen.

If your child, or you for that matter, has a medical history that is complicated or includes ongoing issues, it may be an idea to get your doctor to write a letter providing details outlining the condition, medications and treatment history. If you get this translated into the language of the country you’re moving to and provide it to your new doctor, it may prevent unnecessary treatment and tests.

Being well prepared in advance and buying appropriate health insurance should hopefully mean that your children’s health is one less thing for you to worry about once you arrive at your new home.

For information on AXA PPP International’s range of international healthcare, visit www.axappphealthcare.co.uk/relocate