This weeks survey is by UK insurance giant, Aviva PLC. The survey as carried out on the 05th April by Onepoll. (All respondents were in employment)

Findings

Over half (54%) of respondents would now contemplate leaving the United Kingdom and moving abroad.

While short respites outside of the UK have become more common, Aviva was surprised by the number of people contemplating better long-term prospects outside the country.

Almost half (46%) of the respondents would consider a permanent move abroad compared to only 39 percent of those surveyed last year.

One in five polled (21%) indicated however, that they would remain more cautious and only be prepared to move overseas for between one to three years.

The unconvincing forecast for the British economy has been the primary factor in the growth of these figures. Aviva’s survey discovered that 89 percent of respondents believed that the UK job market has been in perpetual decline for the last 3 years.

More than half (54%) further admitted that government cuts have had a negative impact on their standard of living. Many of those surveyed claimed that the current culture of austerity and cost-cutting initiatives in Britain were now playing a key role in driving them to consider a move abroad.

More traditional reasons for emigration from Britain were also represented in the report.

Almost half (45%) of respondents indicated that they were motivated to move abroad in pursuit of a better year-round climate.

A further third of those polled (31%) believed that a move overseas could offer a healthier, less demanding and more varied lifestyle, with a better balance of work and family time available.

Aviva’s research showed that the same five countries first identified in the company’s 2010 study remained the principal re-location destinations of choice:
Australia
Canada
Spain
New Zealand
US.

Other countries mentioned as popular destinations included: France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and the UAE.

Addressing the UK study, Teresa Rogers, business lead for international private medical insurance at Aviva, said: “When times are tough, it might seem natural to set one’s sights on moving abroad. But our survey shows that there are certainly pros and cons to moving and people need to plan carefully if they are considering making their dream a reality.”

Indeed, the research highlighted that a quarter (25%) of British respondents worried that they might have worse benefits if they moved out of the country. More than a third (37%) acknowledged that they may have fewer state-funded privileges in their new foreign location.

Mrs. Rogers further highlighted that uncertainty regarding quality of medical service in a new country remained a chief going concern for expatriates. “Health is clearly a primary concern for people and whether you’re thinking of moving abroad for a short time or on a more permanent basis you need to take care to ensure you and your family are always properly protected,” she added.

Healthcare has been an increasing concern for Britons when considering a move abroad. Almost half (46%) of those polled believe the UK has superior health benefits to other countries worldwide. Over a third of respondents claimed the National Health Service (NHS) would be one of the British institutions they would miss the most if they left. This is an increase on last year’s results which indicated only a quarter (25%) felt the same way about the NHS.
Speaking for Aviva, Mrs. Rogers understood British concerns with regard to foreign healthcare services: “Healthcare provision varies greatly around the world and even routine medical care can prove costly in countries that don’t offer a similar service to the NHS.”

Anxiety about medical services overseas, prompted six in ten (59%) responders to declare that they would factor heath insurance into their travel planning. In contrast, 38 percent of those polled, claimed they would not arrange any sort of health insurance prior to moving.

Mrs. Rogers summarized Aviva’s assessment of these figures: “Although it’s very encouraging that over half of the people we spoke to would consider taking out international health insurance, over a third (39%) would sort their health insurance out only once they’ve arrived,” she said, adding, “this could leave them in a difficult position should the worst happen.”