An IMGlobalWealth.com News Report
A surge in global wealth migration is intersecting with escalating private healthcare costs worldwide, turning medical affordability and access into a crucial factor for high-net-worth families deciding where to live, invest, and obtain alternative citizenship.
New data from Henley & Partners – a global leader in residence and citizenship planning—confirms that healthcare pricing is now a pivotal element in long-term mobility planning.
Henley & Partners has observed exceptional demand in 2025, with applications from 92 nationalities across more than 50 residence and citizenship programmes.
Over the past five years, the firm has assisted clients from 136 national backgrounds, illustrating the growing diversity of global investment migration.
Applications in the first three quarters of 2025 increased by 43% compared to the same period in 2024 – highlighting a notable shift in the priorities of migrating millionaires.
“private healthcare costs have become a central factor in global wealth migration”
“As families plan for multi-jurisdiction lifestyles, they are increasingly evaluating not only the availability of residence and citizenship options but also the cost of maintaining a high quality of life, including private healthcare,” said Dr Christian H. Kälin, Chairman of Henley & Partners.
The SIP Health Cost Index 2025 – developed by SIP Medical Family Office, a specialist in international health insurance and medical advisory services – offers a benchmark of private healthcare costs based on standardised international private medical insurance (IPMI) premiums across 50 countries. Using three representative personas, the Index provides a clear comparison of private healthcare cost exposure worldwide.
The 2025 ranking places the United States at the top in terms of cost, followed by Hong Kong, Singapore, and China. European destinations like the United Kingdom and Greece are also among the costlier markets, while Switzerland sits mid-table. More affordable markets include Morocco, Romania, and Nigeria.
“As healthcare costs rise unevenly, understanding these variations is essential for families planning international moves,” said Kevin Buerchler, CEO of SIP Medical Family Office.
The data is overwhelming
New data from Henley & Partners also shows that investor migration is becoming increasingly diversified across demographic groups.
Families now constitute the largest share of applicants, with many prioritising access to multi-country healthcare networks, cross-border insurance recognition, and stable medical infrastructure.
In 2025, over 62% of all applications were family-led, involving dependants such as children and ageing parents, up from 48% five years ago. This shift reflects growing concerns around long-term health security and continuity of care.
The SIP Health Cost Index provides deeper insights into these concerns. The gap between the highest- and lowest-cost markets is now more than USD 11,700 per year per insured person, underscoring the scale of budget exposure for globally mobile households.
For families of four, the difference between relocating to the United States versus Morocco can exceed USD 45,000 annually in healthcare-related costs alone.
A closer look at the Index’s persona-based data highlights how costs vary across age groups. For example, Persona 2, a 50-year-old American female, consistently requires the highest premiums across nearly all markets.
In Hong Kong, her average annual cost exceeds USD 21,300, while in Singapore it reaches almost USD 18,700, reflecting the significantly higher risk weighting applied to older applicants. Meanwhile, Persona 3 – a 24-year-old female – shows the lowest premiums across all markets, illustrating how demographic shifts within relocating families can materially influence total costs.
Regional patterns further reinforce the growing complexity of healthcare affordability. Asia’s emergence as a high-cost region is particularly notable: five of the world’s top ten most expensive countries are now in Asia, driven by strong demand for international-standard hospitals, rising regional medical tourism, and increased reliance on private insurance networks.
“Regional patterns further reinforce the growing complexity of healthcare affordability”
In contrast, Europe demonstrates one of the widest internal spreads, ranging from USD 11,700 in the UK to less than USD 6,300 in Romania.
The Middle East also continues to evolve. While the UAE ranks tenth globally due to its expanding premium healthcare sector, neighbouring markets such as Bahrain and Qatar fall just outside the top tier, signalling a rising cost trajectory as governments invest heavily in high-end medical services.
These emerging patterns align with Henley & Partners’ observation that wealth migration is increasingly shaped by “lifestyle resilience” considerations. Beyond tax efficiency or investment flexibility, families are placing greater emphasis on access to world-class healthcare, predictable insurance frameworks, and the ability to manage chronic or age-related health needs across borders.
In conclusion, private healthcare costs have become a central factor in global wealth migration. The SIP Health Cost Index provides families and their advisers with a practical tool to anticipate future medical expenses and avoid unforeseen cost burdens as they plan their long-term mobility strategies.
