What Is Preventive Healthcare & How Do I Find It Overseas?

If you’ve ever received a vaccination, been given help to stop smoking or undergone a screening for cancer, you’ve received something called preventive healthcare. As the name implies, preventive healthcare is designed to prevent you from getting serious illnesses.

In this article, we’ll explain a bit more about what preventive healthcare is and why it matters, plus how to find preventive healthcare services when you’re living overseas as an expat.

What is preventive healthcare?

Preventive healthcare (also called preventative healthcare, prophylaxis or well-being) refers to a form of healthcare that aims to detect and treat illnesses and injuries before they develop into something more serious.

There are many benefits to preventive healthcare, both for patients and for healthcare services.

The benefit for patients

For patients, preventive healthcare can help make treatment more effective. Many diseases can be detected before they develop into something more serious, which can give doctors plenty of time to intervene and helps to ensure patient outcomes are more effective.

Since the purpose of preventive healthcare is to help stop people from getting sick, the outcomes greatly benefit patients’ lives. Preventive healthcare can lead to:

Increased life expectancy: Research from the International Longevity Centre UK (ILC) suggests that preventive healthcare could add an average of three years to global life expectancy.
Improved healthy life years: A study in the Lancet linked improvements in preventive healthcare to a 1.4% increase in global healthy life years, i.e. the years a person can expect to live in good health while aging.
Spending less on private healthcare costs: looking after your own health and well-being improves your standard of living, it could save you money too. When patients need fewer trips to the doctor, studies have shown they save money on out-of-pocket medical expenses such as excesses, co-payments and the cost of medication.
Reduces strain on public healthcare systems: preventative healthcare can help to ensure fewer patients require major and/or emergency treatment further down the line, which can reduce pressure on public hospitals. This can lead to shorter waiting lists and a higher ratio of doctors per patient.

Health outcomes can vary significantly between countries

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The benefits for national healthcare systems

Preventive medicine is important in countries that provide national healthcare schemes as it can help reduce the burden that major diseases place on these systems. This can help to lower the cost of healthcare while improving patient outcomes and reducing mortality.

At a national and even global level, preventive healthcare can even contribute to an overall increase in GDP, bolstering the economies of entire countries and regions.

Among the many advantages of preventive healthcare to providers we find:

Higher efficiency: Studies have suggested that countries could improve life expectancy by up to 11.78 years by investing in preventive healthcare rather than curative care.
Lower costs: In the US, it has been estimated that addressing just 10% of preventable illnesses could result in cost savings of up to US$45 billion per year.
Greater productivity: Healthier employees are less likely to miss work and can perform better at work, leading to increased productivity. In the UK, as many as 33.7 million working days are lost every year to illness or injury, costing the British economy £21.6 billion.

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What forms of preventive healthcare are available?

Preventive healthcare comes in many shapes and sizes. Technically, any form of healthcare intervention that is designed to reduce the risk of future illness or injury can be considered preventive healthcare.

You’ve probably encountered preventive healthcare several times in your life, though you might not have realised.

Examples of preventive healthcare include:

Vaccinations and immunisations
Routine screenings for diseases like cancer and diabetes
Blood tests
Medical support when it comes to losing weight and quitting smoking

The lockdowns and quarantines seen around the world in response to the COVID-19 pandemic were also examples of preventive healthcare.

Let’s look at some of the most common forms of preventive healthcare in more detail:

Vaccinations and immunisations

Vaccines and immunisations are perhaps the best-known form of preventive healthcare worldwide. Vaccines have helped to effectively eradicate certain forms of disease, while for other illnesses they greatly reduce the severity of the illness, thereby improving patient outcomes and reducing mortality.

Many of us saw the benefits of immunisations first-hand during the COVID-19 pandemic. With around 72% of the world’s population receiving at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, it became the fastest-ever distribution of a vaccine worldwide and is believed to have prevented around 19.8 million deaths in the first year after its roll-out.

As of 2025, the most common immunisation worldwide was for tuberculosis (87% of the world vaccinated). This was followed by tetanus, diphtheria & whooping cough (84%), polio (84%) and hepatitis B (84%). Around 84% of babies are immunised against measles, although only 76% are administered the recommended second dose.

The most common vaccinations worldwide

Disease	% of 1-year-olds fully immunised (global)
Tuberculosis	87%
Tetanus/diphtheria/whooping cough	84%
Polio	84%
Hepatitis B	84%
Meningitis	76%
Measles/rubella	74%
Pneumococcal disease	60%
Rotavirus	51%
Yellow fever	45%

Source: Statista (via WHO)

Many countries are also implementing a course of vaccinations for human papillomavirus (HPV), which is a cause of cervical (and other forms of) cancer. The NHS predicts that HPV vaccinations in the UK will help to prevent over 110,000 cases of cancer by 2058.

The HPV vaccine is proving immensely successful – among a sample of women aged 20–24 who received the vaccine at 12–13 years old, there were no recorded fatalities from cervical cancer, compared with 23:1 deaths recorded in previous generations.

Up-to-date vaccines help protect children’s long-term health

Screenings

Screenings are tests that are designed to spot specific risk factors that may contribute to disease. The goal is to detect these risk factors early enough for a doctor to begin treatment before the disease manifests. Screenings are typically performed on healthy people at certain stages during their life.

Screenings are common for people entering middle or old age (in fact, some are becoming common among people in their 30s), where they become susceptible to certain types of cancer, and during pregnancy, when screenings focus on the health of the foetus.

There are many common types of screening. The NHS in England performs upwards of 19 million individual screenings per year. The most common of these are cervical screenings (over 3 million per year), followed by bowel screenings (2.7 million), breast examinations (1.2 million) and eye screenings for diabetes (1 million).

Screenings may analyse many different types of samples. Blood tests, for example, may be used to check for cholesterol and thyroid functions. Stool screenings can help to identify the risk of colon cancer. And genetic tests can identify risk factors related to inherited diseases, including cancer.

Cancer can affect anyone, regardless of where they live

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Behavioural changes

Certain behaviours in life can increase our risk for developing certain diseases. Your healthcare provider may therefore work with you to control and mitigate these behaviours.

For example, eating a poor diet can lead to obesity, which can increase a person’s risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and even cancer. Therefore, a healthcare provider may work with a patient to help them eat a healthier diet and develop an exercise routine to prevent obesity. In some cases, a doctor may even offer medical intervention. A person who chronically over-eats may be offered gastric band surgery or a course of weight-loss drugs.

This could also be the case when a patient is a smoker, a drug user, drinks a problematic quantity of alcohol, has poor sleep hygiene, does not partake in regular exercise or exhibits symptoms of chronic stress.

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Mental health support

Another area that healthcare practitioners are focused on is mental health. Healthcare providers are trying to reduce the causes of mental illness at a societal level to ensure a lower risk of depression and other mental illnesses. To use one example, the Campaign to End Loneliness reports that the risk of early death increases by up to 26% when a person experiences chronic loneliness – thus, healthcare providers may work with patients to help them build social connections and avoid this outcome.

Employers are also actively involved in this effort. In the US, more than 80% of employers now offer some form of employee assistance programme (EAP). This ensures staff have access to health and well-being resources, including mental health support, when they need them. However, despite the increasing number of employers providing EAPs, adoption remains low – only around 10–20% of employees make use of their resources. If you’re an employer, it’s up to you to make sure your employees take full advantage of the services available.

One area that is particularly important in the field of mental health support is stress. Stress is believed to contribute to over 100,000 deaths every year in the United States. As such, physicians are increasingly intervening in situations where they see patients under high stress, prescribing practices such as meditation and mindfulness to help them find balance in their lifestyles, and reduce their levels of cortisol – often called the ‘stress hormone’.

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Medications

If your healthcare provider has decided that you may be at risk of developing an illness in the future, they may prescribe you certain medications to reduce the risk of that illness developing. This could mean treating the early causes of that disease, or suppressing mechanisms within your body (such as gene mutations) that can lead to diseases down the line.

For instance, if your doctor decides that you have an increased risk of heart disease or stroke, they may prescribe you blood thinners such as aspirin to help prevent the risk of blood clots. Or, if you have high blood pressure, your doctor may prescribe ACE inhibitors to treat your blood pressure, before it leads to anything worse.

Preventive medications are very common. In the United States, almost a third of adults over 40 take preventive medication.

Taking prescribed medication and preparing to move overseas?

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Surgery

A rarer form of preventive healthcare is surgery. This will often be with the intention of removing or changing a part of the body so that it can not cause harm in the future, especially if that body part has the likelihood to develop a disease.

One example is a bilateral mastectomy, meaning removal of the breasts. This has proven to reduce the risk of breast cancer by 95% and is especially crucial for women who express certain genes that are known to significantly increase the risk of breast cancer. The most common form of preventive surgery is appendectomy, or pre-emptive removal of the appendix in order to prevent appendicitis.

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Do I need preventive healthcare?

The purpose of preventive health and well-being is to stop you from becoming seriously ill in the future. We all need preventive healthcare to ensure the highest possible quality of life. However, there are certain times in your life when preventive healthcare may become more important to you.

1/ You have a known family history of illness

Many illnesses have a genetic link. This means if one of your parents or grandparents had an illness, there is a chance that illness may ‘run in the family’, meaning you too could be at risk of inheriting it.

While it’s never guaranteed you will inherit an illness (and while not all diseases are caused by a genetic link), it’s important to seek preventive healthcare if you feel you may be at risk – either of inheriting the disease yourself, or passing it on to your children.

Some of the most common illnesses with a genetic link include:

Late-onset Alzheimer’s disease
Arthritis
Autism
Cancer (especially breast cancer)
Coronary artery disease
Cystic fibrosis
Diabetes
Muscular dystrophy
Sickle cell disease
Spina bifida
Tay-Sachs disease

Genetic risk factors and cancer

While the majority of cancers (88%) are not caused by any genetic link, around one-eighth can be connected to a mutation in an inherited gene. Cancer screenings will often monitor these particular genes and look for changes and abnormalities. If you have a family history of cancer, it’s important to speak to a healthcare professional to understand your own risk.

Some of the genes most frequently associated with cancer include BRCA1 and BRCA2, which are linked to breast cancer; TP53, which mutates to cause Li-Fraumeni syndrome, increasing the risk of bone cancer and leukaemia; and PTEN, which mutates to cause Cowden syndrome in children, increasing their later risk of breast, thyroid, womb, bowel and kidney cancers.

Find out more about the genetic links to cancer from Cancer Research UK.

2/ You have unhealthy habits

Over time, many of our day-to-day habits can increase our risk of developing a serious illness. If you have unhealthy habits, it’s best to speak to a healthcare provider sooner rather than later. They can help you to understand the long-term risks of these habits and may even be able to help you to stop.

Some of the unhealthy habits you may wish to pay attention to include:

Smoking – which can greatly increase your risk of various illnesses including cancer, emphysema, heart disease and reproductive problems
High alcohol consumption – which can lead to cancer, liver disease, high blood pressure and stroke
Obesity – which can lead to type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer and osteoarthritis
Lack of exercise – which can lead to obesity (and the illnesses associated with it) as well as increasing your risk of osteoarthritis and mental illness

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3/ You’re growing older

As we age, the risk of developing certain illnesses increases. It’s therefore important to have regular check-ins with your healthcare provider. They may want to conduct screenings or physical examinations to check for early evidence of illness.

Some of the times in your life you may wish to consider visiting a healthcare provider include:

In your 20s – around this age you should consult your doctor about blood tests to check for high cholesterol and high blood pressure
Age 25 – women start to require regular screening for cervical cancer around this age
In your 40s – you should start to see your doctor for regular diabetes screenings and colorectal examinations around this age. Women should visit their doctor for mammograms (breast screening)
In your 50s – this is the age you should start to see your doctor for bowel cancer screenings. Men also require prostate examinations around this age
In your 60s – in later life you will need to see your doctor regularly for hearing examinations and diabetes screenings

It’s essential to know how to find medical services in your new country

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4/ You have been invited by a healthcare provider

In countries with a national health system, your state healthcare provider may invite you to attend routine screenings or appointments. These are your opportunities to receive important consultations and should not be missed. If you receive private healthcare, you may need to organise these appointments yourself.

With access to your medical records, your primary healthcare practitioner will know when it’s time for you to:

Receive new vaccinations or boosters to support existing vaccinations
Undergo examinations and screenings
Check on the progress of previous illnesses to ensure they will not recur or cause complications in the future
Assess your overall health

Remember to pack your health records

If you are thinking about moving to another country, it’s your responsibility to ensure you bring your health records with you. Before moving, speak to your physician to obtain a copy of your health records, which you can then provide to your new physician abroad. You may also need these records when it comes to taking out a health insurance policy.

5/ You feel perfectly fine

Of course, the big advantage of preventive healthcare is that it helps to prevent major illnesses developing down the line. Therefore, there is no need to wait until you get sick to go for tests or screenings. Even if you feel perfectly healthy today, it may be a good idea to speak to a doctor to understand if there is any risk of you developing a disease down the line.

How can you find a doctor abroad as an expat?

Learn more in our full guide to seeing a doctor abroad

How to get preventive healthcare as an expat

When living overseas, it can be more difficult to seek and receive preventive healthcare. This is why it’s important to be proactive, and to go out in search of preventive healthcare, especially if you think you need it.

Whether you are preparing to move abroad or already living overseas, here are some of the steps you must take to ensure you have access to preventive healthcare:

1/ Stock up on preventive medications

If you have already been prescribed medication by a doctor in your home country, it’s important to make sure you will have enough of this medication when moving abroad. Remember, you may find it difficult to find your medication in a foreign country, especially if you need to renew your prescription with a foreign doctor first, or if the cost of your medication is significantly higher overseas.

Before moving abroad, speak to your doctor or pharmacist about receiving a bumper stock of your essential medication and remember that you may need to show a note from your doctor when transporting these medications across a foreign border.

2/ Sign up with a general practitioner

Make sure one of the first things you do after arriving in your new home country is to sign up with a GP or family doctor. You will want to make sure your new doctor receives a copy of your medical history from your previous healthcare provider. This is important not only when it comes to booking routine appointments for yourself, but to ensure your new doctor knows if and when to invite you for screenings, tests and vaccinations. Make sure your new GP has a way to contact you, and that you attend any appointments you have been invited to.

If you are having trouble finding a GP or prefer a more convenient option, consider choosing a virtual GP or telemedicine service such as My Global Doctor.

3/ Be ready for lifestyle changes

Moving to a foreign country can take a toll on your health. This is especially true when it comes to adapting to a new culture and a new climate. You may find it more difficult to take regular exercise, or to eat a healthy diet.

The stress of adapting to a new life abroad may also take a toll on your mental health. As you settle into your new life abroad, you may find healthy routines become harder to maintain, making it easier to fall into unhealthy habits.

If you notice these changes, try to get back into healthy routines as soon as possible. Continue to be proactive about your health by making time for regular exercise and a balanced diet, and speak to your doctor if you have any concerns.

4/ Take advantage of your international health insurance policy

International health insurance is a must-have for expats, helping them access private healthcare while living abroad. Better still, your international health insurance policy may include benefits that help you to find preventive healthcare solutions. Remember, your health insurance provider is just as invested in helping you to stay healthy as you are!

At William Russell, our Silver and Gold international health insurance plans offer a range of preventive healthcare benefits

Find out more about what’s covered with our well-being benefits

The importance of preventive healthcare

As the old saying goes, prevention is the best cure. And whether you’re speaking to a doctor, a healthcare system administrator or even an insurance provider, all will surely agree.

Preventive healthcare has a huge range of benefits both to patients – who can expect to live longer, healthier lives – and healthcare providers, who get to see lower costs and improved patient outcomes.

Preventive healthcare is a part of the wider world of holistic health and well-being. While some forms of preventive healthcare focus on genetics and family history of illness, most preventive healthcare is associated with lifestyle. Therefore, the best thing you can do to practice preventive healthcare is to live a healthy lifestyle. That means having a healthy diet, plenty of exercise, and avoiding bad habits such as smoking and drinking.

Remember

The onus of seeking preventive healthcare often falls on you, the patient. Whether that means being proactive about seeking medical help, attending tests and screenings when you have the chance, or staying on top of your lifestyle, it’s important to take responsibility for your health.

Frequently asked questions about preventive healthcare

What’s the difference between preventive and preventative healthcare?

There isn’t one. Preventive and preventative are both accepted spellings that describe healthcare designed to prevent illness and detect health conditions early.

Preventive is more commonly used in healthcare and medical literature.

At what age should you start preventive healthcare?

Preventive healthcare is important at every stage of life. Children benefit from vaccinations and developmental checks, while adults may need routine health assessments, cancer screenings and lifestyle support.

The type of preventive care recommended changes with your age, medical history and personal risk factors.

Learn more about our well-being benefits

Does preventive healthcare only apply if you’re healthy?

No. Preventive healthcare can benefit everyone, including people living with long-term health conditions.

It can help detect complications early, support ongoing disease management and reduce the likelihood of more serious health problems developing.

How often should you have a preventive health check?

There isn’t a single schedule that suits everyone. The frequency of health checks depends on factors such as your age, family history, lifestyle and existing medical conditions. A healthcare professional can recommend which screenings or check-ups are appropriate for you.

What conditions can preventive healthcare help detect?

Preventive healthcare can help identify a wide range of conditions before symptoms appear, including:

High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Diabetes
Certain cancers
Osteoporosis
Some infectious diseases

Early detection often means more treatment options and better health outcomes.

What’s the difference between preventive healthcare and diagnostic healthcare?

Preventive healthcare aims to reduce the risk of illness or detect health problems before symptoms develop. Diagnostic healthcare investigates symptoms or signs of illness to identify the cause and determine appropriate treatment.

Learn about how AI is supporting medical diagnostics

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Take control of your health with Elevate

As a William Russell member, you’ll have access to Elevate: our curated selection of complimentary services included with all William Russell insurance policies.

Elevate helps you stay on top of your health, mind, well-being and safety when living abroad. Powered by a range of digital platforms, Elevate helps you to be proactive about your health.

Here’s what Elevate can offer you:

Elevate your health

My Global Doctor lets you speak to a primary physician anywhere, anytime. As soon as you need to speak to a doctor, simply access the platform to book a consultation. My Global Doctor even offers prescription deliveries direct to your home in select countries.

Elevate your mind

Staying on top of your mental health can be a challenge when living abroad. Through TELUS Health Engage, you and other members named on your health policy can access up to 6 confidential counselling sessions – so when life gets on top of you, you’ll always have someone to talk to.

Elevate your well-being

If you struggle to balance your general well-being, the TELUS Health Engage platform could help. Containing thousands of pieces of content, and with gamified challenges to keep you on track, you can easily track your overall well-being and build a healthier life.

Elevate your safety

Stay ahead of global threats with Solace Secure. Powered by global intelligence data, Solace Secure’s country monitoring and alert system helps you plan ahead and respond quickly to threats of violence, terrorism and natural disasters.

With Elevate, it’s easier than ever to be proactive about your health.

Discover Elevate

At William Russell, we’re taking your insurance one step further

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Wherever you go, go with total peace of mind

At William Russell, we’ve been insuring expats like you for over 30 years. We know how hard it can be to live a healthy lifestyle – especially when you’re living abroad. That’s why we offer international health insurance policies that help you to stay on top of your health, no matter where you are in the world.

Speak to us today to find out more about how international health insurance could benefit you and your family, and get a quote online in under two minutes.

Terms & conditions apply to our insurance products and services. You can find full details of what our plans cover (and what they don’t cover) in our plan agreements.

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What Is Preventive Healthcare And How Do I Find It As An Expat?

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