Globally, World No Tobacco Day is commemorated in part to draw attention to the global tobacco epidemic, effectively hoping to reduce significant numbers of deaths due to tobacco use and addiction. Yearly, the World Health Organisation (WHO) organises campaigns focused on increasing awareness, spreading accurate information and educating the masses on the risks associated with long-term tobacco use.

According to the WHO, tobacco causes the deaths of approximately 8 million people yearly – it is the leading cause of deaths, illnesses and malnourishment. Many also mistake the perils of second-hand smoke – the result of inhaling smoke from long periods of being surrounded by smokers – 1.2 million premature deaths occur every year.

With smoking giving rise to respiratory, cardiovascular and physiological illnesses, quitting the habit can in fact improve the quality of life. Simply 12 hours of being smoke-free can lower the levels of carbon monoxide in your body as well as improve your blood pressure vitals.

In response to a growing demand amongst the expat community in Singapore for health cover, Expat Insurance has been designing healthcare solutions for these globally mobile professionals. As the go-to health insurance broker, expatriates facing any health-related concerns, be it smoking habits or a need to secure other forms of life and home insurance, can consider consulting our team for a diverse range of solutions.

This year, WHO’s global campaign – #TobaccoExposed – aims to empower youths in standing up against the tactics employed by tobacco companies. The campaign takes on a heavier significance, seeing that smokers as immunosuppressed people face a higher risk of contracting the coronavirus – endangering their health and wellness.

Why Quit Smoking? | Health Care & Insurance for Expats

Quitting the smoking habit can be difficult but there are both short and long-term benefits to your health and well-being. It also has extended benefits on the well-being of your family as second-hand smoke can be detrimental too.

In the short-term, reducing the frequency of your daily smoking habit can improve your breathing, energise you and begin the process of healing internally. Feeling the withdrawal symptoms are an important part of the process – it may be tough but it is necessary to slowly reverse the impacts of smoking on your body this way.

Quitting can add years to your life with improved health and well-being. For instance, smokers who quit by age 45-54 reduce their chance of dying too early by approximately two-thirds. The faster smokers kick the habit, the lower their risks to cancers of the lung and heart – amongst other cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.

Expatriates Insurance | Are You A Smoker?

If you are already working on kicking the habit – good for you! Smoking inevitably affects health and well-being, but it can also disproportionately increase the payments for insurance – be it life or critical illness insurance types.

We know that healthcare in Singapore can be costly. Nonetheless, the healthcare standards here are top-notch and one of the best in the world. Quitting or not, as an expat in Singapore, taking care of your health care costs through adequate health insurance is a recommended course of action. If you are looking for a broker to help you with the processes involved, schedule a discussion with our dynamic and experienced team.

As you go about kicking the smoking habit, it can be useful to think about the self-care that will prove to be useful for you in the case of unforeseen circumstances. Aside from healthy living tips and ways to quit smoking (which we will share below), health insurance that covers you as expats here comes to mind.

What Sort Of Expat Health Care Insurance Do I Need?

In matters of health insurance, we consider it crucial that expats equip themselves with the basic insurance policies. If you are a smoker, consider topping up basic health insurance policies with extra coverage or protection against serious or chronic diseases. Though your premiums may be higher – and more so the case if you have a pre-existing condition, it just helps to ensure that you are protected from emergency medical situations.

Consider some of these health insurance plans for expats in Singapore:

1. Expat Health Insurance Care – Basic Medical

A basic medical insurance plan is necessary for everyone, not just smokers. With a basic plan in place, it becomes easier to top up any additional coverage plans as you go along. Some add-ons you can consider include the Hospital and Surgical Insurance as well as GP and Specialist care.

2. Critical Illness Insurance

If you are especially worried about the protection you may receive under a basic plan, consider topping up with critical illness insurance. Furthermore, the Critical Illness Insurance plan might be useful for a more comprehensive coverage especially when cardiovascular and respiratory diseases are more common with a smoking habit.

3. Dental Care Insurance Singapore

Long-term smoking can make you susceptible to a whole host of dental issues including poor gum health and bad teeth. Protect yourself with dental care early on and work on quitting smoking so that you can safeguard your oral health.

Quitting Smoking | Tips & Tricks

It may seem challenging at first, but with the right mindset and perseverance, you will be well on your way to kicking the habit! We believe that a little bit of support from family and friends can go a long way in easing the process too. Failing once doesn’t mean that you should not try again. If anything, most people fail several times before successfully kicking the habit.

Making the decision to quit the habit can be very empowering. Our role as a health insurance broker is to provide the right advice and offer possible solutions to help you improve the quality of life – whether they are tips or suggested expat health care options.

We are committed to offering comprehensive resources to help you become a healthier you. Schedule a discussion with us to see how we can help you.