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By Aliss Higham
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Rising private health care prices are quietly becoming one of the biggest factors influencing where wealthy families decide to live, a new report has found.
Henley & Partners, an investment-migration firm, has found that global wealth migration hit a record high in 2025. People from 92 nationalities applied for residence or citizenship programs, and interest in relocation planning jumped 43 percent in the first nine months of the year compared with the same period in 2024.
The firm says this surge is "a clear signal of intensifying cross-border mobility among affluent families."
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While taxes, lifestyle and other factors still matter, Henley & Partners say health care is increasingly a deciding factor on choosing where the affluent choose to build their nests. For families supporting elderly relatives, raising young children, or looking for elective treatments abroad, the cost of private medical care can dramatically change how affordable a new place to call home is.
U.S. Healthcare
A new SIP Health Cost Index from SIP Medical Family Office—described in the report as the only full assessment of private health care costs for wealthy expats across 50 countries—shows just how wide the price gap can be.
The United States ranks as the most expensive private health care market in the world, with annual International Private Medical Insurance premiums averaging about $18,000 per person.
Kevin Buerchler, CEO of SIP Medical Family Office, says rising prices are not evenly spread.
"Private health care costs are rising worldwide, but the pace and pattern differ dramatically. Two-tier health care systems where the highest-quality care is often accessible only to those who can afford it and are well insured, is increasing," Buerchler said. "Only in a handful of health care excellence hubs we see the kind of quality and accessibility needed for global families, which makes navigating quality and cost of care more important than ever."
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International
Behind the U.S., Hong Kong follows at more than $16,100 a year, with Singapore just behind that at over $14,200.
Brazil is ranked seventh worldwide, which the report says indicates "that some Latin American destinations now rival traditional high-cost markets for premium private care."
Some Asian countries once considered affordable—such as China, Thailand and Taiwan—now rank among the 12 most expensive markets, driven by booming demand for top hospitals and increased medical tourism.
Europe offers a mixed landscape. The U.K., Greece and Spain are among the priciest private-care destinations, while Romania remains one of the continent’s most affordable options.
Elsewhere, Africa and much of Latin America stand out as the most cost-effective regions. Morocco has the world’s lowest private health care costs at $6,251 per year. Countries such as Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya and South Africa also strike a balance between cost and quality.
"Global mobility is becoming a core risk-management strategy for wealthy families," Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, chairman of Henley & Partners, said. "As clients build lives across multiple jurisdictions, they are scrutinizing not only access to residence and citizenship, but also the real cost of sustaining that lifestyle—especially the price of reliable private health care. Destinations that look attractive on paper can become far less so once true health care exposure is understood."
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