- War and Reconstruction Zones now Popular Destinations for Specialist Expatriate Workers
- Effective International Healthcare Insurance Essential in Such Areas
- Medicare International one of the few Insurers to Offer This Cover
As troops return home from Iraq and Afghanistan, the full horror of war is often hidden from public view. Not only are soldiers killed whilst away on duty, but many suffer lost limbs or disfigurement when injured by bombs, explosives and other weapons. What will come as a surprise to most, though, is that according to the Los Angeles Times the number of US contractors living in Iraq, now exceeds the number of US combat troops. Foreign contractors, particularly UK nationals, are also to be found in large numbers living in Iraq and Afghanistan. They too face danger as they go about their working lives, as the battle is not restricted to professional soldiers, and ordinary civilians working in war zones can easily get caught in the crossfire.
Usually, contractors working in war zones are aware of the dangers that accompany their jobs, and it is for this reason that it is extremely advisable for individuals to take out health insurance which includes "passive war zone cover" if they plan to be in this situation. Healthcare insurance companies, such as MediCare International, offer policies which cover both individuals and groups of employees in countries where the risk of being caught in the crossfire is ever present, and importantly, premium discounts are usually available with three or more lives insured together as part of a group scheme. Although it is uncomfortable to face these facts, should someone be involved in a serious accident, their insurance policy will enable the individual to receive the best possible care, which could involve any kind of treatment from evacuation through to emergency surgery and in the longer term even the use of prosthetic limbs and plastic surgery.
Medical science has come a long way in its use of prosthetic limbs to help people return to their everyday lives. The use of prosthetic limbs can be traced as far back as Ancient Egypt, but advancements in recent years, sometimes with the use of robotic technology, have enabled those with prosthetic limbs to function just as well as their able-bodied counterparts.
Medical advancements have also taken place in plastic surgery, although this is more commonly associated with cosmetic procedures focusing on beauty rather than physical reconstruction after burns or other disfigurements. Non-cosmetic plastic surgery tends to focus on burns, scarring and disfigurement of the face or body. The benefits of plastic surgery to someone who has been disfigured by accident or injury can be tremendous, not only physically but psychologically too.