Most teachers will want health insurance when they go to another country. Teaching and living abroad is exciting, but also poses many unpredictable situations, such as injury or illness. Not to mention getting regular check-ups. This is why teachers should have health insurance.

Some employers will cover all or part of your health insurance. Be sure to ask if they cover medically supervised emergency evacuations, emergency reunions, and repatriation of remains. If your institute does offer health insurance, be sure to ask exact what is and is not covered. Also ask how much is covered. Also as about dental coverage. Some insurance policies cover all dental charges, some only cover part and some don't cover anything at all. Be warned that if you're a part-time teacher, you might not be eligible for all health care benefits, ask your employer for more information. And be sure you understand everything before signing your contract.

You'll also have to find out if it's a private or public system. There are some countries with great public health care and there are others that have terrible public health care. Getting into the system may be difficult, sometimes you have to book an appointment weeks in advance or get a referral just to see the doctor.

Health insurance is important and you should have it. No matter how high of a salary you have, if there's an emergency, medical costs can quickly empty your savings account. So if an employer won't cover health insurance you might want to look around for a different job.

Sharon de Hinojosa (naturegirl321) has lived and worked in the US, Scotland, Spain, the Czech Republic, China, Korea, and Peru. As well as teaching short-term in Venezuela and Taiwan.

She has created TEFL Tips which has information for teachers from writing a CV, to giving a demo lesson, learning the local language, teaching tips for the classroom and more.

Since living in Peru since August 2004, she wrote The Ultimate Peru List http://www.theultimateperulist.blogspot.com/ . With 80 pages it's a comprehensive guide for those living in or moving to Peru.