Up to 500,000 britons prepare for exodus

It is difficult to use prognosis figures as a barometer of purpose to be fair, but there is no doubt that the trend for moving abroad is increasing.

In 2006, functionary figures from the business office of subject Statistics showed that 400,000 people emigrated from the UK, and by the end of last year, Axa had seen an 11.7 per cent rise in the figure of enquiry for international private checkup insurance, and a 28.6 per cent addition in enquiry from those look to relocate elsewhere in Europe.

It is on the basis of the continued rise in enquiry in the first half of this year - up 15 per cent again on the same time period last year - that Axa has calculated its fig.

It points out that 500,000 people is equivalent to the stallion population of Leeds, and there is good ground to think that the figure of people moving oversea is accelerating.

YouGov fig, for illustration, suggest that one in three of us is considering a move abroad to improve his or her financial position.

Retirees can live an equivalent lifestyle in French Republic for about a third of the cost of the UK, thanks to lower taxes and cheaper food and energy bills.

Now that there is also a relaxation of rules on entree to health care for non-French residents in French Republic, the entreaty is growth even more.

Axa said enquiry for the other side of the transmission channel more than doubled for the first half of this year - an indicant of its rise appeal.

nevertheless, other areas that are not as normally sought after are being considered as Brits try to benefit from lower place and life costs, and better weather - some UK farmers are having the worst harvest this year in living memory because of the poor summer we have had.

Axa's figures show Bulgaria and Cyprus have both been popular destinations, while Spain has fallen in popularity, with 18 per cent fewer queries in the first six months compared with last year - possibly because of the well-publicised fears over property repossessions within the country.

Having the right kind of healthcare, no matter where you are, is vital, which is why the likes of Axa has received such a surge in inquiries.

Yet no matter where you are, or which healthcare company you choose, do not leave the ability to access good healthcare to chance.

The cost of procedures varies greatly depending on where you are. For example, having a baby in France would cost you £7,000, compared with £1,500 in Cyprus, or £2,500 in Bulgaria. A hip replacement would cost as little as £4,000 in Bulgaria, but £18,000 in France, Axa reports.

However, it is good to see that expats are trying to keep their health on track, as the credit crunch appears to be putting paid to the health of many UK residents - more than half are buying cheaper food to cut costs, reports Friends Provident, with more than a fifth of us cutting back on the use of the gym.

Yet 7 per cent are drinking more and 6 per cent have started smoking more to cope with the stress of the credit crunch.

Worryingly, 80 per cent of women surveyed - and 72 per cent of men - rely on takeaways and ready meals for their nutrition, despite the higher cost compared with fresh food. No wonder the girth of the nation is ever expanding; that, in itself, will have an impact on your insurance premiums for life, critical illness and healthcare.

Whether or not moving abroad helps with diet is a moot point, but clearly being able to get out more because of better weather helps you to get physically fitter.

I met recently an Australian lady, aged 60, who had completed 13 Ironman triathlons (a 2.4 mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and then a full marathon, all within 17 hours) since she was 47 and we were chatting about how she had managed to get through so many.

She said that living in Australia made it more convenient than when she was living in England, for she could "get out on the bike a lot more easily".

There was no arguing with that. But in the UK you have to take the view that "if it ain't raining, it ain't training". Yep, Australia is looking ever more appealing.