Africa Expat Health Insurance - Things to Consider

For those who are considering moving to live and work in any part of Africa, the issue of healthcare has to be high on the list of priorities. This vast continent has so many countries and healthcare provision differs wildly depending upon where you are, so it makes sense to put measures into place that will help you and your family if you should need any kind of medical treatment.

The first step is to find the right healthcare policy for you. When comparing plans, it helps to consult an independent health insurance broker who can present options from multiple insurers. A good broker will discuss your personal circumstances, taking into account your budget, location, work situation, and family requirements, and help you identify a policy that provides the coverage you genuinely need.

Leading international health insurance providers such as Cigna Global, Allianz Care, AXA International, and Bupa Global all offer plans with Africa-wide or worldwide coverage. Comparing these providers through a specialist broker or comparison tool ensures you have access to the right policies for your specific situation, with the right level of cover from the outset.

Healthcare in Africa
As already mentioned the standard of healthcare varies a great deal across Africa, so your policy will depend upon where you are living. It may be that you are living in a fairly remote location with access to only minimal healthcare services so your policy will have to have a clause that covers you to be evacuated to a location where you can get the care that you need. Alternatively you could be living in an area that has a quite high standard of healthcare so you would not need that clause.

An independent broker or specialist adviser can help guide you towards the correct policy by helping you determine which healthcare facilities are available in your area. For example, there are many expats choosing to live and work in South Africa. It has a rich culture, beautiful scenery, and some vibrant cities. However, the public healthcare system is under significant pressure and does not have the facilities to meet the needs of the population to the standard those from Europe or North America would expect. Those moving to South Africa are strongly advised to take out private health insurance to access GP appointments and hospital care without relying on the public system.

However, we can reassure you about the private healthcare system in South Africa. The quality of private healthcare is considered to be on a par with those available in Europe and North America. Many people from other countries will travel to South Africa to access the private healthcare facilities, particularly for elective medical treatment. Those who are moving to South Africa are advised to have private healthcare insurance so that they can bypass the public healthcare system and have access to GP appointments as well as hospital care.

It is also worth noting that much of the healthcare in Africa is a cash system. When you have an appointment you are expected to pay there and then for treatment. Some countries are already looking to improve healthcare and access to it. Kenya, for example, a few years ago started a private programme to keep costs of medical care low. By changing the system so that nurses carry out some tasks instead of doctors and only conducting tests when necessary, the cost per person in the country has been dramatically reduced. However, this involves improvements to the basic national healthcare provision, rather than the private healthcare system, which again, is far better than the public system.

Research
This is why it is so important for you to find out as much as possible about the healthcare system in the part of Africa that you are moving to. When you know where it is you are going you need to discover what the facilities are in that part of the world. Will you need to travel for a private hospital? Is the public healthcare system only for citizens of that country? Do you need to pay in advance for any type of medical care? The answers to all of these questions will help you to figure out what type of policy is going to be needed for you. And remember, it may be that you need to have cover for your family too. For some people moving for work, healthcare is part of the benefits package, but how much cover you can enjoy will depend a great deal on your employer. Sometimes it is only basic cover that is provided and you will need to arrange additional cover yourself, particularly if you are taking family members with you.

This is why researching your options thoroughly before you move is so important. Working with an independent health insurance specialist who understands the African market can make the process significantly easier. For a no-obligation quote, use the button below to compare plans from leading international health insurers and find the right policy for your move to Africa.