Bolivia Health Insurance

Feeling comfortable in the knowledge that if something was to happen to a family member their medical costs will be taken care of, is important to us all. Our expert consultants can advise on the most suitable level of coverage for families, individuals, groups, travelers, and teachers expatriate health insurance.

Expatriate Health Insurance Bolivia

Pacific Prime is an expatriate insurance broker specialising in providing overseas medical insurance for Bolivia nationals living, working or holidaying abroad. If you are a non Bolivia national and moving to Bolivia we can also provide plans that meet your specific requirements.

Professional Service you can trust

Pacific Prime Insurance will be with you for the duration of your policy. We offer additional customer services that include claims advice, emergency contact numbers and medical advice lines. We also maintain a comprehensive list of Bolivia hospitals/doctors. Most of our clients are expatriates so we maintain a list of Embassies in Bolivia.

As a leading broker of medical insurance in Bolivia we keep up on the latest insurance trends and Bolivia Insurance News.

We can offer expatriates in Bolivia dedicated international health insurance plans that will provide comprehensive coverage in the East and around the world. Plans that we can offer will usually have a number of benefits that a policyholder is able to tailor to suit their specific requirements. With coverage options including out-patient, dental, maternity, and emergency evacuation, you will be assured of receiving the highest levels of quality treatment anywhere in the world.

Bolivia Medical Insurance

Bolivia, formally known as the Plurinational State of Bolivia, derived its name from the last name of the South American Liberator Simón Bolívar. Bolivia is a landlocked country with a landmass of 1,098,582 km2 in size, comparatively about the size of the France and Spain combined. It shares its borders with Chile to the Southwest, Peru to the West, Argentina and Paraguay to the south and Brazil to the north and east. The official language of Bolivia is Spanish, with close to 40% of Bolivians speaking it as their mother tongue. Of the 9,947,418 people, as of July 2010, living within Bolivia, over half of its population lives on the altiplano, which is a plateau between two ranges in the Andes Mountains. The capital city of La Paz resides in the Andes Mountain range making it the highest capital in the world, sitting at 3500 meters (11,500 ft) above sea level. Bolivia holds a wealth of natural wonders, enigmatic ancient ruins and a variety of unique Indian traditions. Regrettably the country has an estimated poverty rate of 59%. Though the extreme poverty dropped about 12.5% from 2000 to 2008 it is still a prevailing issue in Bolivia, sitting at 32.7% in 2008. Bolivia is one of the poorest countries in Latin America, with poverty being more severe in indigenous groups, rural area conditions have worsened over the last 15 years.

Bolivia has one of the worst health care systems in the western hemisphere, with life expectancy at birth around 65 years. The health care system is comprised of the public sector, social security and the private sector. The public sector offers programs that focus on improving the health of mothers, children and the elderly, although its services are limited and there is a constant problem of shortage of human resources, effecting healthcare resources in rural areas most. In 2007, there were only 3.7 doctors per 10,000 people in urban areas of Bolivia, while there were only 1.3 doctors per 10,000 widely dispersed people in rural locations. The Bolivian Social security system supplies health care and coverage for diseases, occupational risks, pre and neonatal care, as well as childhood care. The only people covered under the social security system are people who are formally employed. The private sector, which is the smallest section of Bolivia's health care system, is made up of private practitioners and clinics managed by the churches and other non-profit organizations. Traditional medicines are seen within the private sector as well.

According to the World health Organization (WHO), in 2007 close to 26% of Bolivia’s population was actually covered by the health insurance. The private sector was only able to meet about 5-10% of the Bolivian population's demand for health services. This left about 70% of the population relying on the public sector for health care. With limited access to health facilities, especially in rural areas, the WHO estimated that only about half of the population that required care actually received medical care. This left around 36% of the Bolivian population without coverage.

As of February 2011 several diseases are still present within Bolivia, which is ranked as a high risk factor for expatriates/ tourists when traveling to this country. The most prevalent diseases seen in Bolivia are; dengue fever, malaria, yellow fever, leptospirosis, typhoid fever, hepatitis A and bacterial diarrhea. Malaria is endemic throughout the country, so expatriates should take necessary precautions to protect themselves from mosquitoes while within Bolivia. In January 2011 the Bolivian Ministry of Health declared a state of emergency due to the fact that there were about 1500 cases of dengue fever between October 2010 and January 2011. In 2010 there were 994 confirmed cases of yellow fever in Bolivia, which lead the Ministry of Health to mark the regions of Santa Cruz, Pando, Beni, Tarija, Cochabamba and the northern La Paz departments as yellow fever high risk areas for foreigners. It is strongly recommended for an expatriate to obtain the appropriate vaccinations before travelling to the country of Bolivia.

In some parts of Bolivia there are still concerns over hygiene and sanitation being quite poor, especially within rural parts of Bolivia. Don’t drink the water unless it is bottled or has been properly boiled, when in rural areas it is advised to drink bottled water only. It is important to ensure that your food in properly cooked to avoid any potentially dangerous food or waterborne diseases, such as bacterial diarrhea, typhoid fever and hepatitis A.

Expatriates and foreigners visiting Bolivia can use the main private health care facilities within the larger cities, such as La Paz, for basic medical care needs. Private hospitals have been known for providing good quality care. Payment for any treatment received will be the responsibility of the foreigner receiving care, either out-of-pocket or through an international insurance provider. In rural areas medical care facilities are sparse and the services provided at these facilities can be inconsistent. If injured and stuck within these rural areas a medical evacuation to the nearest facility that can provide sufficient care may be required. An expatriate will need to consider the need for medical transportation and an international medical insurance plan that incorporates cover for medical evacuation to another country for treatment.

As a traveler to Bolivia there are threats and dangers of crimes that could pose risk to a person’s safety. In Bolivia there are several violent crimes a year that happen to tourists and foreign nationals. Taxi areas and bus terminals are common area where thieves work in teams throughout the day to distract and steal from their victims. Make sure to use established transport companies. Taxis should only be used if the service is registered with the authorities, be aware of the fact that such taxis should carry no other fares or passengers. ‘Express kidnappings&rlsquo; have occurred from taxis in La Paz. Expatriates should be aware of the risk of ‘Express kidnappings’ that occur within Bolivia. They are short-term, opportunistic abductions, which endeavors to extract money from the victim. Victims are usually detained and held while the criminals use their cash cards, or credit cards to empty their bank accounts. After a period of two to three days of draining cash from the ATM the victim is usually released. To protect yourself and your family it is suggested to obtain or talk with an international insurance provider about kidnapping coverage within Bolivia.

Bolivia is the third largest producer of cocaine in the world, after Colombia and Peru, with an estimated 29,500 hectares under cultivation in 2007, producing an estimated 120 metric tons of pure cocaine. With such a large amount of illegal drug production the government has harsh penalties for trafficking or possession of drugs as an effort to try to control the production. There are illegal bars in Bolivia, where if you are found in them you can be detained and questioned if caught in such an underground establishment, especially if drugs are found at the location. Expatriates and tourists should also avoid coca-growing areas, like Chapare and the Yungas, especially when carrying cameras and binoculars.

If you would like to find more information about traveling to Bolivia, or to receive a free International Health Insurance Quote, feel free to contact one of our dedicated advisers today.