El Salvador 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 El Salvador

Pacific Prime is an expatriate insurance broker specialising in providing overseas medical insurance for El Salvador nationals living, working or holidaying abroad. If you are a non El Salvador national and moving to El Salvador 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 El Salvador hospitals/doctors. Most of our clients are expatriates so we maintain a list of Embassies in El Salvador.

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

We can offer expatriates in El Salvador 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.

El Salvador Medical Insurance

El Salvador, which translates to 'the Saviour', is the smallest country in Central America; located between Guatemala and Honduras on the coast of the Pacific Ocean. The country has a dense population of approximately 7 million people and a total area of 20,720 square kilometers. San Salvador is the capital city of the country and home to a third of El Salvador's population. Approximately 60 per cent of the population live in urban areas. San Salvador is the economic centre, surrounded by volcanoes and prone to earthquakes. Other large cities include Santa Ana, Santa Lucia, and San Miguel.

El Salvador has experienced major political, social and economic challenges in the last few decades. The country endured a 12 year civil war, which officially ended in 1992. During the 1980s, violence and poverty contributed to thousands of Salvadorians fleeing the country. Today, El Salvador continues to experience struggles relating to poverty, political instability and has one of the highest violent crime rates in the world. However, together with Government initiatives and foreign support, the future of El Salvador is expected to improve.

One of El Salvador's major public health issues is it's poor access to water supply and sanitation, leading to negative impacts on health standards across the country, particularly among rural communities. Infections transmitted via food and water are commonly experienced by expats living in El Salvador; with intestinal infections including amebiasis, giardiasis, and cholera remaining prevalent. As such, expats should drink bottled water or practice sterilization methods; such as boiling water or using chlorine tablets.

With Government healthcare initiatives and foreign assistance, predominantly from the US, El Salvador is looking forward. The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), signed and funded by the US in 2006, contributed US$461 million to the country. The MCC funding was used to improve access to potable water systems and sanitation services; as well as roads and infrastructure, education, and financial assistance to rural businesses. Health education programs have been implemented by the Government in order to combat the high prevalence of communicable diseases and Dengue Fever. Posters relating to hygiene, water sterilization methods, and protection against mosquitoes have been distributed in the public and rural communities.

Healthcare facilities are located in El Salvador's major cities and the surrounding areas, with the best hospitals located in the capital city of San Salvador. There are virtually no medical facilities in rural, remote areas of the country. The El Salvador Government employs small numbers of community workers, or 'promotores', to visit rural communities providing education on basic health care and disease prevention measures.

Equal access to health care facilities is a major issue within El Salvador. There is a large division among the population, between those who can afford private health insurance and receive adequate healthcare, and others who depend on the public health system receive relatively basic medical treatment. Doctor-patient ratio is low in public hospitals and tend to be overcrowded.

Private healthcare facilities are deemed on par with international standards, however there are some specialty treatments that are not available in El Salvador. Patients, who can afford it, commonly travel to the US to receive specialty services that are not available within El Salvador, such as oncology and complex cardiac treatment.

Expats living in El Salvador generally receive healthcare services at private facilities given the higher level of care, internationally trained doctors, and modern medical facilities. Hospital de Diagnostico, located in San Salvador; provides emergency services, medical check ups, and inpatient treatment including cardiac, paediatrics, obstetrics, and orthopedics. Expats planning families can receive prenatal, maternity and obstetrics services at the Centro Ginecologico and the Centro Pediatrico, both which are private facilities in San Salvador.

If you require treatment in El Salvador, it is important to note that private hospitals and medical practitioners will require payment upfront for all hospital and medical bills. Reimbursement is generally organised between the policy holder and the insurance company.

Dengue Fever and Malaria are serious public health concerns that affect all areas of El Salvador, particularly coastal areas of the country. Cases of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever, a serious and fatal form of Dengue Fever, are a common occurrence. Epidemics frequently happen during the wet season from June to November, although cases are consistently reported throughout the year. In 2010, El Salvador experienced a Dengue Fever outbreak with over 18,000 cases reported, including 3 deaths. Expats should practice safety precautions such as wearing long sleeved clothing and insect repellent, and should take anti-malarial medication. Malaria and Dengue Fever presents in flu-like symptoms including high fever, rash, severe joint and muscle pain. Immediate medical treatment is required to prevent further deterioration. As such, expats are strongly recommended to take out a health insurance plan to ensure ease of access to health care services.

El Salvador has a relatively high incidence of hepatitis A, dysentery, tapeworms, rabies, typhoid, and upper respiratory infections. Vaccinations are recommended for protection against hepatitis A and B, typhoid, rabies, tuberculosis, and diphtheria. Expats should not eat shellfish and seafood as a precaution to avoid contamination due to 'Red Tide', which appears seasonally in El Salvador and is highly toxic.

In the case of a serious illness or accident, emergency evacuation to the United States will be required where the appropriate level of medical care can be received. However, it is important to note that Healthcare costs in the USA are among some of the most expensive in the world. As such, expats living in El Salvador are highly recommended to obtain health insurance that includes coverage for medical expenses in the US as well as emergency evacuation and repatriation services.

Expats living in El Salvador may be affected by violent crime and theft. El Salvador is deemed to have one of the highest rates of homicide in the world. Street violence and hijacks, particularly towards buses, are common in El Salvador. As for any foreign country, expats are recommended to avoid traveling alone after dark in order to reduce the risk of violent attacks and theft.

El Salvador experiences its fair share of natural disasters including volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, floods and consequential landslides. The San Salvador area has endured 13 major earthquakes since the 16th century. In 1986, a major earthquake killed over 1,500 people and resulted in approximately 10,000 casualties and 100,000 people with no homes. There are 21 volcanoes situated in the country of El Salvador, some which have erupted and caused fatalities and major destruction throughout history. In 2005, a volcanic eruption in San Salvador killed 2 people and destroyed nearby infrastructure.

During the months of June to November, El Salvador experiences its wet season. Flooding and landslides are frequent during the rainy season and can result in damaged infrastructure and increased risk of injury. In 2009, a major landslide caused by major flooding destroyed houses and roads nearby. The event resulted in just under 200 deaths and around 14,000 people were displaced.

Emergency protocols should be adopted by residents during the event of a natural disaster, accident, serious illness or criminal offense. For all emergency services including ambulance, police department or fire service dial 9-1-1.

Expats are advised to contact Priority Ambulance where English speaking staff can organise emergency services. Priority Ambulance are a private organization that have adequate medical facilities. Expats can contact Priority Ambulance on 503-2264-7911. Response time can be affected by heavy traffic on El Salvador's roads.

For more information about El Salvador medical insurance plans, or to receive a free International Health Insurance Quote, please contact one of our dedicated advisers today.