Expatriates living in Rwanda will need to purchase a private international health insurance plan because they won’t qualify for the public insurance program Mutuelle de sante. Expats may be unimpressed with the quality of local health centers, so having emergency evacuation coverage is essential.

Are you an expat living in Rwanda or moving there soon? Do you need help figuring out your health insurance options?

This page will detail the health insurance options available to expats in Rwanda, highlighting the benefits and versatility of an international global plan that covers you wherever you travel.

You’ll also learn in detail how the Rwandan healthcare system is structured, who the best private insurers are, some important travel and health advice about Rwanda, and your number one resource for finding and comparing insurance plans.

International Health Insurance for Expats in Rwanda

Rwandan expatriates will want to consider an international insurance plan because they will cover your medical expenses within Rwanda and other countries if you must seek treatment elsewhere. International plans open expats up to the vast worldwide network of partnering doctors and insurers.

What is international health insurance? These are plans designed specifically for the unique needs of expats, travelers, digital nomads, and professional travelers who spend most or all of the year outside of the country where they hold citizenship.

These plans can include:

• Inpatient and outpatient coverage
• Medical emergency coverage
• Medical evacuation and repatriation coverage
• Direct billing
• Worldwide coverage (can include your home country)
• 24-hour emergency assistance
• Renewable policies
• Flexibility in choosing providers
• And much more!

International plans are offered by private insurance companies, which is exactly what expats in Rwanda will need and qualify for.

Rwanda’s Healthcare System: Explained for Expats

Rwanda’s healthcare system has lacked supplies and sufficient healthcare workers for some time, but it is making promising progress. When compared to other countries in Africa, Rwanda has the most organized healthcare system on the continent. Their innovative health posts are a big key in this.

90% of Rwanda’s population is served by the public healthcare sector, and about 10% receive care through the privately owned hospitals and clinics. Expats will most likely prefer the higher quality and greater resources available in the private healthcare facilities.

The Public Healthcare Sector in Rwanda

Most Rwandan public health facilities can provide basic medical services, though expats accustomed to the high standards of Western healthcare may find them significantly lacking. Many public hospitals and clinics lack basic necessities, such as running water and electricity.

Many public healthcare centers in Rwanda lack:

• Sufficient personnel to run the center
• MRI and CAT scans for more complicated treatment and diagnostic methods
• Resources for treating serious illnesses such as cancer, strokes, and heart diseases
• Though general surgery is available, the shortage of physicians can lead to wait times lasting weeks to months

On the flip side, most health centers have medicines that are on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) list of essential medicines, and some even have diagnostic laboratories for blood and urine analysis. Rwandan centers have made significant progress in decreasing the infant mortality rate by 60%.

The country currently operates a decentralized public service healthcare system comprising 1280 health posts, 520 health centers, 57 district hospitals, and 5 national referral hospitals.

Hospitals in Rwanda

There are five national referral hospitals in Rwanda, and individuals who need more advanced and specialized care are referred to them. The most advanced is King Faisal Hospital, and it is equipped for surgery, critical care, dental, dermatology, gastroenterology, internal medicine, and much more.

Although King Faisal is a private facility, it participates in the national health insurance system and therefore accepts patients referred to it by other hospitals and clinics. The five national referral hospitals in Rwanda are:

• The Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Kigali
• Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Butare
• King Faisal Hospital
• Rwanda Military Hospital
• Ndera Neuropsychiatric Teaching Hospital

There is one cancer treatment center in the country located at Butaro Hospital. It offers an almost full spectrum of cancer treatment, providing services such as:

• Screening
• Diagnosis
• Surgery
• Chemotherapy
• Palliative care
• A pathology laboratory

Those in need of radiology services are referred to Mulago Hospital in Uganda.

Patients with urgent need for surgical treatment may be transported to where there are teams of visiting doctors from other countries. In rare cases, the government may also pay to have patients transported to nearby countries to receive treatment with more advanced medical facilities and surgeons.

Innovative Health Posts in Rwanda

Though Rwanda’s quality of public care may be below Western standards, the government is working hard to improve access for basic healthcare with their innovative health posts. The country is proud to have 1280 operating health posts that serve as junctures between health workers and health centers.

Rwanda’s innovative health posts can provide basic health treatments, maternity care, laboratory work, dental care, ophthalmology, and circumcision in areas where it is too far to walk to the nearest medical center.

As more health posts are established, the goal is for everyone to be able to receive care within a 25 minute walk.

Rwanda’s Private Healthcare Sector

Since 1994, Rwanda’s private medical industry has been growing, and expats will likely prefer its quality of care. This private health sector is comprised of 2 general hospitals, 2 eye hospitals, 4 eye clinics, 50 clinics and polyclinics, 8 dental clinics, and 134 dispensaries.

In total, there are over 200 private pharmacies and wholesalers and 177 for-profit health facilities in the private healthcare sector. Over 50% of these operate near or in the capital of Kigali.

Though this sector is relatively small and serves about 10% of the Rwandan population, it is the most similar to Western medicine in the country. Some of the features afforded by the private hospitals and clinics are:

• Access to a wide variety of specialties and treatments
• Access to modern medical equipment and medications
• A larger number of bilingual physicians, including English speakers
• Easier access to emergency evacuation to the nearest hospital that can treat your health needs

Health Insurance Options for Expats in Rwanda

Expats living and/or working in Rwanda will need to purchase a private health insurance plan. There is a public health insurance scheme in Rwanda that makes healthcare more easily accessible and affordable for Rwanda’s residents, but expats will likely not qualify.

Public Health Insurance in Rwanda: Mutuelle de Sante

86% of Rwanda citizens are covered by the nation’s public health insurance scheme, making its insurance system one of the most successful in the world. At a premium of only USD $2 a year per family member, Rwanda’s public scheme Mutuelle de sante is the most accessible and affordable in Africa.

Basic health services, including maternity care, are covered. Also, treatments for the most common causes of death in Rwanda are covered. These include:

• Diarrhea
• Malnutrition
• Malaria
• Infections
• Pneumonia

The poorest Rwandan citizens are eligible for free health insurance. Each enrolled member in the Community-Based Health Insurance (CBHI) scheme (known as Mutuelle de sante) pays a fee ranging from free t0 about USD $10 (RWF 7,000).

Residents in Rwanda may qualify for the CBHI system if they are:

• Urban refugees
• Camp-based students
• In categories D and E (extremely impoverished or unable to work due to age, disability, or chronic illness)

Private Health Insurance in Rwanda

Expats will most likely not qualify for Rwanda’s Mutuelle de sante public health insurance, so expats will need to purchase their own private health insurance. Private insurance can be bought from a local private insurance company or an international health insurance provider.

International health insurance plans offer global perks for expats that a local plan cannot offer. These benefits include:

• Comprehensive coverage in every country of the world
• Emergency evacuation and repatriation coverage
• Access to the global private health insurance network of hospitals and physicians
• Coverage in the private hospitals and clinics in Rwanda

To speak to a private global insurance broker, contact us online, and we’ll offer obligation-free advice about your Rwandan insurance options.

The Best Private International Insurance for Rwanda Expats

Among the very best private health insurance providers are the international plans offered by Cigna, AXA, Bupa, Allianz Care, and VUMI. We will introduce you to each insurer below.

To read the full list of top providers, read our blog post The Top 10 International Health Insurance Providers.

Cigna Global

Cigna Global offers international health insurance to expats living in more than 200 markets and territories around the world. Cigna has 1.5 million health professionals and 24/7 customer support workers who speak more than 50 languages. Individuals, families, and businesses can get Cigna coverage.

Here are some more Cigna highlights:

AXA

AXA Global, also known as AXA Group or simply AXA, has more than 55 years of experience. They serve more than 95 million expats, digital nomads, businesses, and others in over 50 countries. Standard in AXA plans are their second medical opinion service and evacuation and repatriation coverage.

Here are some more AXA highlights:

Allianz Care

Allianz Care is a world-leading health insurance provider for expats living globally. As the international health brand of the larger Allianz Partners, Allianz Care offers health, life, critical illness, and disability insurance around the globe in 75 countries and in over 58 languages.

Here are some more Allianz highlights:

VUMI

VIP Universal Medical Insurance Group (VUMI) sells international health, life, and travel insurance policies for individuals and corporations. VUMI is well-known for its high quality expat maternity insurance, which is included in three of its Global Flex plans. VUMI has 35 years in the industry.

Here are some more VUMI highlights:

Travel and Health Insurance Advice for Expats in Rwanda

Travelers and expatriates in Rwanda should purchase an international health insurance policy before arriving in Rwanda. It is also highly recommended travelers take out a policy that covers emergency evacuation and transportation costs.

In the event you are seriously injured, transportation costs to the nearest medical center of excellence outside of Rwanda can cost anywhere from tens of thousands to over USD $300,000.

Rwanda Vaccinations

Travelers visiting Rwanda should get vaccinated for:

• Yellow fever
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Typhoid fever
• Rabies
• Tetanus-diphtheria
• Mumps
• Measles
• Rubella
• Meningococcus

Be sure to read our post about the most common diseases travelers catch abroad to learn how to protect against them.

Malaria and Medications in Rwanda

Malaria is prevalent throughout Rwanda, so visitors and expatriates need to:

• Carry anti-malarial medicine
• Sleep within bed nets
• Use insect repellent

It is also recommended that travelers bring diarrhea medicine, as diarrhea is a common ailment of travelers in this part of the world. You should also bring adequate supplies of personal prescription medicine and carry a doctor’s note for your prescriptions.

HIV in Rwanda

Rwanda has a Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection rate of 2.6% among individuals aged 15–49. This percentage increases with age, averaging as high as 9% for men aged 45–49. As of 2023, this is higher than the international average of 0.8% but lower than the 12.7% average in South Africa.

Travelers should be cautious when engaging in activities that can increase the risk of acquiring infection of HIV.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can expats get free healthcare in Rwanda?

Expats will not qualify for free healthcare in Rwanda. The poorest citizens of Rwanda are entitled to free health insurance, and the wealthiest pay premiums up to USD $10 per year. Funding for health expenditures comes from foreign aid to cover the costs of medical treatment.

How much does international health insurance cost in Rwanda?

An international health insurance plan in Rwanda with basic coverage can cost from USD $150 t0 $200 monthly with a $500 deductible. A comprehensive coverage plan with a $1,000 deductible may cost from $250 to $350 monthly. If you increase your deductible, monthly premiums can be less than $100.

Conclusion: Compare Plans and Quotes Now

Pacific Prime can assist you with obtaining Rwanda international health insurance or travel insurance should you decide to travel to Rwanda. We offer professional advice at no cost to you.

No matter your budget or requirements, our professional consultants can help find a locally compliant policy that fits you, your family, or your group.

Our policies can cover a wide range of services including dental, maternity, specialist consultation, transportation, inpatient services, and much more. Please contact us today for a free consultation.

To begin comparing plans and quotes on your own, check out our insurance quote generator to see over 50,000 private international plans in one place. This is your number one resource for finding, comparing, and saving health plans!

Recommended Reads:

• Expat Health Insurance
• Coverage for Pre-existing Medical Conditions
• Maternity Insurance: Pregnancy While Living Abroad