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Zambia Health Insurance for Expats

Learn more about Zambia’s healthcare system and recommended international health insurance plans expats and travelers for Zambia in Pacific Prime’s guide.

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International Health Insurance for Expats in Zambia

Expats and foreigners in Zambia can purchase private health insurance to give them access to private healthcare facilities and to protect them from high medical bills. This coverage is important as the private healthcare system is generally of higher quality than the public.

Are you an expat moving to or visiting Zambia? Would you like to learn more about the recommended health insurance options for the area? This article from the insurance experts at Pacific Prime will help guide you in the right direction.

We will also share an overview of the healthcare in Zambia, along with key travel and safety tips for the country. Keep reading to learn more, or click the link here to receive a free quote from top international health insurance providers.

Recommended International Health Insurance Plans for Expatriates Living in Zambia

Cigna Global Insurance Plan

  • Worldwide Coverage (excluding the US)
  • Access to Cigna’s trusted network of hospitals and doctors
  • Numerous Deductible Options
  • 24/7 Customer Support
  • 4 Core Insurance Plans
Plan Details

AXA Global Health Insurance Plan

  • Experienced Personal Support 24/7
  • Easy Online Access
  • Virtual Doctor Service
  • Mind Health Support
  • Maximum Annual Benefit Limit up to USD $8,000,000
Plan Details

The Healthcare System in Zambia

Zambia’s healthcare system is made up of a public and private sector, with the public sector’s planning and funding being overseen by the Ministry of Health. Healthcare standards in Zambia may be lower quality than some expats are used to.

Zambian healthcare infrastructure is poor, especially in rural areas. This is generally due to a lack of funding, poorly maintained facilities, a lack of qualified medical professionals, and supply shortages of medications and medical equipment.

This includes the availability of basic medications, thus expats planning to live in or travel to Zambia should bring enough of their medications to last the duration of their time in the country.

In Zambia, health systems are classified into the following categories:

  • Level one includes health posts, rural health centers, and district hospitals. This is where primary and preventative care is delivered.
  • Level two includes provincial and general hospitals, which are responsible for curative care.
  • Level three includes Central Hospital and the National University Teaching Hospital, providing specialized care.

Zambia’s healthcare policy states “every able-bodied Zambian with an income should contribute to the cost of his or her health.” Children under the age of 5 and adults over the age of 65 as well as those suffering from diseases such as tuberculosis or sexually transmitted diseases, are exempt from fees.

Public Hospitals in Zambia

Public hospitals in Zambia may not offer the same standards that most expats are used to, and these hospitals are most often found in larger cities such as the capital city, Lusaka. Rural areas may not have reliable healthcare facilities close by.

Here are some public hospitals in Zambia:

  • Chilenje Level 1 Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia
  • Matero Level 1 Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia

Private Hospitals in Zambia

Private hospitals in Zambia generally offer higher-quality medical equipment and facilities than public hospitals, along with shorter wait times. Similar to public hospitals, most private hospitals can be located in the capital city of Lusaka.

  • Teba Care Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia
  • Wellspring Specialty Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia

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Health Insurance Options in Zambia for Expats

Expats’ best option for medical insurance in Zambia is private health insurance, especially since there is no public health insurance for foreigners to enroll in. Private health insurance is a highly recommended option for expats as it grants them access to better-quality medical services.

Public Insurance in Zambia

Zambia offers its citizens public health insurance through the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), but this coverage is not available for foreigners. Expats in Zambia will be expected to provide their own health insurance policy.

The NHIS was created to try to provide universal healthcare coverage to Zambian citizens, but this goal hasn’t always been successful. This has been especially true for those in rural areas with limited to no access to healthcare.

Private Health Insurance in Zambia

Expats in Zambia are highly recommended to take out a private health insurance plan, given that the country’s healthcare services are of relatively poor quality. Private health insurance can be purchased in international health insurance or travel medical insurance policies.

In particular, expats should make sure that their health insurance plan covers medical evacuation, as the costs associated with this are monumental. Because of the reduced amount of specialized healthcare in Zambia, medical evacuation to a neighboring country may be necessary.

Best Private Insurance Providers for Expats in Zambia

The best private insurance providers for expats in Zambia are offered by international health insurance providers Cigna, AXA, Bupa Global, and NOW Health International. We will share a brief overview and highlight these provider’s plans in the following sections.

Cigna Global

Cigna provides flexible insurance plans to expats in Zambia and across the world. They offer their members 24/7 access to a customer care team and access to any of Zambia’s and neighboring country’s private healthcare facilities. Their plans are customizable and comprehensive.

Cigna has a Silver, Gold, and Platinum plan with different levels of coverage. All three of these plans share several common key coverage benefits:

  • Hospitalization
  • Inpatient and daypatient treatments
  • Cancer treatments
  • Physiotherapy
  • Accidental death or total permanent disability compensation
Plan Details

AXA Health Insurance

AXA is a leading international health insurance provider that insures expat individuals and families in Zambia. Its health insurance plans are offered in five coverage tiers: Foundation, Standard, Comprehensive, Prestige, and Prestige Plus.

Each of these plans includes comprehensive inpatient coverage, with annual limits ranging from USD $160,000 to $8,000,000. Exact coverage benefits will vary from plan to plan.

The core benefits included in all five plans are:

  • Hospital charges and surgery
  • Virtual doctor service
  • Mind health service
  • Emergency coverage
  • Medical evacuation and repatriation
  • Wide range of cancer treatment
  • Ambulance transport
  • CT, PET and MRI scans
Plan Details

NOW Health International

NOW Health International is a leading international health insurance provider that offers expats in Zambia the choice of their more comprehensive WorldCare plans or their more basic SimpleCare plans. With their wide variety of health insurance plans, they have a policy for every budget.

Annual maximums for NOW Health plans range from USD $1,000,000 to $4,500,000. Healthcare benefits and annual benefit maximums vary greatly across NOW Health’s plans, but some of the core coverage remains the same.

We have listed some of their core benefits below:

  • In-patient and day-patient care
  • Cancer treatment
  • Day-patient or outpatient surgery
  • Medical evacuation and repatriation
Plan Details

Facts to Consider when Picking Insurance in Zambia

Some of the most important factors to consider for your insurance policy in Zambia are your budget, how long your trip is, and what your coverage needs are. Considering these factors is an important step to finding the right insurance plan for you.

  1. Your Budget: You should understand how much you can afford in monthly or yearly premiums, but this doesn’t mean you should try to find the cheapest coverage possible. You should ensure that your health and finances will be adequately protected through the coverage limit you purchase.
  2. The Length of Your Trip: How long your trip is will determine how long you will need to purchase coverage, and whether you will need a travel insurance plan that will last only a few months or something more comprehensive like an international health insurance plan.
  3. Your Coverage Needs: Do you plan on needing outpatient care for your time in Zambia? Or preventative care? Take the time to determine where you may need additional medical support to ensure that you have the right coverage for your health needs.

If you need further assistance with choosing the right health insurance plan for you, feel free to ask Pacific Prime’s insurance experts.

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Health and Safety Tips for Travelers in Zambia

Expats and travelers in Zambia can stay safe by getting all necessary vaccines before their trip, avoiding mosquito bites, and following other useful tips. We will share more travel advice below.

  • Vaccination: Before you travel to Zambia, make sure that all your routine vaccinations and booster shots are up to date. For comprehensive information relating to current health threats and concerns, you should consult a travel medical care professional at least 6 weeks before you travel.
  • Practice Food and Water Safety: Only drink bottled water, avoid freshly made drinks and ice made from unclean water sources, and opt for cooked foods over raw foods.
  • Avoid Bug Bites: To reduce the risk of contracting malaria or dengue fever, you should use insect repellent, wear long sleeves and trousers, and in air-conditioned rooms or use mosquito nets.
  • Avoiding Crime: Incidents of mugging, bag snatching, theft, car hijacking, and armed robberies are common in Zambia. You are advised not to stop for strangers even if flagged down and to keep doors locked and windows closed. If walking, you should avoid walking after dark.

Emergency Services in Zambia

In the event of a medical emergency, the emergency services can be reached, but the service is generally inadequate, especially outside Lusaka. According to the Zambia Tourism Agency, here’s the full list of emergency numbers:

  • Emergency – 999
  • Police – 991
  • Lusaka, Central Police Station – 0211 220006
  • Lusaka, Central Fire Station – 0211 220180
  • Lusaka, Ambulance Service – 0211 220180
  • National Telephone Operator – 100

For more serious emergencies, medical evacuation to another country may be needed. This is usually done via air ambulance and is very expensive. Given this, expats should ensure that their insurance plan covers this type of service.

Please note that the information on this page is not fully comprehensive and is subject to change without prior warning. It is advisable to consult with a local Zambian embassy should you have any doubts before you depart on your journey.

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Frequently Asked Questions:

Is healthcare free in Zambia for expats?

Healthcare is not free in Zambia for expats. It is not typically free for Zambian citizens either, though specific groups may be able to qualify for free healthcare. Expats are expected to either pay their medical bills out of pocket or purchase a private health insurance policy.

Why is private health insurance in Zambia necessary?

Private health insurance in Zambia is necessary because of the important coverage it provides, such as medical evacuation coverage in the case that you need to be taken to a better-equipped hospital that is not nearby. Private health insurance helps protect you from high medical bills.

Conclusion: Compare Plans and Quotes Now

Purchasing private health insurance in Zambia is the best way to ensure your finances and health stay protected while you travel. If you’re ready to begin shopping for international or travel health insurance plans today, Pacific Prime can help.

We offer vetted expat health insurance plans to foreigners in Zambia, along with support from our knowledgeable and friendly team of advisors. If you’d like to learn more about your health insurance options in Zambia, simply reach out to us for a no-obligation quote and insurance consultation!

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