Belize Health Insurance for Expats

International Health Insurance for Expats in Belize

Expats should secure international health insurance to access quality healthcare in Belize. Whether it’s general healthcare, injuries, or illnesses, international health insurance will help keep expats’ finances safe as they are spared out-of-pocket payments.

This guide by Pacific Prime will discuss healthcare in Belize, along with health insurance options available for expats as well as some health and safety tips.

Recommended International Health Insurance Plans for Expatriates Living in Belize

The Healthcare System in Belize

Belize’s healthcare system encompasses the public and private healthcare sectors. The public healthcare sector is managed by the country’s Ministry of Health. Waiting times may also be long, so private healthcare is generally preferred among expats.

Below we will discuss the public and private healthcare sectors in Belize for expats.

Public Hospitals in Belize

Belize’s public hospitals are overseen by the country’s Ministry of Health, which is also in charge of subsidizing medications, vaccinations, and emergency surgeries. Public hospitals and clinics provide incredibly inexpensive or outright free healthcare but often cause long waiting times.

Public hospitals in Belize are often understaffed, underfunded, and under-supplied. For some non-Spanish speaking expats, depending on where in Belize they live and which particular public hospital they go to, the language barrier may also be an issue in communicating with medical staff.

Below are some examples of notable public hospitals in Belize:

• Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital: This public hospital in the Belize district features various branches of medical specialties such as an intensive care unit (ICU), 24/7 laboratory service, pharmaceutical services, and more.
• Northern Regional Hospital: This public hospital in Belize’s Orange Walk Town features different areas of medical specialties such as pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, general surgery, and more.

Due to the limitations and shortcomings of public hospitals as mentioned above, expats tend to opt out of public hospitals in favor of their private counterparts, which brings us to our next point.

Private Hospitals in Belize

Despite the much higher cost, private hospitals are preferred over their public counterparts by expats. This is because of greater quality care and much shorter waiting times, allowing expats seeking medical attention in Belize to access quality treatment in a timely manner.

Private hospitals also offer a blend of English and Spanish-speaking medical staff catered to both Spanish-speaking and non-Spanish-speaking expats alike.

While English and Spanish-speaking staff are also available in certain public hospitals, depending on where in Belize they live, like rural areas, there is no guarantee they will be able to access public hospitals with bilingual medical staff.

The following are examples of some notable private hospitals in Belize:

• Belize Medical Associates: A leading Belizean healthcare provider for over 30 years, this private hospital features various areas of medical services such as the neurological unit, laboratory, imaging, pharmacy, and many more.
• Belize Healthcare Partners: With patients’ health in mind, this full-service private hospital in Belize features a multitude of highly-qualified departments such as dialysis, laboratory, integral health center, and more.

Health Insurance Options for Expats in Belize

Belize lacks a comprehensive public health insurance scheme but features a social security scheme instead while the private health insurance scheme allows expats to freely select specific doctors or hospitals they would like.

Below we will discuss Belize’s alternative to public health insurance and the country’s private health insurance scheme.

Alternative to Public Health Insurance in Belize: Social Security

Belize’s social security scheme, provided by the Social Security Board (SSB), only provides medical coverage for “job-related diseases” such as sickness, maternity, or retirement benefits for individuals who are unable to work.

Belize’s SSB is a state-operated entity requiring all Belizean residents and citizens over the age of 14, either self-employed or employed. Participants and their employers must also regularly pay the SSB, entitling the policyholder to claim medical expenses for work-related medical emergencies.

All expats with Belizean citizenship, residence status, or a work permit must join the SSB. However, this will only grant limited access to health services, which is one reason why expats tend to lean more towards private health insurance.

Private Health Insurance in Belize

Due to the limitations of Belize’s alternative to public health insurance in the form of its social security scheme, expats tend to favor private health insurance. This can be seen in its various benefits, despite the much higher cost, as outlined below:

• Free Selection: Private health insurance will allow expats to freely select any specific doctor or hospital they would like, which may include those with shorter waiting times and multilingual medical staff, which brings us to our next points.
• Multilingual Staff Access: As a byproduct of the free selection feature, private health insurance allows expats to choose specific, possibly multilingual medical staff, which makes communication and understanding much easier for expats.
• Access to Hospitals with Shorter Waiting Times: Once again as a byproduct of the free selection feature, expats can also choose specific hospitals using private health insurance, which may include those with shorter waiting times, allowing treatment access in a timely manner.
• Access to Better Amenities: Expats can also choose specific hospitals with better amenities such as bigger, more comfortable wards. This would be especially useful for, let’s say expats expecting a child in Belize, that way expats and their spouses have access to larger, more comfortable wards.
• Additional Benefits as Required: With private health insurance, expats can also add additional benefits, such as dental, vision, or maternity coverage, on top of their default plans to ensure maximum coverage not only for themselves but possibly for their families too.

Due to the limited access to quality healthcare facilities in Belize, an international health insurance plan is strongly recommended for expats. Assuming, as an expat, you live in rural areas of Belize where hospitals aren’t accessible, this is where medical evacuation comes in.

If your international health insurance plan covers medical evacuation, you can then use this benefit to call for transportation to get you to a better hospital overseas without having to pay out of pocket.

Recommended International Health Insurance Plans for Expats in Belize

Known international health insurance providers for expats in Belize include Cigna, April International, and more. In the following sections, we will briefly discuss each insurer and give you a quick rundown of their shared benefits.

AXA

AXA Global’s health insurance plans provide various levels of customizable coverage, namely options for hospitalization, outpatient treatments, emergency care, and medical evacuation. Thanks to its flexibility, AXA’s plans are a favorite among expats.

Below are examples of shared areas coverage across all of AXA’s health insurance plans:

Geoblue

Geoblue’s health insurance plan, known as the Xplorer plan, has two types: essential and premier. These plans are made for expats traveling from the United States for business and studying, or leisure purposes.

Expats can also pick worldwide coverage options with or without the US. Some of the common features seen throughout Geoblue’s different health insurance plans include the following:

April International

Health insurance plans from April International are tailored to expats, featuring hospitalization, outpatient services, dental, and maternity coverage. They also offer user-friendly mobile claims and support, a 24/7 telemedicine service, and a vast direct billing network.

The following are examples of the shared areas of coverage seen throughout their plans:

Cigna Global

Cigna Global offers comprehensive, customizable health insurance plans, granting expats maximum flexibility thanks to round-the-clock customer service. The following are the types of plans available from Cigna Global:

• Silver
• Gold
• Platinum

Each plan has its own set of coverage limits and benefits. The following are common benefits shared throughout Cigna Global’s health insurance plans:

Factors to Consider When Securing Insurance in Belize

As an expat in Belize, it’s crucial to consider key factors when securing health insurance in the country such as Belize using a social security scheme in place of the usual state or public health insurance scheme and the country’s limited healthcare access.

Below are crucial factors one should consider as an expat securing health insurance in Belize:

• Social Security: Belize uses a social security scheme in place of what you would expect to be the public health insurance scheme. All expats with a residence status or work permit for the country, or have a Belizean citizenship must register for the SSB.
• Limited Healthcare Access and Subpar Public Facilities: Even still, Belize’s SSB only grants limited access to healthcare. Moreover, public hospitals in Belize are often understaffed, under-supplied, and may have long waiting times.
• Forego Price-Based Decisions: Since healthcare in Belize can be limited, you need an international health insurance plan that covers all your healthcare priorities. Don’t decide based on price as the cheapest plan might not guarantee comprehensive coverage, which brings us to our next point.
• Comprehensiveness Comes First: Instead, decide based on the comprehensiveness of the benefits offered. Define your healthcare priorities and select the areas of coverage you need such as dental, vision, maternity, surgery, or prescription medication coverage.

Health and Safety Tips for Expats in Belize

Expats in Belize will want to watch out for the very high crime rate, as seen in cases of robbery or theft. Additionally, preventive and routine vaccinations like the Hepatitis and Influenza or COVID-19 vaccines are highly recommended. Below are health and safety tips for expats in Belize:

• Crime and Safety: Belize has a high crime rate, as seen in cases of robbery, theft, or violence.
  • Prevention: You can protect yourself by avoiding walking alone in dark alleys, leaving your valuables at home or in your hotel, not wearing expensive jewelry to avoid drawing the attention of potential robbers, and using ATMs in well-lit areas or in a bank.

Recommended Vaccines for Expats in Belize

Some vaccines strongly recommended by the CDC and WHO include the Hepatitis A and B vaccines, the Yellow Fever vaccine, and the Rabies vaccine. As a precautionary measure, it’s a good idea for expats to get the following vaccines before going to Belize:

• Typhoid
• Hepatitis A & Hepatitis B
• Polio
• Yellow Fever
• Chikungunya
• Rabies

Additionally, some examples of routine vaccines expats will need to stay up to date on before heading to Belize include the Influenza and COVID-19 vaccines. Below are the routine vaccines expats will need to update before going to Belize:

• Influenza
• COVID-19
• Pneumonia
• Meningitis
• Chickenpox
• Shingles
• TDAP (Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis)
• MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)

For more information on vaccine requirements and recommendations, please click the link below for further reading:

Travel Vaccines and Advice for Belize | Passport Health

Emergency Numbers for Expats in Belize

There are multiple emergency numbers available in Belize for expats. Some areas of Belize will have their own unique emergency numbers, but the following are common numbers shared throughout different areas of Belize:

• Police: 911
• Crime Stopper: 0-800-922-TIPS (8477)

For more information on other numbers unique to different areas of Belize, please click the link below for further reading:

Emergency Services

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Belize a good place for expats to live?

In Belize, the quality of life is high and the cost of living is low. With beaches, lagoons, rivers, islands, and jungles available, Belize has something for every expat and local citizen alike.

How are public hospitals in Belize?

Belize’s public hospitals are generally understaffed, under-supplied, and underfunded, which results in longer waiting times. While there are some bilingual public hospitals available, expats tend to prefer private hospitals due to greater benefits.

Is registering for the social security scheme in Belize required?

Expats with Belizean citizenship, a work permit, or a residence status in the country are required to register for the country’s social security scheme, known as the Social Security Board (SSB).

Get an Insurance Quote Today from Pacific Prime

Because healthcare access in Belize may be limited and public hospitals may be subpar, having an international health insurance plan is strongly recommended. Assuming your plan covers medical evacuation, you can then access better hospitals without having to pay for transportation out-of-pocket.

And this is where Pacific Prime and our brokers with over 20 years of experience come in. We can help you compare and select suitable health insurance plans that match not only your budget but also your unique healthcare needs to ensure maximum coverage for yourself and your family.

Contact us today or compare quotes with our online quotation system!