Bolivia Health Insurance for Expats

International Health Insurance for Expats in Bolivia

If you are planning to move to or visit Bolivia, it is recommended to secure private medical insurance coverage. Bolivia’s public healthcare suffers from a severe shortage of medical resources and funding, and expats may need to seek care from private facilities with more available resources.

Pacific Prime can help arrange coverage that meets your needs. Click below for a free quote, or read on to learn more about healthcare and international health insurance in Bolivia.

Recommended International Health Insurance Plans for Expatriates Living in Bolivia

Overview of the Healthcare System in Bolivia

Bolivia has a mix of public and private healthcare systems, capable of delivering healthcare to foreigners and locals alike. The quality of public facilities, however, tends to vary greatly from region to region. This prompts most expats to seek better and quicker care from private facilities.

In this section, you can learn more about the healthcare system in Bolivia and your options for healthcare should you need it.

Public Healthcare System in Bolivia

Public healthcare is subsidized by the government in Bolivia. However, its quality can vary greatly between regions due to the underfunded and overutilized nature of the system.

Bolivia has a public health insurance scheme that ensures all residents can access necessary health services via public healthcare facilities. This means the public sector is the major provider for most people who receive their healthcare through the country’s public health insurance.

This has led to the persistent state of underfunding and overutilization, with patients far outnumbering the existing healthcare supply.

In most major cities, like Santa Cruz, La Paz, or Cochabamba, you may have no problem finding public health facilities that are modern and well-equipped, but in rural regions, things can be completely different.

Patients usually report long waiting times at public facilities as well as medicine shortages, both basic over-the-counter drugs and complex medications.

Referral to specialized hospitals or inpatient admission also takes a long time due to limited hospital beds available, which means patients’ conditions might worsen in the meantime.

All these factors make the private healthcare sector the preferable option for locals and expats alike. Sometimes, even public providers will recommend patients to seek care from private institutions due to the lack of resources in the public system.

Public Healthcare Hospitals in Bolivia

Hospital Municipal Cotahuma (La Paz)
Telephone: 591 2 2771120
Website: https://lapaz.bo/cotahuma-hospital/

Hospital Municipal La Portada (La Paz)
Telephone: 591 2 2395414
Website: https://lapaz.bo/hospital-portada/

Hospital Municipal Villa 1ro de Mayo (Santa Cruz)
Telephone: 770 - 63226
Website: https://hospitalvilla1erodemayo.gmsantacruz.gob.bo/<?

Private Healthcare System in Bolivia

Private health facilities offer higher qualities of care for expats in Bolivia. They usually are more costly compared to their public counterparts and are not covered by the public health insurance system.

Private healthcare is generally limited to the major cities of Bolivia, like La Paz, Santa Cruz, or Cochabamba. They usually are better equipped and have more medical resources compared to their public counterparts, meaning shorter time for most services you need.

Some private facilities may also be staffed by English-speaking doctors, meaning you can communicate and receive care with ease even if you do not speak Spanish. Some will also work with international health insurance companies, making your claims and payment process easier.

Please note that many private health facilities will require a payment upfront before any care is provided. Many may also request proof of adequate funds or insurance be provided beforehand.

See the following section for a list of private healthcare providers in Bolivia.

Private Healthcare Hospitals and Clinics in Bolivia

Cemes Bolivia (La Paz)
Telephone: 591 2 2430350
Website: https://www.clinicacemes.com/

Clinica Alemana (La Paz)
Telephone: 591 2 2433676
Website: https://www.clinicalemana.com.bo/

Clinica Del Sur (La Paz)
Telephone: 591 2 2784001
Website: https://www.clinicadelsur.com.bo/

Clínica Foianini (Santa Cruz)
Telephone: 591 3 3362211
Website: https://clinicafoianini.com/

Clinica Los Olivos (Cochabamba)
Telephone: 591 4 4408181
Website: https://www.clinicalosolivos.com/

Health Insurance Options for Expats in Bolivia

There are three health insurance options available for expats in Bolivia: Single Health System (SUS), Social Security System, and private health insurance. ‘Resident’ status is generally required for enrollment in the SUS and the Social Security System.

Single Health System (SUS)

Bolivian public health insurance or the Single Health System (Sistema Único de Salud or SUS) was introduced in 2019 to provide basic medical coverage for the underserved population. Under SUS, patients can receive basic necessary healthcare for free at public facilities.

Foreigners with a legal ‘resident’ status in Bolivia can be eligible for this scheme. Foreign residents who meet one of the following conditions can receive coverage under SUS.

• Foreign residents who are not covered by the Social Security System
• Expecting mothers
• Women in need of sexual and reproductive assistance
• Children up to the age of 5
• Men and women over the age of 60
• People with disabilities

SUS provides coverage for most necessary healthcare at various levels, including primary consultations, medications, hospitalization, and surgery.

However, due to a severe shortage of resources and funding in the public health system, some common difficulties encountered by users include:

• Medication shortage requires patients to purchase medications themselves
• Long consultation and referral waiting times prompting patients with deteriorating conditions to seek private care

Complex and expensive medications are also not covered by the SUS, requiring out-of-pocket payment from patients.

Medication shortage in the Bolivian public health system also covers a wide range of medicine, from secondary medications to basic medications like ibuprofen or paracetamol.

Social Security System

The Social Security System is a public health insurance for residents who are actively employed in Bolivia. Expats who are employed by Bolivian employers, both public and private, must contribute to the Social Security Fund.

Under the Social Security System, employees contribute 10% of their salaries to the fund. Bolivian employers are obliged to enroll their employees in the Social Security System.

Employees insured under the Social Security System can receive subsidized healthcare at public health facilities the same way as people under the SUS.

Private Health Insurance in Bolivia

Private health insurance is available in the country and is designed to cover the cost of care at private hospitals. As with many other countries around the world, there are two major categories of health insurance available in Bolivia: local and international.

Local health insurance plans usually cover the cost of care in Bolivia only, while international health insurance plans cover the cost of care in any country you go

Private health insurance is highly recommended for travelers and expats in Bolivia as the country’s public health system may not meet Western standards and may not be equipped for complex conditions.

For international health insurance, many plans will also come with additional benefits like medical evacuation and repatriation, which could come in handy should local facilities be unable to handle your conditions or provide long-term care.

By working with insurance brokers, like Pacific Prime, you can compare plans and quotes from various insurance companies to ensure you get the best plan, with all the benefits you need, at the best price.

To see some recommended private health insurance plans for expats in Bolivia, continue to the next section.

Best Private Health Insurance Providers for Expats in Bolivia

With over 20 years of experience in the insurance industry, Pacific Prime works with top insurers like Allianz, Bupa Global, Cigna Global, and others to deliver the best policies to its clients at the best price.

Whether you are looking for a temporary stay in Bolivia or looking for an extended relocation, our insurance advisors can help you find insurance plans that work best for your stay, your needs, and your budget.

Contact us now for free, no-obligation quotes, or continue below for some examples of insurers we work with.

Allianz

Allianz offers comprehensive insurance plans for all expats’ needs. Riders are available to be purchased and attached to any basic policy that Allianz approves. These riders can offer coverage for accidents and other risks.

Some of the basic coverage for their plans includes:

AXA Insurance

AXA is a leading international health insurance provider that insures expat individuals and families. 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:

Cigna Global

Cigna Global provides flexible insurance plans to expats. They offer their members 24/7 access to a customer care team and access to any private hospitals and private clinics. Their plans are both 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:

Health and Safety Travel Advice for Expats in Bolivia

Bolivia provides an exciting landscape for adventures, but this means there are unique health and travel risks visitors should look out for such as altitude sickness and prevalent mosquito-borne diseases in the region.

Altitude Sickness

Many cities in Bolivia, including major cities like La Paz, are at high altitudes, so give yourself ample time to adjust to lower oxygen levels. Avoid traveling to high altitude in one day as well as avoid alcohol and heavy exercise in the first 48 hours of arriving at high altitude.

Civil Unrest

Civil unrest and demonstrations occur frequently and can be unpredictable, so check local media for updates and avoid areas around protests and demonstrations.

Crime

Avoid outward displays of wealth as well as avoid traveling alone or at night. Travelers should not leave their belongings unattended. Crimes including theft, robbery, and pickpocketing are common in popular districts of major cities.

Mosquito-Borne Diseases

Make sure to carry insect repellents with you and sleep under mosquito nets, as Malaria, Dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika are prevalent in Bolivia.

Recommended Vaccinations

On top of routine vaccines, travelers are also advised to get vaccines for Chikungunya, Hepatitis A and B, Malaria, Measles, Rabies, Typhoid, and Yellow Fever.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is healthcare free in Bolivia?

Healthcare is subsidized only for those with legal ‘resident’ status in Bolivia, either through SUS or the Social Security System. Still, certain medications and treatments are not covered by public health insurance, especially expensive and complex medications.

How is the healthcare system in Bolivia?

The quality of the healthcare system in Bolivia varies greatly depending on where you are. It is not uncommon to find medical facilities with modern infrastructure in major cities, but most public medical facilities in rural areas will be underfunded and overcrowded.

Get an Insurance Quote Today

Bolivia’s healthcare system suffers severely from the lack of adequate resources and funding, leading to long waiting times and medication shortages. Expats are recommended to secure sufficient medical insurance in case appropriate care is not available at public facilities.

Contact us today for free, no-obligation quotes for your international health insurance in Bolivia.