East Timor Health Insurance for Expats

International Health Insurance for Expats in East Timor

Expats in East Timor are strongly urged to secure international health insurance for maximum healthcare accessibility and peace of mind. Beyond medical bill coverage, expats can also add benefits such as vision, dental, or maternity coverage, all of which they can also extend to their families.

This Pacific Prime guide will discuss health insurance in East Timor for expats, along with the country’s default healthcare system, some recommended international health insurance providers we’ve compiled to help with the decision-making process, and general safety and well-being tips.

Recommended International Health Insurance Plans for Expatriates Living in East Timor

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 Get a Quote

Allianz Care Health Insurance

• World-leading Health Insurance Provider for Expats
• Extensive Network With Over 1.9 Million Medical Providers
• Quick and Efficient Claims Process
• Maximum Plan benefit up to USD $5,000,000

Plan Details Get a Quote

The Healthcare System in East Timor

East Timor’s healthcare system encompasses public and private healthcare systems, allowing expats and local citizens alike to choose the option that matches what they need. However, medical care is extremely limited and accessibility in rural areas in particular can be problematic.

Below we will be discussing the public and private healthcare options in East Timor. 

Public Hospitals in East Timor

East Timor’s public healthcare system is divided into hospital services and community health services. Under hospital services, there are two references and three regional hospitals capable of simple medical treatment. 

Meanwhile, there are 65 community health services and over 200 health centers. Below is an example of a notable public hospital in East Timor:

• Guido Valadares National Hospital: This is the largest hospital in East Timor as well as the only national referral hospital providing primary and secondary care. Medical services provided include pediatrics, dermatology, internal medicine, and more. 

Private Hospitals in East Timor

Private healthcare in East Timor is available mostly in urban areas. While allowing access to medical treatment, the limited access to healthcare in East Timor means expats will have to use medical evacuation to get to a different hospital abroad for more serious medical cases. 

Healthcare accessibility is particularly difficult for rural areas. Additionally, due to the much higher cost and the country’s poverty by default, private hospitals may not be affordable to everyone. Below are some key examples of private hospitals in East Timor:

• Marie Stopes Timor-Leste: This facility specializes in reproductive health services, some of which include women’s health, STI & HIV care, family planning, and more. 

• Stamford Medical: Stamford Medical features various forms of healthcare services such as primary and specialist care, preventative and occupational health, medical diagnostics, and more. 

Health Insurance Options for Expats in East Timor

For maximum peace of mind and quality healthcare accessibility, we strongly urge you to invest in international health insurance. Some key benefits of carrying an international health insurance plan include worldwide coverage, free selection, and so much more.

While hospitals in East Timor will do when it comes to basic healthcare, expats with serious medical cases will need to use the medical evacuation feature in their health insurance plan to access a better hospital abroad. 

Below are the various benefits of international health insurance for expats in East Timor:

• Worldwide Coverage (can also include your home country): This means your medical expenses will be covered worldwide with the option of including your home country if you’d like. This will be especially useful if you need to get sent abroad or back home for prompt medical treatment.

• Free Selection: You can also choose any specific hospital you’d like to visit, which may include hospitals with multilingual medical staff, shorter waiting times, or a greater array of medical specialties. This would be especially useful for expats who can’t speak Portuguese. 

• Medical Evacuation Coverage: You can request a mode of transportation to get you to a different hospital overseas (or back to your home country) in case of serious medical complications without straining your finances regardless of your selected destination.

• Direct Billing: This is when your selected doctor or hospital directly sends medical bills to your international health insurance provider so you won’t have to file a separate claim with the insurer on your own. 

• 24/7 Access to Emergency Medical Assistance and Medical Emergency Coverage: If you need help in case of a medical emergency, you can access a healthcare facility thanks to your international health insurance provider, who will cover your emergency medical treatment fees.

Recommended International Health Insurance Providers for Expats in East Timor

Key international health insurance providers for expats in East Timor include AXA, Geoblue, and more. In the sections to follow, we will briefly discuss each international health insurance provider and give you a rundown of the benefits seen throughout their available plans. 

AXA

AXA Global’s health insurance plans provide different levels of customizable coverage, including hospitalization, outpatient treatments, emergency care,  and medical evacuation coverage. Due to its flexibility, AXA’s plans are easily a favorite among expats. 

Below  are AXA’s available health insurance plans and their respective annual limits:

• Foundation Plan (Annual Limit: $160,000)

• Standard Plan (Annual Limit: $1,600,000)

• Comprehensive Plan (Annual Limit: $2,400,000)

• Prestige Plan (Annual Limit: $3,200,000)

• Prestige Plus Plan (Annual Limit: $8,000,000)

Examples of shared areas of coverage seen throughout all of AXA’s health insurance plans are listed below:

• 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 Get a Quote

Geoblue

Geoblue’s Xplorer plan, consisting of the essential and premier types, is designed for expats traveling from the United States for work, studying, or just leisure purposes. 

Expats can also choose worldwide coverage options that include the US or don’t include the US. The following are the key features seen throughout Geoblue’s health insurance plans:

• Diagnostic lab work and X-rays
• Surgery
• Inpatient medical emergencies
• Emergency evacuation and repatriation
• Yearly physicals

Plan Details Get a Quote

April International 

April International’s health insurance plans grant hospitalization, outpatient services, maternity, and dental coverage for expats. What’s more, they also offer a 24/7 telemedicine service, user-friendly mobile claims and support, and a large direct billing network.

The following are April International’s various types of health insurance, along with their respective annual benefit limits:

• Emergency Plan (Annual benefit limit: €250,000)

• Formule Basic (Annual benefit limit: €500,000)

• Essential Plan (Annual benefit limit: €1,000,000)

• Comfort (Annual benefit limit: Unlimited)

• Premium Plan (Annual benefit limit: Unlimited)

Listed below are the examples of shared areas of coverage seen throughout April International’s different health insurance plans:

• Inpatient treatment
• Outpatient treatment
• Emergency repatriation
• Emergency evacuation
• Maternity coverage
• Vision and dental coverage

Plan Details Get a Quote

Cigna Global 

Cigna Global’s customizable, comprehensive health insurance plans grant expats access to round-the-clock customer service and maximum flexibility. The following are Cigna Global’s types of health insurance plans and their corresponding annual limits:

• Silver (Annual Limit: USD $1,000,000)
• Gold (Annual Limit: USD $2,000,000)
• Platinum (Annual Limit: Unlimited)

The common benefits seen throughout Cigna Global’s various health insurance plans are as follows:

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

Plan Details Get a Quote

Factors to Consider When Securing Health Insurance in East Timor

Expats securing health insurance in East Timor should consider factors such as foregoing price-based biased decision-making in favor of plan comprehensiveness and consistency with their healthcare needs, and more. 

Below are the factors to consider when getting health insurance in East Timor:

• Don’t Decide Based on Price Only: When getting health insurance, don’t decide based on the price as the cheapest plan won’t guarantee comprehensive coverage and will leave you with odd gaps of uninsured areas where you’ll be forced to pay out-of-pocket. 

• Decide Based on Comprehensiveness: Instead, decide based on the plan’s comprehensiveness by selecting one that covers all your medical priorities. You can also select any benefits like maternity, dental, or vision care to maximize coverage for yourself and your family.

• Pre-Existing Conditions: Some insurers will exclude pre-existing conditions coverage while others will but with additional fees or a waiting time. Contact your insurer for specific eligibility details regarding pre-existing conditions coverage and exclusions if you are unsure.

• Medical Evacuation: Because healthcare accessibility in East Timor can be problematic, especially for rural areas, expats are strongly urged to select an international health insurance plan that provides medical evacuation coverage so they can get to a better hospital abroad.

General Health and Safety Tips for Expats in East Timor

Expats in East Timor should be on the lookout for burglary and robberies, which can be prevented simply by not carrying large sums of cash and excessive jewelry. Additionally, certain routine and additional preventative vaccines are recommended. 

In the sections to follow, we will discuss general safety and well-being tips for expats in East Timor.

Crime and Safety in East Timor

Common crimes in East Timor include burglaries and robberies. Expats can easily protect themselves by refraining from carrying large sums of cash and excessive jewelry, keeping doors and windows locked, and more. 

Below are preventative measures expats can take to protect themselves from burglary or robberies in East Timor:

• Not carrying large sums of cash and visibly wearing excessive jewelry.
• Not leaving your belongings unattended.
• If you have to park and leave your vehicle unattended, fully lock your vehicle and don’t leave valuables and other items like documents or keys inside. 
• Keeping your doors and windows at home or your hotel locked.
• Not traveling alone or in isolated areas (particularly at night).
• Keep large sums of cash, including valuables and documents stashed and locked away in a safe. 

Recommended Vaccines in East Timor for Expats

According to the CDC, expats in East Timor are strongly advised to stay up to date on their general routine vaccines like COVID-19 or influenza while also getting additional preventative vaccines such as the Hepatitis vaccines, Japanese Encephalitis, and more. 

Below are the different general routine vaccines expats in East Timor are strongly urged to stay up to date on:

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

On the other hand, below are additional vaccines that are strongly recommended for expats as a preventative measure:

• Hepatitis A & Hepatitis B
• Chikungunya
• Japanese Encephalitis
• Measles
• Typhoid
• Rabies

For more information on vaccine dosage recommendations or other health concerns to watch out for, click the link below for further reading:

Timor-Leste (East Timor) - Traveler view | Travelers' Health | CDC

Emergency Numbers in East Timor for Expats

In case of an emergency, there are various emergency numbers available for expats to reach out to relevant services or authorities as listed below:

• Police: 112 or +670 331 1380
• Ambulance: 110 or +670 331 1044
• Fire: 115 or +670 331 0340

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the healthcare system like in East Timor?

East Timor’s healthcare system is divided into hospital services and community health services, the former of which features two reference hospitals and three regional hospitals while the latter encompasses 65 community health services and over 200 health centers.

How safe is East Timor?

Generally speaking, East Timor is relatively stable although there may be risks of robberies or burglaries. You can protect yourself by keeping doors and windows locked, not walking alone at night, not leaving your belongings unattended, and not carrying excessive jewelry or large sums of cash. 

Where in East Timor do rich people live?

People who live in urban areas are more likely to be wealthy as they can afford more expensive private hospitals.

Conclusion

As you can see, with limited access to healthcare in East Timor, expats should invest in international health insurance for maximum healthcare accessibility and peace of mind. With the medical evacuation feature, expats can then access better hospitals abroad without straining their finances. 

With over 20 years of experience, Pacific Prime and our brokers can help you select health insurance plans that not only align with your budget but also your unique healthcare priorities to ensure maximum coverage and peace of mind for you and your family.

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