Health insurance in East Timor
If you’re thinking about visiting or living in East Timor, then you need to think about getting the best health insurance plan to cover any medical costs. Pacific Prime is happy to assist you in finding the right plan for your needs, and at an affordable price. Click below for a free quote or keep reading to learn more about health insurance in East Timor.
East Timor’s healthcare system
Healthcare facilities in East Timor include health posts, community health centers, and hospitals. However, these facilities lack trained medical professionals. The healthcare system of East Timor consists of the National Healthcare Service sector as well as the private healthcare sector. These sectors are regulated and monitored by the Government. The availability of both public and private sectors within the country gives patients freedom of choice.
However, patients seeking private care are required to make out-of-pocket payments for all medical treatments and services rendered. This implies that only a small group of people in the country can afford to utilize the services offered by the private healthcare sector given the widespread poverty in the country. The total expenditure of East Timor on health is around 13.6% of the country’s GDP.
In general, healthcare services in East Timor are extremely limited and there are very few dental and optical services available. The infrastructure of the healthcare system in East Timor is far from meeting the standard of western countries. Poor and unequal access to health services are one of the problems affecting the performance of the healthcare system in the country.
Although you can find hospitals and health centers in the urban areas, they are not equipped to deal with complex medical surgeries or emergencies. Medical evacuation is often the only choice in the case of serious illness or complex surgery, and these services are costly.
It is therefore strongly recommended that international visitors or expats take out comprehensive travel insurance before taking a trip to East Timor or an expat medical insurance plan if one decides to stay in the country for a longer period. This will cover any overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation in the event of a serious illness or accident.
East Timor health-related travel advice
Travel insurance is vital in East Timor. Outside of Dili, medical facilities are limited and any serious cases typically get evacuated to Singapore or Darwin. Consequently, travelers must be sure that their travel insurance includes full emergency evacuation coverage.
- Dengue fever is common in East Timor, though it is less common in Dili. Cover up as much as possible to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.
- You won’t find a compression chamber in East Timor.
- There are hardly any dental facilities.
- Visitors should consider hepatitis a and typhoid vaccinations. What’s more, those working with animals in East Timor should consider getting vaccinated against rabies and Japanese encephalitis.
- Don’t drink tap water unless it has been boiled. Bottled water is your best bet. Avoid ice cubes as well.
- Medical services in East Timor are limited. Serious cases typically require evacuation to Singapore or Australia.
- Avoid demonstrations, public gatherings, and street rallies since they may turn violent.
How to find the best private health insurance in East Timor
Pacific Prime offers a wide range of policies to meet your individual needs, including benefits such as dental, maternity, inpatient, outpatient, specialist consultations, and many others. We offer a large variety of healthcare plans. Contact our professional advisors today to enjoy full insurance protection for yourself and your family.
