International Health Insurance for Expats in Macau
Health Insurance in Macau for Expats and Foreigners
Expats can purchase international health insurance for their time in Macau for protection against expensive medical bills. While eligible expats can access free public healthcare with a valid resident identity card, public facilities may not be up to private facility standards.
Key features of international health insurance plans include inpatient and outpatient coverage, emergency medical treatment and evacuation, and more. In this guide, we will explain the advantages international health insurance offers foreigners in Macau.
Read on to learn more about health insurance and the healthcare system in Macau, or click here to get a free quote.
The Healthcare System in Macau
Macau’s healthcare system is split between public and private facilities, with the Macau government funding the public health sector. The Macau Health Bureau is responsible for public health and overseeing healthcare services.
Like Hong Kong, Macau is an administrative region of China, but with its own government. Standards of healthcare quality are generally similar to Hong Kong as well.
The city has over 450 clinics and health centers, making it easy to access basic medical care almost anywhere in Macau. The Conde Sao Januario General Hospital is the only public hospital and has been having issues with bed shortages in the last few years.
This hospital is also suffering from understaffing of both doctors and nurses, causing a quick patient turnover and long waiting lists for patients Due to these factors, many expats prefer to use one of the three private Macau hospitals. But without private insurance, these hospitals can be expensive.
How Expats Can Access the Macau Healthcare System
All Macau residents, including expats, with a Macau resident identity card can receive free services at public clinics and public hospitals with a referral. Expats planning to live in Macau long term can apply for an ID card at the Identification Services Bureau office.
There are plenty of public and private clinics and health centers but there is only one public hospital, Conde de S. Januário General Hospital. The hospital provides emergency services, inpatient and outpatient services, surgical services, and rehabilitation care.
As an expatriate, you can receive care at any facility but an international health insurance plan is recommended for private facilities. The cost of care in the private sector has the potential to be very expensive
Private Insurance for Expats in Macau
Private insurance in Macau can be purchased through international insurance companies. International insurance companies are the preferred choice for expats due to their global benefits and extensive coverage.
International insurance policies can be purchased through travel insurance or health insurance policies. Travel insurance covers medical costs in case of accidents or sickness, as well as lost baggage or rescheduling fees. Travel insurance is generally short-term.
Expats looking to move to Macau for longer periods of time will need a longer-term, more inclusive solution for healthcare. This is precisely what international health insurance provides.
Public and Private Health Insurance Coverage for Expats
Public health insurance and private health insurance generally cover many similar things, with key variances in coverage limits and optional benefits. Coverage will depend on the choice of plan and provider, but most private plans can be tailored with additional benefits to the expat’s choice.
A basic overview of public and private insurance coverage is demonstrated below.
Public insurance generally offers coverage for:
- Hospitalization
- Outpatient care
- Prescription drugs
- Maternity care
Private insurance generally offers coverage for:
- In-patients treatments
- Out-patient services
- Emergency care
- Evacuation and repatriation
There are different plan options among private insurance. Individual health plans are the most common, but there are also plans available to families, and retirees. These all offer different policy features to ensure that your plan best fits your unique situation.
Best International Health Insurance Options for Expats in Macau
The best international health insurance providers will offer plans for expats in Macau with comprehensive coverage and customizable benefits.
Here is a list of the best international health insurance providers in Macau:
How Expats Can Choose the Right Insurance Plan
Expats can choose the right plan by taking into consideration the length of their time abroad and their lifestyle and medical needs. They should also consider if they want coverage in their home countries.
The advantage of international coverage is the protection it offers expats wherever they travel. Professionals who travel across the globe frequently for work will benefit greatly from this worldwide coverage.
International Health Insurance in Macau - Plans and Coverage
The best international health insurance companies for expats in Macau include Bupa Global, Aetna, and more. We will offer a brief overview below of each provider and the key points and benefits of their plans and coverage.
Bupa Global
Bupa Global offers their members in Macau tailor-made plans and guaranteed lifetime renewal. They provide high-quality service with a personal relationship manager available for their members.
Some of the features Bupa’s plans offer include:
- Inpatient coverage
- Emergency evacuation and repatriation
- 24/7 access to medical advice through the Bupa Global service center
- Direct access to specialists without referral
Aetna
Aetna is a Fortune 100 company in the United States and offers expats comprehensive quality healthcare coverage in Macau. They offer flexible and customizable benefits plans with additional options for medical, vision, dental, and pharmacy coverage.
Aetna offers expats international coverage through their Pioneer plans. These plans range in coverage and limits with five levels of coverage to choose from.
The basic coverage for their plans includes:
- Inpatient treatment and outpatient treatment (up to 90 days)
- Emergency medical evacuation
- Rehabilitation up to 120 days
- Emergency dental and optical treatment
NOW Health
NOW Health International offers expats abroad in Macau comprehensive health insurance solutions. They also provide plans for international students. They offer online claim processes through a mobile app and provide other prompt online support.
They have several different tiers of plans with different coverage and limits. These are the shared benefits featuring across all of the plans:
- In-patient and day-patient care
- Organ transplant
- Evacuation and repatriation
- Cancer treatment
- Rehabilitation
AXA
AXA Global Health Insurance is a great choice for expats in Macau with its range of differing coverage and customizable additional benefits. They offer short-term and long-term plans, with comprehensive coverage for any medical needs.
They offer five categories of coverage with their Foundation, Standard, Comprehensive, Prestige, and Prestige Plus plans. Some examples of shared coverage by all AXA insurance plans include:
- Hospital charges and surgery
- Emergency coverage
- Medical evacuation and repatriation
- Cancer treatment
Cigna
Cigna Global provides flexible insurance plans to expats in Macau with 24/7 access to a customer care team. Their plans are both customizable and comprehensive.
Cigna has Silver, Gold, and Platinum plans with different levels of coverage and limits. All three of these plans share several common key coverage benefits:
- Hospitalization
- Inpatient and day-patient treatments
- Cancer treatments
- Physiotherapy
- Accidental death or total permanent disability compensation
Allianz
Allianz offers comprehensive insurance plans in Macau to cater to 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 medical evacuation.
Allianz offers a selection of plans with differing levels of coverage and prices. The basic coverage across all their plans includes:
- Inpatient costs
- Diagnostics and laboratory tests
- Surgeries
- Ambulance transport
- Cancer treatment
Additional Benefits and Coverage
Most insurance providers allow additional coverage options to extend expats’ benefits during their time in Macau. This could cover services like dental, optical, maternity, and more.
- Dental: Dental check-ups, cleanings, and major dental procedures can be covered by additional benefits.
- Maternity and family coverage: Expats looking to expand their family can customize international health insurance plans to cover prenatal care, childbirth, and postpartum care. There are also additional benefits to cover the newborn.
- Preventive care: Some plans will offer regular health checkups, screenings, vaccinations, and wellness programs. These resources will help expats keep themselves healthy in their adventures abroad.
Pre-existing Conditions
Expats with pre-existing conditions may have fewer options when buying international insurance in Macau, but there are still solutions available. You can choose a plan with a pre-existing condition exclusion, a moratorium, or coverage with loading.
Here is a general overview of what each term means:
- Exclusion: The insurer will not pay or reimburse the policyholder for medical bills related to the condition if they choose to buy a plan from them.
- Moratorium: The insurance company offers health insurance but excludes pre-existing condition coverage. The company then observes the pre-existing condition for a specific time known as the waiting period. This period is usually 24 months, and the insurance company reviews its decision.
- Coverage with loading: Insurance companies may offer coverage for pre-existing conditions, but only with higher premiums. Not all pre-existing conditions are eligible for this kind of coverage, and not all companies offer this option.
Retirees Seeking International Healthcare in Macau
Expats retiring in Macau should buy an international health insurance plan that offers comprehensive and flexible coverage for their unique needs. This may include coverage for cancer screenings, chronic conditions support, and preventative health benefits.
Reach out to Pacific Prime to hear all our international insurance plans for retirees in Macau. We can help secure a plan with excellent coverage for your needs, as well as provide access to all the best private facilities.
Steps to Purchasing International Health Insurance
The steps for purchasing an insurance policy include comparing international health insurance providers and their plans, checking your eligibility, and finally, buying the policy.
- Comparing plans: study the plan benefits and exclusions as well as coverage amounts for each benefit in every plan. You want to be sure that you have the adequate coverage you need for your medical costs.
- Checking eligibility: not everyone is eligible for every policy. Check to make sure that any pre-existing conditions, age, or geographical limits make you ineligible for your preferred plan.
- Purchasing the policy: you can do this directly through the insurance provider, or with an insurance broker like Pacific Prime. Insurance brokers cater to your needs as a client and don’t work for any specific company. This makes them able to give you unbiased advice for finding the right policy.
Conclusion
Eligible expats can secure international health insurance to protect their health and finances during their time in Macau. Macau offers free public healthcare for eligible expats with a Macau resident identity card, but public facilities can be often overcrowded.
International health insurance can provide expats in Macau with access to quicker care, as well as protect them outside Macau’s borders. If you are interested in securing an international health insurance policy for yourself, feel free to reach out to the insurance experts at Pacific Prime.
With over 19 years of experience in delivering insurance solutions to more than 500,000 members around the world, Pacific Prime is well-equipped to handle any questions you may have.
For helpful and unbiased advice, contact our team today! You can also visit our website and use our plan comparison tool to begin shopping for plans today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Macau offer expats universal healthcare?
Expats who are eligible for Macau resident identity cards have access to free public universal healthcare. Expats who plan on living in Macau for the long term are eligible for these ID cards.
What is the quality of the healthcare system in Macau?
The quality of the healthcare system is comparable with Hong Kong as it is generally very high quality. It is not the quality of care that is the problem, as much as the long wait times and overcrowding. Public facilities can be accompanied by long lines and limited beds.
