Marshall Islands Health Insurance for Expats

International Health Insurance for Expats in the Marshall Islands

Expats in the Marshall Islands are strongly urged to secure international health insurance to ensure maximum access to quality healthcare and for maximum peace of mind. Expats can also extend coverage to their families through benefits like dental, vision, or maternity coverage.

This guide by Pacific Prime will discuss the Marshall Islands’ healthcare system, available options for health insurance, and general safety and well-being recommendations for expats.

Recommended International Health Insurance Plans for Expatriates Living in Marshall Islands

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

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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

The Healthcare System in the Marshall Islands

The Marshall Islands’ healthcare system combines public and private healthcare, though most of the population uses public healthcare despite the availability of private clinics.

All doctors in public and private facilities are licensed under the Ministry of Health and Human Services medical examining and licensing board to practice medical care in the Marshall Islands. In the following sections, we will discuss the Marshall Islands’ healthcare system.

Public Healthcare in the Marshall Islands

Public healthcare is available to all residents, and a small copay of 4% is required for all services. Due to the small size of the islands, there are two primary hospitals, the Leroj Atama Medical Center and the Leroj Kitlang Health Center in Majuro and Ebeye, respectively.

These two hospitals serve urban areas, including the surrounding islands through referrals and medical evacuation, as well as providing primary and secondary care, along with some tertiary care. However, most tertiary care patients are referred off-island to hospitals in the Philippines or Hawaii.

In addition to these two hospitals, there are also 59 healthcare centers in the outer atolls and islands providing basic medical care and services. The quality of medical care in the Marshall Islands’ hospitals is on par with international standards and adequate.

Because there are only two hospitals available, there may be accessibility issues for the population. Additionally, while there are three pharmacies available in Majuro, prescription medication may be limited. Thus, it’s advisable to carry enough medication for your stay.

Private Healthcare in the Marshall Islands

On the other hand, private clinics are also available in the Marshall Islands as an alternative. These include one private health clinic, one private dental clinic, and two optometry practices in Majuro.

Generally speaking, only foreigners in the Marshall Islands have private health insurance.

Health Insurance Options for Expats in the Marshall Islands

When it comes to health insurance options in the Marshall Islands, the republic features a national health insurance scheme, which comprises basic and supplemental insurance. Meanwhile, foreigners generally opt for private health insurance for additional benefits.

Below are the available health insurance options for expats in the Marshall Islands.

National Health Insurance in the Marshall Islands

The Marshall Islands offers a national health insurance scheme, which can be broken down into basic and supplementary health insurance. For the basic health insurance scheme under national health insurance, patients pay the following:

• $5 for a full outpatient visit (which includes laboratory, diagnostics, and pharmacy); $20 without insurance.
• $17 for an emergency visit; $35 without insurance.
• $10 for admission; $110 without insurance.

All local Marshallese citizens are automatically entitled to basic health insurance, which will allow patients to receive basic referrals to tertiary hospitals in Hawaii, Manila, and Taiwan.

On the other hand, supplemental health insurance is also offered for residents, granting better options for off-island care.

Private Health Insurance in the Marshall Islands

Only foreigners in the Marshall Islands have private health insurance. Some notable benefits of private health insurance include greater access to healthcare facilities, the option to add more benefits on top of default plans, and more.

Below are notable benefits of carrying private health insurance for expats in the Marshall Islands.

• Free Selection: With private health insurance, expats can freely select any specific doctor or healthcare facility as they would like. This may include multilingual facilities or those with shorter waiting times.
• Access to Facilities with Shorter Waiting Times: Depending on the number of patients, given that there are only two hospitals, waiting times may be long. With private health insurance, expats can choose facilities with shorter waiting times, allowing them to access treatment in a timely manner.
• Access to Multilingual Staff: For non-Marshallese speaking expats, using a private health insurance plan can also allow access to specific facilities with multilingual staff, making communication much smoother and easier.
• Additional Benefits: Expats can also add benefits of their choosing such as dental, vision, and maternity coverage on top of their default plans to ensure comprehensive coverage, which they can also extend to their families for maximum healthcare accessibility.

Even with private health insurance, when taking the Marshall Islands’ limited healthcare accessibility into consideration, we strongly urge you to invest in an international health insurance plan.

Since there are only two hospitals available, if let’s say you happen to live too far from these known hospitals and you can’t access private facilities, medical evacuation coverage will allow you to request a transportation method to get you to a better hospital without straining your finances.

Best International Health Insurance Providers for Expats in the Marshall Islands

Some notable international health insurance providers recommended for expats in the Marshall Islands include AXA, Geoblue, and more. In the following sections, we will briefly discuss each insurer and give you a quick rundown of their shared areas of coverage across their plans.

AXA

AXA Global’s health insurance plans offer multiple levels of customizable coverage, hospitalization, outpatient treatments, emergency care, and medical evacuation coverage. With maximum flexibility, it’s easy to see why AXA’s plans are a favorite among expats.

The following are the common areas of coverage across all of AXA’s health insurance plans:

• 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

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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 leisure purposes.

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

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

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Cigna Global

Cigna Global offers comprehensive, customizable health insurance plans that grant expats maximum flexibility along with access to 24/7 customer service. Listed below are the types of plans from Cigna Global, along with their respective annual limits:

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

The common benefits shared throughout Cigna Global’s health insurance plans include the following:

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

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April International

Designed for expats, health insurance plans from April International grant hospitalization, outpatient services, maternity, and dental coverage. They also offer a 24/7 telemedicine service, user-friendly mobile claims and support, and a vast direct billing network.

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

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

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Factors to Consider When Picking Insurance in the Marshall Islands

Expats securing health insurance in the Marshall Islands should be mindful of general factors such as foregoing price-based biased decisions in favor of prioritizing comprehensiveness and more Marshallese-specific factors like limited access to healthcare.

Below are key factors to consider for expats securing health insurance in the Marshall Islands:

• Don’t Decide Based Price: When deciding on a health insurance plan, remember not to decide based on 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.
• Prioritize Comprehensiveness: Instead, choose a plan that covers all of your healthcare priorities. You can choose plans that include benefits such as vision, dental, maternity, vaccination, or prescription medication coverage.
• Limited Healthcare Accessibility: Since there are only two hospitals available, you may or may not be able to access those depending on the particular area you live. Make sure your international health insurance policy covers medical evacuation so you can access a different hospital abroad.

Health and Safety Tips for Expats in the Marshall Islands

Expats in the Marshall Islands will want to be mindful of the potential risk of petty crimes despite the low crime rate. Additionally, beyond routine vaccines like influenza or COVID-19, additional vaccines like the Hepatitis vaccines and more are strongly recommended as a precautionary measure.

Below we will discuss general health and safety tips for expats in the Marshall Islands.

The Risk of Petty Crimes in the Marshall Islands

While crime rates are low in the Marshall Islands by default, we can’t entirely rule out the potential risk of petty crimes such as bag snatching or pickpocketing, as well as theft and break-ins.

Expats should be mindful of these potential risks by not carrying large sums of cash, important documents, and excessive valuables when going outside, as well as remembering not to leave their belongings unattended.

Refrain from walking alone at night also, as this is where you can’t see bag snatchers or pickpockets coming but they can see you. Make sure all doors and windows at home or your hotel are locked to prevent breaking and entering.

Recommended Vaccines for Expats in the Marshall Islands

Expats are strongly advised to update their routine vaccinations before heading to the Marshall Islands. These routine vaccinations include general immunizations such as COVID-19, influenza, and more. Below are the different routine vaccinations expats should get:

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

Beyond routine vaccine updates, expats should also get other types of vaccines as a preventative measure. These include the Hepatitis vaccines, rabies, measles, and more. The following are additional vaccines expats should get before going to the Marshall Islands:

• Hepatitis A & B
• Measles
• Typhoid
• Rabies

For more information on vaccine dosage and other well-being recommendations, click the link below for further reading:

Marshall Islands - Traveler view | Travelers' Health | CDC

Emergency Numbers for Expats in the Marshall Islands

In case of an emergency, expats have a plethora of emergency numbers to reach out to the authorities and other services as listed below:

• Police: 625-8666/329-3222/000
• Fire Department: 625-8666/329-3222/007
• Ambulance: 007

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the healthcare system in the Marshall Islands?

The healthcare system in the Marshall Islands encompasses two public hospitals, one in Ebeye and the other in Majuro, private clinics, and 59 additional facilities in outer atolls and islands. Both hospitals provide primary and secondary care but at the cost of limited tertiary care.

What is the leading cause of death in the Marshall Islands?

The high mortality rate in the Marshall Islands is primarily attributed to communicable and non-communicable diseases, with diabetes-related diseases and cancer remaining the biggest causes of death.

Is it safe to live in the Marshall Islands?

Generally speaking, the Marshall Islands is safe as the crime rates are relatively low. However, always be on the lookout for petty crimes such as bag snatching, pickpocketing, breaking and entering, or theft. Remember not to leave your belongings unattended and avoid carrying excessive valuables.

Conclusion: Compare Plans and Quotes Now

Even with the two public hospitals available, depending on the particular area you live in the Marshall Islands, you may or may not be able to access those hospitals or the private clinics available. Thus, it’s crucial to invest in an international health insurance plan.

That way, if let’s say you can’t access either healthcare option in the Marshall Islands, you can then use the medical evacuation coverage to get you to a better hospital abroad without straining your 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!