Nauru Health Insurance for Expats

International Health Insurance for Expats in Nauru

International health insurance is strongly recommended for expats in Nauru for maximum peace of mind. Beyond general medical bill coverage in case of illnesses or injuries, international health insurance also allows expats to use medical evacuation for greater healthcare access.

This guide by Pacific Prime will discuss healthcare in Nauru, including the health insurance options available as well as general safety and wellbeing tips for expats.

Recommended International Health Insurance Plans for Expatriates Living in Nauru

The Healthcare System in Nauru

Nauru’s government provides healthcare services to all its citizens while lacking private healthcare. Public health services and primary healthcare are overseen by the Naoero Public Health Center’s Division of Public Healthcare.

Meanwhile, curative services are provided by the Republic of Nauru Hospital (also known as the Nauru RON Hospital), which is an amalgamation of Nauru’s two hospitals, the government-run Nauru General Hospital and the private Nauru Phosphate Corporation Hospital since 1999.

Services offered by the Republic of Nauru Hospital range from medical to dental specialties, along with laboratory, radiology, and more. Below is a list of medical services and specialties offered by the Republic of Nauru Hospital:

• Medical specialties
• Surgical specialties
• Dental specialties
• Haemodialysis
• Laboratory
• Radiology
• Physiotherapy
• Pharmaceutical services

Although providing basic medical care for citizens, there are some notable limitations to seeking healthcare in Nauru.

For instance, special treatment for diabetes and obesity-related complications is only available at the Naoero Public Health Center, which is run by the Department of Public Health. Additionally, anyone with serious injuries that can’t be treated locally in Nauru will need medical evacuation.

There are also no pharmaceutical manufacturers or independent drug regulatory authorities in Nauru, leading the Republic of Nauru Pharmacy to import pharmaceuticals from Australia and the Netherlands only to face frequent supply shortages anyway.

Health Insurance Options for Expats in Nauru

Nauru’s government provides access to basic healthcare for all citizens, but there are many limitations such as lacking areas of medical care and a shortage of pharmaceuticals.

Additionally, Nauru lacks private healthcare and the only viable option when it comes to hospitals is just the Nauru RON Hospital. That’s why, for maximum peace of mind and healthcare accessibility across international borders, we strongly recommend international health insurance.

Notable benefits of international health insurance include free provider selection, worldwide coverage, and more. Below is a list of key benefits of having international health insurance, many of which will go hand in hand with each other:

• Worldwide Coverage (can also include your home country): One main benefit of having international health insurance is its ability to cover your healthcare expenses worldwide with the option of including your home country in case you need to get sent abroad or back home for medical treatment.
• Free Provider Selection: You can also freely select any specific hospital you’d like, which may include those with multilingual doctors, shorter waiting times, or a wider array of medical specialties and services.
• Medical Evacuation Coverage: With medical evacuation covered under your international health insurance plan, you will be able to request a mode of transportation to get you to a hospital abroad for treatment without needing to pay out of pocket regardless of the distance and destination.
• Round-the-Clock Emergency Medical Assistance and Medical Emergency Coverage: If you need any help at any time in case of a medical emergency, you can access a medical facility through your international health insurance provider, who will then cover your emergency treatment fees.
• Direct Billing: This is where your selected hospital or doctor abroad will directly send medical bills to your international health insurance provider, eliminating the need to file a separate claim with the provider on your own.

Recommended International Health Insurance Providers for Expats in Nauru

Known international health insurance providers strongly recommended for expats in Nauru include Cigna, AXA, and more. In the following sections, we will be discussing each insurer and give you a brief rundown of some of their shared features seen throughout their plans.

Cigna Global

Cigna Global’s health insurance plans are both customizable and comprehensive, granting expats maximum flexibility and access to 24/7 customer service. Below are the types of plans from Cigna Global, as well as 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 are as follows:

AXA

AXA Global’s health insurance plans provide different levels of customizable coverage, which can be further broken down into options for hospitalization, outpatient treatments, emergency care, and medical evacuation. Thanks to its flexibility, AXA’s plans stand out as a favorite among expats.

AXA’s various health insurance plans, along with their respective annual limits are as follows:

• 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)

The following are examples of shared areas coverage across all of AXA’s health insurance plans:

April International

Health insurance plans from April International are designed for expats, granting hospitalization, outpatient services, maternity, and dental coverage. Additionally, they also offer a 24/7 telemedicine service, user-friendly mobile claims and support, and a vast direct billing network.

The following are the types of health insurance plans available from April International, along with each plan’s 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 key examples of shared areas of coverage seen in April International’s health insurance plans:

Geoblue

The Xplorer plan from Geoblue, which consists of the essential and premier types, is designed for expats traveling from the United States for work, studying, or leisure purposes.

Expats can also choose to either include or exclude the United States from their worldwide coverage. Common features seen throughout Geoblue’s health insurance plans include the following:

Factors to Consider When Picking Insurance in Nauru

As an expat securing health insurance in Nauru, there are numerous factors to consider such as not deciding based on price in favor of deciding based on comprehensiveness and more. Below are important factors expats should consider when securing health insurance in Nauru:

• Don’t Decide Based on Price: When deciding on a health insurance plan, remember not to decide based on price point alone as the cheapest plan will not guarantee comprehensive coverage and will leave you with odd gaps of uninsured areas where you’ll be subject to out-of-pocket payment.
• Comprehensiveness Comes First: Instead, decide based on comprehensiveness by selecting a plan that covers all your healthcare priorities. You can also select benefits like dental, vision, or maternity care for maximum coverage, which you can also extend to your family.
• Pre-Existing Conditions: Some insurers will not cover pre-existing conditions while some will but at the cost of either a waiting period or additional payment. Check with your selected health insurance provider for specific eligibility details regarding pre-existing conditions if you’re unsure.
• There is Only One Hospital in Nauru: Nauru has only one hospital and no private healthcare. Even still, there is a shortage of pharmaceuticals and certain areas of treatment. If you need urgent treatment, don’t hesitate to call for a medical evacuation to get you to a better hospital overseas.

General Health and Safety Tips for Expats in Nauru

Expats in Nauru should be on the lookout for petty crimes despite Nauru’s relatively low crime rates. Additionally, as a preventative measure, routine vaccination updates and other types of vaccines like Hepatitis or Typhoid are strongly recommended.

In the following sections, we will discuss general safety and well-being tips for expats in Nauru.

Crime and Safety in Nauru

Despite the relatively low crime rate in Nauru, it’s not outside the realm of possibility for petty crimes such as pickpocketing or burglary to happen and expats should be on the lookout for potential risks.

Expats should be wary of this by not leaving their belongings unattended as the few seconds they look away could leave them vulnerable to pickpockets who may sneak in and take their valuables.

While we’re on the subject of valuables, expats are strongly advised not to carry excessive valuables as well as large sums of cash and documents. Instead, they should keep them stored back at their house or their hotel. Make sure all doors and windows are also locked to prevent home burglary.

Recommended Vaccines for Expats in Nauru

Some vaccines recommended by the CDC include routine vaccine updates for influenza, COVID-19, and more, as well as additional vaccines such as Hepatitis A and B, typhoid, and more. Listed below are the routine vaccines recommended for expats:

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

Additionally, expats are also strongly urged to get the following vaccines as a precautionary measure:

• Hepatitis A & Hepatitis B
• Typhoid
• Rabies
• Measles

For more information on further recommendations or vaccine dosage, click the link below to check out the CDC’s Nauru vaccination and wellbeing guide:

Nauru - Traveler view | Travelers' Health | CDC

Emergency Numbers for Expats in Nauru

In case of an emergency, expats in Nauru will be able to use various emergency numbers to reach out to relevant authorities or services as listed below:

• Police: 110
• Ambulance Service: 111
• Fire Emergency Service: 112

Frequently Asked Questions

How many hospitals are in Nauru?

There is only one hospital in Nauru, which is the Nauru RON Hospital. Though providing basic medical care courtesy of the government, this hospital lacks many areas of medical treatment and has a shortage of pharmaceuticals. Thus, international health insurance is strongly recommended for expats.

What is the most common cause of death in Nauru?

According to the PMC, the most common causes of death in Nauru, according to males, include diabetes (12.1%), followed by accidents (25.2%), and circulatory system disorders (33.3%).

Is Nauru safe?

Generally speaking, the crime rate in Nauru is relatively low. However, that does not mean there aren’t any risks of petty crimes such as pickpocketing or home burglary. Exercise caution when it comes to carrying items or valuables and keep your doors and windows locked at your house.

Conclusion: Compare Plans and Quotes Now

Despite the basic medical care available at Nauru’s single hospital, there are many areas of medical care this hospital lacks as well as a shortage of pharmaceutical supplies.

Having an international health insurance plan in hand is not only recommended but strongly urged for maximum healthcare access and peace of mind. What’s more, you will also be able to request a medical evacuation 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!