Tuvalu Health Insurance for Expats

International Health Insurance for Expats in Tuvalu

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

This guide by Pacific Prime will discuss health insurance for expats in Tuvalu as well as the island country’s healthcare system, recommended health insurance providers, as well as some general safety and well-being tips.

Recommended International Health Insurance Plans for Expatriates Living in Tuvalu

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

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AXA Global Health Insurance Plan

• Experienced Personal Support 24/7
• Easy Online Access
• Virtual Doctor Service
• Mind Health Support
• Maximum Annual Benefit Limit up to USD $8,000,000

Plan Details Get a Quote

The Healthcare System in Tuvalu

Tuvalu features a government-funded universal health care system in which all Tuvaluans are completely entitled to free primary and preventative care, along with hospital stays and medication.

Note that there is no private healthcare as the country’s legislation prohibits private healthcare. Instead, Tuvalu’s only hospital, the Princess Margaret Hospital, is located on the main island of Funafuti and provides basic primary care, dental, and pharmaceutical services.

Meanwhile, trained nurses serve the outer islands. While Tuvalu’s medical facilities are adequate for basic routine medical treatment, expats should consider getting medical evacuation in case of more serious medical cases.

Health Insurance Options for Expats in Tuvalu

The best health insurance option for expats in Tuvalu is international health insurance. Notable benefits of having an international health insurance plan in hand include completely worldwide coverage, free provider selection, medical evacuation coverage, and more.

Below are the notable benefits of international health insurance for expats:

• Worldwide Coverage (can also include your home country): Having international health insurance means your medical expenses will be covered worldwide with the option of including your home country. This will come in handy if you need to get sent abroad or back home for medical treatment.
• Free Selection: You are also completely entitled to free selection, allowing you to choose any particular hospital you’d like to visit (which may include hospitals with multilingual medical staff, shorter waiting times, or a greater array of medical specialties). 
• Medical Evacuation Coverage: With this feature, you can request a mode of transportation to get you to a different hospital overseas (or back home) in the event of serious medical complications without straining your finances regardless of your selected destination.
• Direct Billing: Direct billing is when your selected doctor or hospital sends medical bills to your international health insurance provider, meaning you won’t have to file a separate claim with your insurer on your own. 
• 24/7 Access to Emergency Medical Assistance and Medical Emergency Coverage: If you need help in the event of a medical emergency, you will be able to 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 Tuvalu

Notable international health insurance providers for expats in Tuvalu include April International, AXA, and more. In the following sections, we will discuss each key insurer and give you a quick rundown of each of their shared benefits seen throughout their available plan options.

April International 

April International’s health insurance plans for expats grant hospitalization, outpatient services, maternity, and dental coverage. They also offer a round-the-clock telemedicine service, user-friendly mobile claims and support, as well as a large direct billing network.

Listed below are April International’s different types of health insurance available, 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)

The following are examples of shared areas of coverage seen throughout April International’s health insurance plans:

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

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AXA

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

The following are AXA’s available health insurance plans, along with 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)

Key examples of shared areas coverage across all of AXA’s health insurance plans are as follows:

• 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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Cigna Global 

Cigna Global’s customizable and comprehensive health insurance plans grant expats access to 24/7 customer service and maximum flexibility. Listed below are Cigna Global’s different types of health insurance plans, along with 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 listed below:

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

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Geoblue

Geoblue’s Xplorer plan, which can be broken into two types: essential and premier, is designed for expats traveling from the US for work, studying, or even just leisure purposes.

Expats can also choose between worldwide coverage options that include the US or those that don’t include the US. Below are the notable features seen throughout Geoblue’s health insurance plans:

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

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Factors to Consider When Picking Insurance in Tuvalu

Expats securing health insurance in Tuvalu should take their time to consider some crucial factors such as foregoing price-based biased decisions in favor of deciding based on plan comprehensiveness and more. Below are factors to consider when getting health insurance in Tuvalu:

• Don’t Decide Based on Price Only: When securing health insurance, don’t decide solely 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 subject to out-of-pocket payment. 
• Decide Based on Comprehensiveness: Instead, decide based on the health insurance plan’s comprehensiveness by selecting one that covers all your medical priorities. You can also maximize coverage by selecting any benefits like maternity, dental, or vision care.
• Medical Evacuation is Recommended for Serious Complications: While Tuvalu’s sole hospital, the Princess Margaret Hospital, is adequate for basic medical care locally, expats are strongly urged to access a different hospital overseas via medical evacuation for serious medical complications. 
• Pre-Existing Conditions: Some insurers will exclude pre-existing conditions coverage entirely 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 have any questions.

General Health and Safety Tips for Expats in Tuvalu

While violent crimes aren’t an issue in Tuvalu thanks to the low crime rate, petty crime risks such as pickpocketing or burglary can’t be ruled out entirely. Make sure not to carry excessive sums of cash or valuables in favor of leaving them securely locked away back at home or in your hotel.

Be sure to also not leave your valuables unattended as this could leave them vulnerable to pickpockets sneaking in and taking items out or snatching your bag away completely. Avoid leaving your belongings in the car when you need to park them and keep your vehicle locked.

Recommended Vaccines for Expats in Tuvalu

According to the CDC, some recommended vaccines for expats before heading to Tuvalu include routine vaccination updates such as influenza or COVID-19 as well as additional preventative vaccines like the Hepatitis vaccines, Typhoid, and more.

Below is a list of general routine vaccines expats should be up to date on before heading to Tuvalu:

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

Additionally, expats are also strongly urged to get the following vaccines on top of routine vaccination updates as an additional preventative measure:

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

If you would like to learn more about vaccine dosage recommendations or other wellbeing tips to keep in mind in Tuvalu, click the link below:

Tuvalu - Traveler view | Travelers' Health | CDC

Emergency Numbers for Expats in Tuvalu

In case of an emergency, expats have various options for emergency numbers where they can reach out to relevant authorities or emergency services. The following are key emergency numbers in Tuvalu expats should keep in mind:

• Police: 911
• Fire: 000
• Hospital: (+688) 20749
• Ambulance: 999

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Tuvalu’s healthcare system?

Tuvalu’s healthcare system features one hospital on the island of Funafuti (two clinics, one in the South of the island and the other in the North of the island along with eight health centers covering outer islands). Facilities provide primary care and preventative services via trained nurses.

Is healthcare free in Tuvalu?

Tuvalu has a universal healthcare system in which all Tuvaluans are entitled to free healthcare.

What are the most common health issues in Tuvalu?

The most common health issues in Tuvalu attributed to climate change include diarrhoeal diseases from contaminated food and water, infectious respiratory diseases, vector-borne diseases, and non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Is Tuvalu safe?

Generally speaking, Tuvalu is safe due to low crime rates. However, this does not mean the risk of petty crimes like pickpocketing or burglary can be ruled out entirely. Thus, make sure you do not carry excessive valuables and always keep your belongings with you at all times.

Conclusion

While the single hospital available in Tuvalu will do for basic routine healthcare, this may not be enough in the event of serious medical cases where you’ll need medical evacuation to get to a different hospital abroad for treatment.

Fortunately, this is one notable area where international health insurance comes in. You can then request a mode of transportation to get you to a particular hospital abroad for further treatment, from which you can freely select any particular provider you’d like.

Thanks to worldwide coverage, you will be happy to know that wherever you choose to go via medical evacuation, your medical bills will be completely covered.

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!