Bolivia Health Insurance

The Plurinational State of Bolivia is a developing country and is the poorest in South America. Its name was changed in 2009 from the Republic of Bolivia to recognise the country’s multi ethnic nature. During its history it was part of the Inca and Spanish Empires (when it was known as Upper Peru) until it gained independence in 1809. The country has lost over half its territory to other countries during wars. Bolivia is bordered by Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile and Peru. Its population is estimated to be approximately 10.1 million, 30 percent of whom are living below the poverty line. The capital city is Sucre, the administrative capital is La Paz, and the largest city is Santa Cruz de la Sierra. The main language spoken is Spanish as well as 36 other official languages.

Bolivia is home to the Andes Mountains in the west, Amazonian rainforests in the east and the World’s largest salt flat, the Salar de Uyuni, in the southwest. Summer in Bolivia runs from November to March when the weather is warm and wet. The rainforest is typically hot and wet except from May to October when the rain dries up and near the Andes Mountains where the temperature is cooler. Winter is cold and dry and occurs from April to October.

The country has a wealth of minerals including tin and lithium (Bolivia has 50 – 70 percent of the World’s reserves in tin and lithium). The country earns income from the manufacture of textiles, clothing, refining metals and petroleum, agriculture (soy beans are a major crop), fishing, mining and forestry. Bolivia has a contract to sell natural gas to Brazil as it has the second largest gas reserves in South America.

Bolivia Health Care and Insurance

The majority of the population in Bolivia have no health insurance or access to health care. It was reported in 2007 by UNICEF and the UN that over 230 babies die in the country per day due to a lack of proper care. In 2009 4.8 percent of GDP was spent on health care and there were 1.1 hospital beds per 1,000 people. In 2011 there were 1.22 Doctors per 1,000 people.

The medical facilities available in the larger cities vary in quality but are adequate for minor medical conditions. They are not equipped to handle serious medical conditions so patients need to be evacuated to a neighbouring country. The cost of emergency medical evacuation can be significant. To ensure that you will be covered in case of emergency, medical insurance for Bolivia should be purchased which includes coverage for medical evacuation. Visitors who require medical treatment in Bolivia should avoid receiving a blood transfusion if possible. A large number of blood donors are paid and screening for diseases such as hepatitis B, C and Chagas disease is inadequate.

Travellers requiring medical care in the rural parts of Bolivia may find that nothing is available and that they need to travel to a larger city. Both prescription and over the counter medications are available from pharmacies. Visitors should ensure that the medication they purchase is made by an international drug company as not all medications are manufactured in Bolivia to international standards. Carlos V (telephone: 243 0490) and Gloria (telephone: 271 1501) in La Paz are reliable.

The country has very few ambulances and they are not reliable. If you require emergency treatment in La Pez you can telephone the SAMI ambulance (706 1656) or take a taxi directly to the Clinica del Sur emergency room (telephone: 278 4001). If you are located in Cochabamba you can telephone the MEDICAR emergency ambulance for assistance (453 3222) or go directly to the Centro Medico Boliviano Belgua emergency room (telephone: 422 9407). In Santa Cruz telephone the Clinica Foianini ambulance (336 2211) or go straight to their emergency room (telephone: 336 6001) which is staffed 24 hours a day by physicians trained in emergency care. It has a 35 bed hospital, an operating room and an intensive care unit.

Bolivia Travel Insurance Concerns

Crime in Bolivia is a threat so visitors should exercise extreme caution. Pick pocketing, assaults following ATM withdrawals, theft on public transport and in internet cafes and from vehicles are common. Travellers should ensure that valuables are locked in hotel safes and not wear jewellery which may attract thieves. Travellers should telephone taxis if one is required and not travel alone or late at night. A scam occurs in Bolivia where a tourist is picked up by a taxi driver who is an accomplice to a thief. The taxi is then boarded by kidnappers who rob the tourist and in some instances take them to an ATM and force them to make a withdrawal.

False police officers are also a problem in Bolivia. Tourists should be wary of police who stop them while travelling in a taxi, only to search and rob the tourist. Sometimes the tourist will also be taken to a fake police station. Another scam is where the tourist is approached by another person pretending to also be a tourist who befriends them and suggests they go somewhere else. When in a taxi the tourist will be taken to a safe house where they are told to hand over their ATM card and pin number. Alternatively the tourist and other person may be stopped by fake police officers who search them finding drugs on the tourist. The tourist will be taken to a fake police station and forced to give their ATM card and pin number. Thieves may also spray water on tourists or smear a substance on their bag in order to distract them and steal their valuables.

Protests, strikes, demonstrations and road blocks are common and occur frequently in Bolivia. Tourists should avoid heading into areas where such events are taking place and never attempt to go through a road block. Protests often cause disruptions to flights in and out of the country.

The emergency telephone number for the police is 110 and 119 for the fire department. The police have offices staffed with English speaking officials in La Paz (telephone: 222 0516) and Cochabamba (telephone: 451 0023) which provide free assistance to visitors.

Visitors to Bolivia are at risk of contracting hepatitis A, typhoid fever, dengue fever, malaria, yellow feve and rabies. Visitors should take precautions to ensure that they are not bitten by insects. Dengue fever is endemic in the east of the country and had killed 27 people April 2011. It is recommended that travellers use an insect repellent that contains DEET, wear long pants and long sleeved tops and sleep with an insect net over their beds. Both dogs and bats in Bolivia may carry rabies and should not be touched. A rabies outbreak occurred in 2011 killing four people. If you will be spending a lot of time outdoors or handling animals we recommend that you have a series of rabies vaccinations.

Travellers must receive a vaccination against yellow fever before they arrive and carry documentation with them proving that they have done so. Prove may also be required to gain a visa to enter Bolivia, by the airlines or upon entry into the country. Visitors should keep their childhood shots up to date and also be vaccinated against hepatitis A and B and typhoid. Malaria is present in all parts of the country except in La Paz. Anti malarial tablets should be taken before, during and after visiting Bolivia. The Center for Disease Control advises that the anti malaria drug called Chloroquine is not effective in Bolivia and should not be taken.

Visitors need to aware that parts of the country, including La Paz, are located at high altitude and altitude sickness is common. Travelling to high altitudes is not recommended for those who suffer from heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, anaemia, sickle disease, asthma or obesity. If you are concerned you should consult your Doctor before departing for Bolivia and take medication to prevent altitude sickness. Personal hygiene and food handling practises in Bolivia are often unsanitary and below Western standards. Travellers should be cautious when eating and drinking in order to reduce the likelihood of contracting diarrhoea. Do not drink the tap water or eat raw foods.

Bolivia Expat Health Insurance

The medical facilities in Bolivia are not equipped to handle serious medical conditions. In the case of an emergency, tourists may need to be transported to a neighbouring country for medical treatment. We recommend that visitors to Bolivia purchase medical insurance that covers the cost of emergency medical evacuation. You and your family will then have the peace of mind of knowing that you will be covered if you have an accident. At Expat Medical Insurance we specialise in helping travellers select a medical insurance package that best meets their specific needs. Our service is free of charge. We can offer you impartial advice from our many years of experience. Please contact us today for a free international health insurance quotation from the best medical insurers.