Kuwait Health Insurance

Situated on the Persian Gulf with Iraq to its north and west and Saudi Arabia to the south, Kuwait is located in a part of the world that is renowned for its turbulence and unrest in modern times. The discovery and subsequent fighting over rights to the petroleum under its soil, along with military attacks and countermeasures have taken a toll on Kuwait in general, but it has always rebounded and again is profiting from the natural resources which have brought it so much wealth and comfort. With one of the highest per-capita incomes on the planet and a massive Gross Domestic Product, affording quality education, health and social care, and infrastructure improvements is currently not a problem. Oil supplies are estimated to still be quite large in Kuwait, but most experts agree that, like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait needs to be busier planning for economic diversification to ensure continuation of its high standard of living in the future.

Kuwait Healthcare System and Health insurance

Healthcare offerings in Kuwait are among the best in the Arab world and on par with highly developed countries in Europe and North America. General health of the 2.6 million population as a result is very good. Thanks primarily to high immunization rates and early detection practices, communicable disease is well controlled and chronic illness occurrence has been reduced. Average life expectancy is very high by worldwide comparison at 78 years. Doctor to patient ratios are on par with other developed nations at 18:10,000. Health issues that most frequently affect Kuwaitis are due to external factors such as unbalanced diet, smoking, and lack of exercise resulting in cancers, diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. Due to the significant number of contract laborers in the country brought in from southeast Asia, Syria, India, Iran, and Egypt other isolated instances of disease such as cholera and tuberculosis have been reported, primarily due to poor working and living conditions they are frequently exposed to, though these instances are well contained and typically quickly dealt with.

The Kuwaiti healthcare sector is comprised of both public and private outlets offering primary, tertiary, and specialty care along with eastern medicine and Islamic traditional cures. Public facilities are typically free or highly subsidized and offer almost all modern treatments that could be required. Additionally, government subsidy is offered for citizens needing care abroad at no cost to the patient for treatments not available domestically. Private care is also networked into the public sector when specific care is not offered publicly at the same rate of assistance. Otherwise, private health care is at cost to the patient or requires private Kuwait sourced or international medical insurance to ensure access.

A total of about 90 hospitals, provide primary, secondary, and specialty care in disciplines ranging from simple family medicine, diagnostics and treatment up to extremely specialized care such as neurosurgery, conception and fertilization assistance, and infectious disease research. With a highly urban population, about 98 percent live in cities along the Gulf, the best care is found in that region, though primary care hospitals and polyclinics and health centers are spread throughout the country. All facilities are modern and well equipped and foreigners should not be overly concerned regarding access to quality medical care in Kuwait, however complaints over waiting times in public outlets are common, for this reason many expatriates choose to purchase private Kuwait health insurance which provides access to private care centers.

One issue that the Kuwaiti healthcare system continues to face, particularly in public outlets, is a lack of skilled medical professionals. Doctors, nurses, and technicians are thus frequently contracted from overseas to work in Kuwait's public and private hospitals from around the globe, at present about two thirds of the doctors in practice and around 90 percent of nursing staff are foreign nationals.

Kuwait Medical Insurance Information

As a benefit of the oil revenues, the Kuwaiti government provides free or highly subsidized medical, dental, and vision care for all citizens. Non-citizens are not parcel to this arrangement and are typically covered to varying degrees by public or private Kuwait health insurance plans, depending on their term of stay, level of income, and type of employment. As of 2010 changes in legislation have been signed into law that will greatly affect foreigners and expatriates residing and working in Kuwait. While previously all were free to choose their own form of medical insurance, either by voluntarily joining the nationalized social healthcare system or purchasing private coverage, the plan now calls for constructing eight new hospitals and paying them off via drastic rate hikes for non-citizens and required enrollment in a new compulsory healthcare system over the next three to five years. These hospitals are being billed as providing equal and high-quality care for all, whether Kuwaiti or foreigner.

Currently no individual private ventures are able to meet the strict care requirements outlined by the government to provide a privately sourced alternative to the proposed national hospitals. As a result, any expatriate wishing to utilize private healthcare outlets will need to take out additional Kuwait health insurance coverage to avail themselves of private treatment if they do not want to use public care. This scheme is criticized by some as exploiting foreigners to create a new and more profitable public healthcare system that can potentially promote medical tourism to the region and offset some of the high costs bore by the government for care for Kuwaitis.

Kuwait Travel Insurance Information

The most common health related issues faced by visitors and expatriates in Kuwait are related to climate and weather. The hot, dry, and dusty climate poses threat of sunburn, heat-stroke and heat-exhaustion, respiratory diseases and discomfort, and dehydration. All should avoid over-exposure to the elements and drink sufficient fluids to avoid these types of problems. Traveler's diarrhea is also common due to changes in diet and can usually be treated with over-the-counter medication. Automobile accidents are very common in Kuwait and contribute to a large number of the deaths and injuries that are reported by expatriates in the country.

Improved water and sanitary sewer resources are universally available in Kuwait, though reports of substandard conditions persist in dormitories and labor housing developments around the numerous construction projects that are on-going, and disease outbreaks there are expected to be more frequent than actually reported. Expatriates are advised to boil or filter their water, or rely on bottled water for drinking.

Crime rates are low, given the strong police force and strict punishments placed upon criminals, however petty crime does exist and necessary caution should be taken. Terrorists have not performed a successful attack in recent years, however a plot was foiled by Kuwaiti police in 2009 to bomb a hotel frequented by western foreigners, thus a moderate risk remains.

Kuwait Expat Medical Insurance

No one visiting or relocating to Kuwait should take any unnecessary risks to their health or the health of their family. The best way to ensure access to adequate care when it matter most is by purchasing a comprehensive Kuwait Medical Insurance package or an International Traveler's Health Insurance plan for the entire duration of your stay. Expat Medical Insurance proudly offers plans that are tailored to your specific needs and our knowledgeable advisers are happy to assist you free of charge in make the best selection of coverage to meet your specific requirements. Contact us today for full details and a free price quote regarding the coverage you need.