Mauritius Health Insurance

The Republic of Mauritius is an island nation located in the Indian Ocean, roughly 900 kilometers to the east of Madagascar. It comprises four islands in total with the largest island of Mauritius being home to the capital city of Port Louis. The country’s approximate population is 1.3 million people and its total land area is 2,040 square kilometers. Mauritius became independent from the United Kingdom in 1968 but remained within the Commonwealth of Nations. English is the country’s official language although Mauritian Creole and French are predominantly used on a daily basis and in the national media. Mauritius has an upper middle income economy which has progressed from being low income and agriculture based, to one which is dependent on the production and export of sugarcane, tourism, textiles and services. It is one of only three African countries that rank highly on the United Nations Human Development Index.

Mauritius Health Care and Insurance

Public and private health care options are available in Mauritius and both are capable of providing a reasonable level of care. The public health care system consists of area and community health centers, district, regional and specialist hospitals while there are 17 private health care clinics. The Ministry of Health oversees all aspects of the public health care system and it employs a large number of health professionals including in excess of 2,700 nurses and 650 doctors. Access to state run health facilities are free of charge to citizens and legal residents of Mauritius, who contribute towards the funding of the health care system through tax deductions from salary. Expatriates and travelers are required to pay in cash at the time treatment is received; purchasing a Mauritius health insurance policy is strongly advised.

Area and community health centers provide primary health care services and these are conveniently located throughout the four islands, meaning that all citizens have less than 5 kilometers to travel should they wish to visit their local care center. These centers offer general support services, immunizations and nursing services. Three district hospitals and five regional hospitals are capable of providing secondary health services while four specialist hospitals provide tertiary health care, although it is worth noting that these hospitals are limited in the range of specialist treatments they can provide.

The private health care sector has seen impressive growth in recent years. This is largely due to increasing numbers of medical tourists visiting Mauritius to avail of good quality medical care at a cost that is priced considerably lower than other developed countries. The 17 private clinics have a combined bed capacity of 600 and there are in excess of 400 doctors and physicians employed at these facilities. Health services available at private facilities include primary, secondary, tertiary, cardiac and dental treatments. Two of the more prominent private facilities are the Apollo Bromwell Hospital and the Fortis Clinique Darne. Many expatriates currently resident in Mauritius prefer to use private health facilities and an organization called MegaCare provides emergency ambulance services which work closely with the private health clinics. Holders of Mauritius health insurance are advised to use private health clinics where possible as they are equipped with modern medical technology while their doctors and nurses are proficient in a number of languages and trained to international standards.

Mauritius Travel Insurance Concerns

Mauritius experiences a tropical climate with two distinct seasons. The winter months of November to May are generally dry, warm and pleasant while the summer months of June to October are hot and humid. It is during the summer months when the majority of the annual rainfall occurs and a number of cyclones and tropical storms affect the islands. These storms have, in the past, caused considerable structural damage to the country. Expatriates and travelers should keep abreast of weather developments and abide by local guidelines in the event of an emergency weather situation.

The year round tropical climate has meant that, in comparison to other countries with similar climates, a small number of diseases are prevalent to the islands. Outbreaks of insect borne diseases such as Dengue fever and chikungunya occur from time to time and precautions to reduce the risk of insect bites should be exercised. A number of vaccinations are recommended prior to arrival in Mauritius including those for Typhoid and for Hepatitis A and B. These routine vaccination should also be updated as required. While health facilities in Mauritius are capable of dealing with these diseases, it is worth noting that any complex or complicated illnesses cannot be treated there and in these extreme cases evacuation to a country with state of the art medical technology, usually South Africa, is required. A provision for emergency air evacuation should be included in all Mauritius health insurance policies.

Many tourists visit Mauritius each year and many visits pass off without incident. Petty street crime including pick pocketing and purse snatching is common in areas popular with or frequented by tourists. Reports of hotel rooms being broken into and valuable items being stolen are not uncommon and travelers are advised to safely store items in the safety deposit boxes provided. In the event of an accident or emergency, the emergency response services can be contacted by dialing 115 for the fire service, 114 for ambulance services and 999 for police assistance.

Mauritius Expat Health Insurance

Mauritius is an idyllic location with many attractions for the tourist and expatriate alike. Public and private health facilities can cater to most health needs with private facilities and clinics in particular offering a good quality of service and a wide range of treatments. It is important to ensure you and your family or travel companions are sufficiently protected against all possible medical circumstances. Expat Medical Insurance can advise you on which insurance plan is best suited to your particular needs. Plans can be adjusted to include specific provisions such as emergency air evacuation. For more information on Mauritius health insurance, global health insurance plans or to receive a free quote, please contact one of our advisors today.