Venezuela Health Insurance

Venezuela, officially known as the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, is a South American country with a very diverse landscape. This tropical country shares borders with Brazil, Guyana and Colombia and has a coastline of about 2,800 kilometers on the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean. Of the more than 29 million people, most are mestizo - or mixed heritage from different ethnicities including Spanish, Portuguese and Italian. About 21 percent of the population is Caucasian with another 10 percent being of African descent. Additionally about 96 percent of the population is Roman Catholic, 2 percent is Protestant and the rest fall in the “other” category.

About 94 percent of Venezuelan residents live in urban areas and the country has a 1.7 percent urbanization rate, which is largely because of the country’s mixed economy. After petroleum was discovered in the 1900s, the petroleum industry has made up a large portion of the country’s economy, accounting for about 80 percent of the country’s exports and more than half of its exports. However, the bourgeoning petroleum industry has also led to increased claims of corruption in the country.

Venezuela Healthcare System and Medical Insurance

Despite some of the country’s corruption problems, the improving economy during the last few decades helped make Venezuela’s healthcare system more advanced and modern especially compared to other South American countries. Yet the country’s healthcare system still faces many problems, as insufficient funds and increased crime have resulted in public hospital closures and a “brain drain” for doctors as many continue to leave the profession or the country. The country offers both public and private healthcare facilities, with private facilities often being the more costly but reliable of the two options.

The country ranks 65th globally in physician density, with 1 physician per every 515 people. However, there is only 1 hospital bed per every 769 people. While Venezuela does have a comprehensive and well-financed healthcare system, total expenditures on healthcare per capita was only US$275 in 2009, significantly below the regional average of about US$3,000. Overall, however, Venezuelans are generally healthy. The average life expectancy for men is about 71 years of age, slightly less than the regional average of 73, but 5 years more than the global average. For women, life expectancy is about 78, which is also just younger than the regional average but well above the global average. Men and women do have higher tendencies to use tobacco products.  About 31 percent of men use tobacco, while the regional average is just about 26 percent. More than 26 percent of women use tobacco products, with the regional average being about 17 percent. The country also has more obese men and woman in than others in region with more than 26 percent of men being obese, about 3 percentage points higher than the regional average. Almost 35 percent of women are obese, which is about 5 percentage points higher than the regional average. The infant mortality rate stands at 20 deaths per 1,000 births, which ranks 95th globally.

Venezuela Health Insurance Options

Venezuela’ most recent constitution, which passed in 1999, included free nationwide healthcare. The country’s public healthcare system is financed by the Venezuelan Social Security Institute. This initiative improved the country’s healthcare facilities in urban areas and its people’s overall health. But public healthcare facilities in more urban areas can still vary greatly in terms of equipment and quality of care. These facilities can also be overcrowded and dirty and not well stocked with proper medicine and other supplies. Public facilities in more rural areas are even more limited in terms of what they offer to citizens.

While efforts have been made and programs created to improve the level of care in these areas, many have fallen short of expectations and in solving the inherent problems with the country’s national healthcare system. And even though conditions have vastly improved from past decades, especially compared to other Latin American countries, there are still many hurdles. Crime rates and inadequate funding have resulted in hospital closures and doctors leaving the country or profession.

With the country’s shaky public healthcare options, private healthcare in Venezuela is on the rise. As the public system continues to face some severe problems, many of these facilities offer high-quality service and meet United States and European standards. Those who can afford the higher costs found at private facilities and with private medical insurance are willing to pay for better care. The private sector, however, has had its share of scandal. In recent years, private facilities and insurance companies have faced scrutiny and been accused of charging overly high prices to patients, particularly as the public facilities have further deteriorated.

Venezuela Travel Insurance Concerns

The country’s varying healthcare facilities make it important for travelers to not only have proper international health insurance but to make sure they are prepared with the appropriate vaccines and preventative medicines. Travelers to Venezuela should consult with their doctor or travel medicine specialist prior to visiting or moving to the country. They should be up-to-date on routine vaccinations and those for hepatitis A and B and typhoid. Travelers to more rural areas may also want be prepared with antimalarial medicine, as malaria is prevalent in more rural areas. In addition to preventative medicine, people traveling to more remote areas in the country will want to be sure to have plenty of insect repellent and sleep in cool, air-conditioned places with proper netting so protect themselves from insect bites. It is particularly important for travelers to more remote areas have international health insurance with evacuation insurance in case of special emergencies, as there are few health facilities in these areas and they fall short of Western standards.

Venezuela Expat Medical Insurance

Just as with traveling to any overseas country, it’s important to make sure you have the appropriate and adequate international health insurance. Choosing the right plan for you, your family or your employees doesn’t have to be difficult. With Expat Medical Insurance, our representatives are available day and night to help you with your international health insurance needs. They can help you to find the right plan that fits your needs and Contact Expat Medical Insurance to get started on your plan.

If you are planning to travel or relocate to Venezuela, it’s important to make sure that you are properly insured. While the country’s healthcare system is one of the best in Africa and meets standards found in nearby Europe, seeking medical attention in Venezuela can be cost prohibitive for expats traveling or living there. No visitor or expat should go without international health insurance coverage. Let Expat Medical Insurance help find a plan that fits the needs of you, your family or your employees. Navigating through the ends and outs of health insurance coverage can be daunting, but our team of representatives is available day and night to help get you started on creating an international health insurance plan catered specifically to your needs. So contact Expat Medical Insurance today to get started.