Yemen Health Insurance

The Republic of Yemen came to exist as a unified political body when the Marxist-dominated People's Democratic Republic of Yemen, or South Yemen, and the Yemen Arab Republic, or North Yemen, merged together in 1990. Since the merger, Yemen has been the victim of numerous violent conflicts which can be attributed to the substantial differences between the two former independent states. While the northern part of Yemen took a route to a republican government, heavily relying on religion and traditional influences, southern Yemen leaned towards socialist state system. Combining the two diverging political philosophies of the North and the South under a single sovereign state has been one of the key struggles for modern day Yemen.

While North and South Yemen have been merged into a single sovereign entity there are still remnants of each in the reformed nation. One of the biggest of these is the strong tribal associations that are still very prevalent in the culture. Tribal affiliation is particularly important for those in the northern part of the country. Tribes, contrary to popular perception, are political units with fixed borders, based on a particular region with a known number of members. These organizations have a certain level of political autonomy that determines interaction with other tribes as well as with the central government. In modern history the conflicts among the tribes have been common place; lately, however, they have begun to collaborate against the central government.

Yemen’s Health Care System and Medical Insurance Concerns

2011 saw a great deal of fighting and insurgency in Yemen, which eventually led to President Saleh’s resignation in November of that year. Despite the perceived backwardness of tribal affiliations, The Republic of Yemen has a full functioning democratic system where the president is elected by popular vote for a seven-year term. As of now the situation is unstable - the country is looking to restructure the military and replace the presidential system with proportional representation and multi-party federalism.

For those traveling to or living in Yemen obtaining a comprehensive medical and health insurance plan is a must. Yemen’s medical care and health insurance system is arguably least reliable in the world. Since the country's unification in 1990 the socioeconomic system has been on the brink of collapse. In that light health spending has seen a dramatic decline (currently the nation’s healthcare expenditure is only at 5.6 percent of GDP). Close to half of Yemen’s population lives in poverty and is subsequently unable to afford adequate health and medical care. In addition to that, more than 70 percent of Yemenis live in rural areas, which makes access to hospitals problematic due to poor infrastructure. This fact does not come as a surprise as Yemen is one of the economically less advanced countries on the Arab peninsula where most people still depend on herding and agriculture as means of income.

As an alternative to internationally recognized medical practices the population relies on folk medicine that is often incapable of addressing severe medical conditions.

The Yemeni government has been making substantial efforts to improve the overall healthcare situation in the country. One prominent example would be a 61 percent reduction in maternal mortality rates since the 1990. In 2010 the Friends of Yemen group was established. The group consolidates international community efforts to help republic's economic and political reform. Later that year International Monetary Fund authorized a three-year budget of $370 million for the program's support.

Yemen Travel Insurance

Despite numerous efforts by the government and the international community , Yemen faces several serious long term challenges. The declining water resources combined with rapid population growth presents a challenge that might prove catastrophic for the country and the region in the foreseeable future.

Approximately 45 percent of people in Yemen are under the age of 15, which reflects country's rapid population growth. On the flip side, life expectancy is very low, averaging at 63 years from birth, which is considerably lower than elsewhere on the Arabian Peninsula.

Despite social, political and economical problems the Republic of Yemen is easy on the eye, drawing thousands of visitors each year to its picturesque beehive-like cities, rich cultural and architectural heritage and magnificent landscapes. As with any international travel or re-location, the local food, water, climate, flora and fauna might pose problems that would require the attention of a medical specialist. A comprehensive international expat medical and health insurance plan can cover unwanted costs from vaccinations, in and out patient coverage and emergency evacuation coverage. Avoid unnecessary risk of traveling without medical insurance.

Another aspect that one should be aware of when traveling to Yemen is the growing activity of terrorist groups such as al-Quada. The civilians and tourists present a vulnerable soft-target and should take extra care when venturing into high-density locations.

Yemen Expat Medical Insurance

At Expat Medical Insurance we can help you find international travel, health and medical insurance plans that suit your needs best. As an alternative buying time-specific insurance plans might be an option for those who would like to keep the premiums lower while still insuring the coverage in unanticipated events.

Contact our professional advisers today and get a free quote for a variety of insurance plans.