Expat Insurance Services in South Africa

South Africa has a limited public health insurance system that covers residents proportionally according to income, with top earners having the least medical coverage. Fortunately, public health expenses in South Africa are usually quite low. The quality of public health care is usually fair to low and the frequently tends to be long waiting lines for treatment. There were not enough qualified doctors in South Africa so the South African government brought in around 550 doctors from foreign countries, mostly from Cuba.

 

Non residents treated in South African public hospitals are not covered by the state insurance program and will have to pay for medical costs, which are still quite inexpensive. Private facilities in South Africa offer far better quality service and are considerably faster than their public hospital counterparts. They are also relatively inexpensive but can be covered with private health insurance.

 

Private hospitals in South Africa sometimes even have their own private ambulances, since the state ambulances are already quite busy with public hospital use. The private ambulance service is also covered on most private health insurance plans in South Africa. Of native South Africans, only about 18 percent are enrolled for private health insurance.