Health Insurance

  

   Health Insurance for Expats in Malta

 

Believe it or not, health insurance--or the lack thereof--is the reason many people are leaving America.  It's my reason.

 Now, what about the health insurance in Malta?  Which do you want first--the good news or the bad?  Let me be optimistic for a change:

 

Less Expensive--The good news is that international health insurance for foreigners or expats is less expensive--at least up until the age of 65--than health insurance in the US.  The main reason is that health care costs in Europe and the rest of the world have not skyrocketed like they have in the US.

 

In my case, I am 55, self-employed and paying $900 per month (including the annual deductible of $2000) for Anthem Blue Cross in New Hampshire.  That's a lot.  Too much.  Not affordable for me.  And this will go up every year.  When I reach 60, it will likely double.

 

In Malta, I am applying for health insurance through Atlas Healthcare, which is sort of the Blue Cross of Europe.  In England and France, it's known as Axa. Now, this is private health insurance. 

 

Free Healthcare--Most Europeans--including the Maltese--are eligible for free (or national) health care.  Generally speaking,  Maltese residents, persons married to Maltese residents, persons paying national insurance contributions in Malta or in possession of an E111 form or certificate of entitlement would be entitled for free treatment.

 

Private Insurance--But many EU members add on some private insurance so they can have a choice of care in the rest of the EU.  For example, many Maltese--with private health insurance--go to England for major procedures or treatment because they believe they will get the best care there.  And many British expats do the same.

 

The potential cost for me--for the best international plan with Atlas--will be about one-third of what it is in America.  That means that I can go anywhere in the world for care--except the US and Canada, naturally.  But I would be covered for emergency care in the US if I was visiting.

 

And--if I get a job in Malta and pay into the national healthcare plan, I would be eligible for the free Maltese healthcare.  This means the cost for the private health insurance through Atlas would be cut by 25 percent of my present quote. Sounds good, right?

 

No-Pre-Existing Conditions-- Now the bad news--which I just found out two days ago.  Atlas will not cover any pre-existing conditions.  None.   Ever.  So, if you have a serious illness and take serious medicine for it, you will not be covered for that illness--medical visits, medicine, emergency care--anything.  Now, this is a tough pill to swallow (pun intended). 

 

In fact, I do swallow a few tough pills, and this makes it a lot more expensive than I originally thought.  I will have to pay for my medicine out-of-pocket in Malta.  One bit of good news--medicine is generally cheaper in Europe than in the US.  So adding on the monthly cost of my medicine to the premiums would now increase my monthly health insurance to around $550 a month.  (By the way, this includes the bad US dollar rate.)

 

So now I'm applying.  As for the application procedure, I'm too exhausted to go into that tonight.  But let's say that getting into Harvard Medical School might be easier than getting into the Maltese healthcare private insurance plan.

 

Listen, as you read this, do me a favor?  Wish me some luck with this whole application business.  Grazzi.  And I'll let you know what happens, but I think it's going to take a long time to get through this process.

 

Here's a link to Atlas Healthcare in Malta.

Here’s another link you may be interested in, although I don’t know anything about it:

EXPAT WOMEN MEMBERS: NEED INTERNATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE?
If you need health insurance abroad, or know someone who does, please contact our Expat Women Gold Sponsor, Aetna Global Benefits http://www.goodhealthworldwide.com/quote_step1.asp?cmp=expatwomen, a specialist provider of international health insurance for expatriates.

 

If you think you may be entitled to free healthcare in Malta, contact the Entitlements office at the Ministry of Health on www.sahha.gov.mt or telephone from the USA at 011-356 22992345.

 

US Government Recommendations about health insurance abroad:

The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and if it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation.  If necessary, Americans should consider secondary medical coverage for the trip.

The Social Security Medicare Program does not provide coverage for hospital or medical costs outside the United States of America.

• Why should I be concerned about medical coverage abroad?
• What questions should I ask my health insurance company?
• Can the U.S. government assist me if I become disabled overseas?
• Where do I find a list of physicians abroad?
• What's the difference between Travel Insurance and Travel Medical Insurance?
• What insurance information should I carry with me abroad?
• Where do I find a list of U.S.-based Air Ambulance/Med-Evac companies?
  Foreign-based Air Ambulance/Med-Evac companies? U.S. Based Travel Insurance Companies?
  Foreign based Travel Insurance companies? Personalized Medical Services?   Medical Escorts?

Comments

[Sennuwy (an ancient Egyptian name)]

Thanks, Bathmate, for your kind comment--Ilene

[birthmateus]

wow this is outstanding comment for posting, thank you.

Bathmate

[Sennuwy (an ancient Egyptian name)]

Hi Jesse, Thanks for the info. Are you OK now? Did you expect that you
would have to pay half?---Ilene

On Sat, Sep 26, 2009 at 3:16 AM, wrote:

[Jesse Dawson]

I needed an Air Ambulance medical evacuation and my travel insurance covered half and i picked up the rest. I used http://statair.com/ Stat Air International Air Ambulance