Expat Health Insurance & Healthcare Guide

Expats in Jamaica share tips and advice about healthcare and health insurance in Jamaica. Advice about private hospitals, leaving the country for surgery, the Zika virus, the availability and cost of prescription medicines and more.

5 expat moms offer candid insight into what it's like giving birth in Italy - from bringing towels and toilet paper with you to the hospital to being refused pain medication. And, like most advice in Italy, word of mouth is the best way to find a good OB/GYN.

Expats discuss their experiences giving birth in Costa Rica. Topics covered include public (CAJA) hospitals vs. private hospitals,high C-section rates, maternity coverage, dual citizenship, permanent residency for expat parents with babies born in Costa Rica, baby stores and formula options.

Expats living in Romania discuss health insurance, Card de Sanatare and quality of medical care in Romania.

Expat moms share their experiences having a baby in The Netherlands - from wonderful prenatal care to the home birth option for uncomplicated pregnancies and everything in between. While many new moms have very short hospital stays, they receive at home care from a beloved Kraamzorg (home nurse) as part of their maternity care, which expats resoundingly say makes all the difference.

An expat in the UAE talks about the quality of healthcare, where she would go for specialist care, the availability of prescription medicines and more. Continue Reading

An expat in Quepos, Costa Rica talks about Max Teran Hospital, public vs. private healthcare, traveling to the Central Valley for specialized care and more. Continue Reading

An expat in Bali, Indonesia talks about the importance of having health insurance, the best hospital in Bali and lower cost prescription meds. Continue Reading

An expat in Riyadh recommends returning to the US or Europe for medical treatment should the need arise. She found that medical care, even at the top hospital in Riyadh, was substandard. Continue Reading

An expat in Cuenca talks about Ecuador's mandatory health insurance requirement, Moscosa Hospital and the cost and availability of prescription medicines. Continue Reading

An expat in Lake Atitlan talks about the proximity to hospitals in Guatemala City and Quetzaltenango, availability of prescription medicines, private health insurance and more. Continue Reading

An expat in Costa Rica talks about socialized medical care, private health insurance, public and private hospitals in Playa Jaco. The quality of care at the hospitals she and her husband have visited surpassed the quality of care in the US. Continue Reading

A highly-experienced expat offers a detailed look inside health care in Portugal, and the Lisbon area in particular. Covers access to the Portuguese system, medications, private insurance, area hospitals and much more. Continue Reading

An expat in Da Nang talks about the quality of healthcare and proximity to hospitals in Da Nang. She talks about numerous hospitals in the city, how some expats travel to Bangkok for specialized care and health insurance for expats in Vietnam. Continue Reading

An expat living in Nassau, Bahamas talks about the quality of healthcare in the Bahamas. He explained that the hospitals and clinics in the Bahamas provide care more quickly than in this home country of Canada. Also, many expats in need of specialized care take a quick trip to Florida. Continue Reading

A dad in the UAE talks about he and his wife's experiences having two babies in the UAE. The first was in Dubai and the second in Abu Dhabi at a government run hospital. He offers great insight into the positive and negatives of both experiences. Continue Reading

An expat married to a Filipino woman describes his wife's experiences giving birth to their two children in Davao, Philippines. They chose a simple clinic with a hospital as a backup plan. He explained that in the Philippines hospital births are almost always c-sections. Continue Reading

An expat dad in Monteria, Colombia describes he and his wife's experiences having to babies in Monteria. He offers very helpful tips about what to expect and bring to the hospital. Continue Reading

I had a beautiful baby boy in an Army Medical Center on an Army base on the northern island of Japan. I was late arriving at the hospital, so only local anesthesia! It was so fast, I didn't have time to hurt! The care was wonderful. I went home the next day, feeling fine, and so happy! Continue Reading

An British expat describes her birth experience in Germany as barbaric. She says that pain management was non existent and recommends that other expats consider leaving the country to give birth or being extremely demanding. Continue Reading

We have two babies.. one in a birthing home in Antigua run by Americans mid wife, and one in Guatemala city Esperanza hospital.. Both were born in water.. Did stay more than a night in either place.Great positive experience.. Well attended highly professionals. Continue Reading

I thought the facilities were great ... I got a epidural and don't have any bad feed back about it . They were very nice they talked you thought everything that was happening.. I stay in hospital for 3 days .. Yes it was a very positive experience .. Lovely food and lovely staff ... Continue Reading

One expat shares her story about having a baby in Colombia. She advises that you return to the States if your pregnancy is high risk, because if the baby is born very early it would be flown by medevac to the States. Continue Reading

My experience was positive. Health care was easily available and cheap. The obgyn was supurb. The birth was induced. Unfortunatelly spinal block for vaginal birth unavailable in all hospitals. C-section common. I had a c-section by spontaneous choice (not medical reason). I am rh neg, my partner rh positive. Antigen D available, but my boyfriend had to search the city for the med after birth. Expensive injection $300. Operation about $500. No health insurance available to cover pregnancy. Doctors and nurses experienced and professional. Great good wonderful memories. I was afraid at first and wanted to return to Australia. But so glad I stayed! Continue Reading

One expat who had her baby in Genova, Italy shares her experiences with the hospital, pre-natal care and doctors in Genova. Continue Reading