Are healthcare and health insurance expensive in Kingston?

When we asked expats in Kingston if healthcare and health insurance are expensive in Kingston, they wrote...

"Healthcare and health insurance in Kingston can be considered expensive, particularly for those with low incomes. Public healthcare facilities are often overcrowded and under-resourced, leading many individuals to seek private healthcare services, which can be costly. Health insurance is available but may not be affordable for everyone, as premiums can be high and coverage may be limited. Additionally, some specialized treatments or medications may not be readily available in Jamaica, requiring patients to travel abroad for care, further increasing expenses," mentioned another expat when asked about moving to Kingston, Jamaica.

"There are doctors that will see patients on an ad hoc basis without medical insurance. I’ve been here for four months now - extended leisure visit - and I see a great doctor in Kingston. Each visit is 4K JMD a pop. He will provide prescriptions, and if needed, make referrals to specialist services. However I would say that you should seriously consider medical insurance as you would in the USA. Medication etc is not cheap and if you need specialist treatment costs can be high (though lower than in the States in most cases) but as an instance I’ve just had to pay 80k JMD for an MRI scan. I could have waited until I return to the UK and have it done for free there but the advantage of paying for it privately here meant that I could have it done and obtain results within days rather than the weeks or months I’d have to wait on the NHS. Medical insurance would definitely have been cheaper! If you are relocating for work then your employer should provide medical insurance for yourself and any accompanying family members. Definitely if you have young children or pre-existing illness then ensure you have insurance. I’m a diabetic and the cost of insulin is pretty eyewatering. But as I said you can just find a physician and go see her/hum as you need to. They will keep a medical record with med history, meds, etc," commented one expat who made the move to Kingston, Jamaica.

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Are healthcare and health insurance expensive in Kingston?

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