International Health Insurance Options for  Mozambique 

Protecting Your Peace of Mind: A Guide to International Health Insurance Options in Mozambique

If you are planning a long-term stay, whether for work or with family, international health insurance (iPHI) is not merely a recommendation in Mozambique—it is an absolute necessity. The country's public healthcare system is basic, limited, and underdeveloped, often suffering from staff and supply shortages. Critically, expats are not entitled to utilize public healthcare services.

Your health security relies entirely on the small, fee-for-service private healthcare sector, which is primarily concentrated in the capital, Maputo City. Given the complexity and potential costs involved, securing robust international insurance must be one of your top priorities before relocating.

1. The Single Most Critical Coverage: Medical Evacuation

The defining feature of healthcare planning in Mozambique is the reality that local medical facilities cannot handle serious conditions or emergencies. Even the best private hospitals in Maputo may be inadequate for complex medical issues or intense surgeries.

The standard protocol for severe illness or injury is medical evacuation (Medevac) to a regional medical hub, typically South Africa. Other advanced medical centers like Brazil, India, or Portugal are also used by those who can afford it.

Why Medevac is Non-Negotiable:

• Prohibitive Cost: Without comprehensive insurance, medical evacuation by air ambulance can be prohibitively expensive, often costing between $25,000 to over $100,000.
• Unreliable Local Services: Outside of Maputo, ground ambulance services are unreliable due to the poor state of national roads, making air evacuation often the only swift and reliable option in an emergency.
• Employer Mandate: For expatriate workers, particularly those in extractive industries in regions like Cabo Delgado, offering access to medical evacuations is often a prerequisite in the work contract due to the low opinion of local health services.

Providers specializing in evacuation services include International SOS, Aeromed, Medi Response, and Netcare 911. For instance, Chengeta Emergency Medical Evacuation, powered by Aeroworx, specifically offers hospitalization and transfer to South Africa for covered conditions.

2. Choosing the Right International Plan

When selecting an international health insurance plan (iPHI) for Mozambique, you must prioritize features that bridge the gap between local resources and international standards.

A. Geographical Coverage is Key

The plan must cover two main areas:

1. Mozambique: To cover routine consultations, primary care, diagnostic tests, and stabilization at private clinics like Lenmed Maputo Private Hospital (Hospital Privado de Maputo), Clinica de Especialidades, or International SOS Clinic.
2. Neighboring Countries (South Africa): You must ensure your policy covers the costs of private hospitalization and medical evacuation to South Africa for specialist treatment.

Some providers define coverage by zones. For example, Indigo Expat places Mozambique in Zone 2, but allows policyholders to select expanded coverage in Zones 3 or 4 for greater international access.

B. Core Benefits Checklist

A comprehensive plan should explicitly cover:

• Emergency Medical Evacuation and Repatriation.
• Inpatient and Day-Patient Care.
• Outpatient Treatment Methods (Consultations, diagnostics, physical therapy).
• Cancer Treatment (often comprehensive).
• 24/7 Support: Access to a multilingual customer care team.
• Flexibility: Plans should be modular, allowing options for dental, vision, or maternity coverage riders.

3. Top International Insurance Providers

Expats have access to numerous international health insurance providers that specialize in global coverage, offering high annual benefit limits (often up to $5M or more).

Insurer Key Features for Mozambique Expats Plans/Coverage Source Data
Allianz Care World-leading provider; frequently involved in medical evacuations from Mozambique to South Africa. Provides group schemes for employers. Care, Care Plus, Care Pro Plans (Max limit up to $5,000,000). Covers medical evacuation and repatriation.
Cigna Global Offers worldwide coverage (often excluding the US); provides 24/7 multilingual customer support. Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Close Care Plans. Coverage includes hospitalization and emergency medical evacuation.
AXA Global Extensive global network and flexibility. Provides key core benefits including medical evacuation and repatriation. Foundation, Standard, Comprehensive, Prestige, and Prestige Plus (Max limit up to $8,000,000).
Bupa Global Extensive network; offers direct billing and lifetime renewal. Coverage available for two children under 10 at no additional cost. Major Medical, Select, Premier, and Elite Plans.
GeoBlue Popular choice for US expatriates (GeoBlue Xplorer plan). Often waives deductibles for routine services. Xplorer Essential and Premier Plans.
William Russell Offers tailored regional plans with four tiers (Bronze to Gold, up to $5,000,000 annual limit). Inpatient, outpatient, evacuation, and cancer coverage.

Other reputable providers mentioned for expat health insurance include VUMI, IMG International, DavidShield Group, NOW Health International, and Hollard Health, which provides legally compliant (admitted) health insurance in Africa. Locally, companies like Momentum Mozambique and Arko Saúde offer health plans, with Arko Saúde providing coverage in Mozambique, South Africa, Asia, and Europe.

4. Special Considerations and Local Factors

Coverage for Young Expats and Adventurers

For young professionals, students (aged 18 to 30 years old), or those on working holidays, specialized plans are available, such as Indigo Expat Junior, which focuses on affordability and essential protection.

For thrill-seekers, policies like those offered by World Nomads specifically cater to adventurers and offer coverage for high-risk activities like skydiving in their Explorer Plan.

Social Security and Workplace Insurance

Mozambique operates a compulsory social security system through the INSS (Instituto Nacional de Segurança Social). Non-resident employees may be exempt from contributing if they provide proof of coverage by a comparable foreign scheme.

It is important to note that INSS social security contributions do not cover workplace accidents or occupational diseases. Employers are legally required to purchase separate collective insurance policies from private insurers or state entities to cover these occupational risks.

Navigating the Local Health Insurance Market

The private health insurance market in Mozambique is small, with less than 150,000 policies reported in 2018. Expats should be cautious when dealing with local "health plan companies" as opposed to regulated international insurers:

• Health Plan Companies have a very low minimum capital requirement (MZN 20,000) and are often not regulated by the Insurance Supervision Institute of Mozambique (ISSM).
• Insurers have a much higher capital requirement (MZN 100 million) and are regulated by ISSM.

Due to a history of delayed payments or default, many private providers in Maputo have been reported to deny services to beneficiaries covered by certain health plan companies. Therefore, relying on internationally recognized, A-rated insurers provides the financial stability and credibility needed for reliable support and claim handling.

The Bottom Line: Your international health insurance plan acts as your critical safety net in Mozambique. It ensures that when basic local care is insufficient, you are quickly airlifted to a regional center of medical excellence, minimizing the threat posed by the limitations of the local health infrastructure. Choose robust coverage with medical evacuation to South Africa—it is the cornerstone of responsible expatriate living in Mozambique.

The Cross-Border Solution: Medical Evacuation to South Africa

While Maputo's private facilities offer relief for routine primary care and stabilization, the single most critical factor in expat healthcare planning is the frequent and necessary reliance on neighboring South Africa for specialized, serious, or complex medical treatment.

Why South Africa is the Standard Protocol

The healthcare system in Mozambique, even in its private sector, generally does not meet international standards for advanced or complex care. For expats, the need to travel to South Africa (or sometimes Brazil, India, or Portugal) is common for specialized treatment or intense surgeries.

Reasons for seeking care outside Mozambique include:

• Lack of Resources and Expertise: Even major hospitals in Mozambique may lack the expertise, specialized resources, or equipment (such as advanced diagnostic tools like CT scans and MRIs) to deal with severe illness, serious injuries, or complex cases. The Mozambican health infrastructure is described as weak, with limited medical facilities.
• Elective and Specialized Procedures: Wealthier Mozambicans and most expats often choose to travel to South Africa for elective procedures, or specialist advice, and better dental or eye work.
• High-Risk Situations: Serious illness cases and emergencies are often transferred to South Africa because the expertise and resources are unavailable in Mozambique. Those with more serious illnesses and injury will require more advanced care in South Africa, despite the presence of private medical facilities in Maputo.

The Necessity of Medical Evacuation

In the event of a medical emergency or serious injury in Mozambique, particularly outside of major cities where local facilities are extremely basic, medical evacuation (Medevac) is highly likely to be required.

• Evacuation Destination: South Africa is widely considered the nearest center of medical excellence and specialist care facilities, making it the most common evacuation destination.
• High Cost: Without insurance, the cost of medical evacuation can be prohibitively expensive, potentially starting at ** $20,000** and sometimes exceeding ** $100,000**.
• Logistics: The process involves air ambulance transport, which is determined by the patient's medical condition and adherence to global medical and aviation safety standards. Air Rescue, a leading air ambulance provider in Africa, operates from Lanseria Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa. Some specialized medical assistance providers in Mozambique, such as Medi Response, operate a 24-hour Global Coordination Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa, complementing their Maputo operations. Netcare 911 also assists with medical evacuation to the Republic of South Africa.

Insurance is Mandatory for Regional Treatment

Given that local public facilities are inadequate and even private facilities may fall short for serious conditions, securing the correct insurance coverage that explicitly accounts for cross-border care is paramount.

• Comprehensive Coverage: It is absolutely essential to secure comprehensive international health insurance that includes robust medical evacuation coverage.
• Regional Scope: Expats should choose a plan that covers the costs of private hospitalization and possible medical evacuation to South Africa. You must ensure your policy covers treatment in both countries. Some policies are explicitly tailored to include neighboring countries such as South Africa in their international insurance options for obtaining high-quality care.
• Specific Benefits: Certain evacuation insurance plans specifically cover transfer to South Africa and hospitalization if required specialized treatment is unavailable locally. Coverage for air ambulance transport is provided if it is medically necessary and the best way to reach the nearest suitable medical facility.

In short, for expatriates in Mozambique, South Africa functions as the essential quaternary level of care, necessitated by the limits of local infrastructure. Having robust insurance coverage that includes this evacuation bridge is the cornerstone of safe expat living in the country.

Your Healthcare Action Plan

The healthcare reality in Mozambique is defined by resource scarcity and geographical disparity. Your health security relies on two critical pillars:

1. Meticulous Planning Before You Arrive

Medical Supplies:

• Bring sufficient supplies of any essential prescription medications
• Supply can be unreliable even in city pharmacies (farmácias)
• Carry copies of prescriptions and medical records
• Consider bringing a basic medical kit with over-the-counter essentials

Health Assessment:

• Complete a comprehensive health check before departure
• Address any dental work or elective procedures
• Ensure vaccinations are current
• Get copies of all medical records and test results

2. Robust Financial Protection

Invest in comprehensive international health insurance that:

• Includes robust medical evacuation coverage (minimum $100,000)
• Covers treatment in South Africa without restrictions
• Provides 24/7 emergency assistance
• Has no or minimal deductibles for evacuation
• Includes repatriation coverage

Don't Gamble with "Local" Plans: Avoid relying solely on employer-provided local insurance unless it explicitly includes international evacuation coverage. Many local plans don't cover evacuation to South Africa, which could leave you financially devastated in an emergency.

3. Know Your Resources

Before you need them:

• Save emergency numbers for private hospitals in your phone
• Know the location of the nearest private clinic to your home and workplace
• Keep your insurance card and policy number readily accessible
• Establish a relationship with a general practitioner at a private clinic
• Register with your embassy or consulate

Final Thoughts: Healthcare as a Non-Negotiable Budget Item

Healthcare in Mozambique isn't an area where you can cut corners or hope for the best. The gap between public and private care is vast, and the need for potential medical evacuation is real. Many expatriates have faced serious health crises that required immediate evacuation to South Africa—those with proper insurance received life-saving care; those without faced financial ruin.

Think of comprehensive international health insurance not as an expense, but as the foundation of your safety net. It's the difference between a medical emergency being a manageable crisis and a catastrophic life event.

Your adventure in Mozambique can be rewarding and enriching, but it requires you to be realistic about healthcare limitations and prepared for the worst-case scenario. Plan meticulously, insure comprehensively, and you'll have the peace of mind to fully embrace your expat experience.