Planning to call Bali home? Choosing the right insurance is more crucial than picking the perfect villa. This guide unravels the complex world of travel and health insurance, ensuring your tropical adventure doesn’t become a costly medical misadventure. Whether you’re a digital nomad, expat, or long-term traveller, we’ll help you find the coverage that protects your health.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is your safety net for short-term journeys (typically 1-6 months), designed to protect you against the unexpected. A typical policy acts like a financial shield, covering you when things go wrong during your trip. Standard coverage includes:
- Trip Protection: Safeguarding your investment against cancellations, interruptions, delays, and lost baggage.
- Medical Emergency Support: Handling unforeseen medical situations and accidents that occur during your travels.
- Emergency Evacuation: Ensuring you can get to medical treatment or return home if a serious situation arises.
While comprehensive in emergencies, travel insurance has clear limitations. It’s not a substitute for comprehensive health coverage—routine medical care, pre-existing conditions, and long-term treatments are typically excluded. Think of it as a temporary safety net, perfect for short trips but inadequate for extended stays or ongoing health management (i.e. often excludes preventative care and regular checkups). This is where you would still be keeping your private health insurance in your home country still active.
Health Insurance
Traditional health insurance in your home country often falls short for international travellers. Most domestic plans are limited to your home country, providing minimal—if any—coverage abroad. Emergency services might be covered, but planned treatments, routine check-ups, and non-urgent medical needs are typically excluded.
International health insurance bridges these gaps. Designed specifically for expatriates and global travellers, these comprehensive plans cover routine medical care, hospital stays, and prescription medications across multiple countries.
Our network of health insurance providers offers specialized coverage for expatriates in Bali. These providers focus exclusively on insurance solutions tailored to expats living and working in Indonesia.
When you select a policy, you can customise your coverage by choosing from the following options:
- Geographic Coverage: Indonesia Only or additional countries, Worldwide (excluding the United States)
- Medical Coverage: Hospital-only plans or Comprehensive plans including both hospital and outpatient services
To qualify for expat health insurance plans, you must be classified as an expat, meaning you reside outside your home country for at least six months (183 days + 1).
Securing the Right Health Insurance in Bali
Reliable health insurance is crucial for anyone living in Bali. Our services introduce you to leading international insurance providers in Bali to develop tailored coverage that meets your specific requirements, including specialised policies for individuals holding a KITAS visa.
International schools often mandate health insurance. Having comprehensive coverage ensures you meet these institutional requirements while protecting your personal health and financial well-being.
Our services extend far beyond obtaining the right insurance. We provide comprehensive guidance to help you navigate the complex landscape of healthcare in Bali, including:
- Medical professionals and 7 days a week support systems
- Healthcare costs
- Safety considerations (such as helping you obtain a local drivers licence to be covered by health insurance)
- Personalised recommendations based on your unique needs and so much more.
Choosing the Right Coverage
To determine which insurance is right for you, consider the following:
- Duration of stay: Travel insurance is ideal for short-term stays, while international health insurance is better suited for long-term residency of 12 months or more.
- Nature of activities: If engaging in high-risk activities, ensure your policy includes specialised coverage.
- Pre-existing conditions: If you have a medical condition, verify if it is covered.
Recommendation for Expats in Bali
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If staying short-term (a few months) → A comprehensive travel insurance plan with medical coverage.
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If staying long-term (over 6 months – years) → A proper expat health insurance plan to cover ongoing medical needs.
Ready to explore your Healthcare Insurance options?
While travel insurance can serve short-term visitors adequately, long-term expats in Bali should strongly consider proper international health insurance. The healthcare infrastructure in Bali, while improving, still has limitations for complex medical conditions, making comprehensive coverage with evacuation benefits particularly important.
Your choice should align with your length of stay, health needs, budget, and risk tolerance. Most importantly, whichever option you choose, thoroughly understand the policy details, exclusions, and claim processes before making your decision.
Book a discovery call to discuss your health insurance needs, understand the nuances of healthcare in Bali, and ensure you’re fully prepared for your move.
Comparison Table: Travel Insurance vs. International Health Insurance
| Feature | Travel Insurance | International Health Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Purpose | Covers short-term travel risks | Provides comprehensive medical coverage for long-term stays |
| Coverage Duration | Typically 30-180 days; one-off plan (expires without renewal options) |
Annual policies designed for expatriates with auto-renewal options |
| Medical Coverage | Covers emergency and general medical expenses (doctor visits, hospitalisation, prescriptions) but can be limited on coverage amounts and exclusions (pre-existing conditions) |
Covers comprehensive healthcare including checkups, specialist care, and chronic conditions |
| Pre-existing Conditions | Limited coverage depending on plan | Often covered, depending on policy and underwriting |
| Routine Check-ups | Not usually covered unless a top-tier plan | Covered in most plans |
| Hospitalisation | Emergency coverage only | Includes both planned and emergency hospitalisation |
| Medications | Emergency prescriptions only | Covers long-term prescription medications |
| Repatriation/Evacuation | Covers medical evacuation and return home | Evacuation always available |
| Trip Cancellation & Delays | Covered | Not included |
| Lost or Delayed Baggage | Covered | Not included |
| Compatibility with Domestic Plans | May provide limited emergency coverage | Offers higher coverage, including planned treatments |
| Cost Range in Bali | USD $60-300/month | USD $100-500+ per month depending on age and coverage |
| Claim Process | You pay upfront and claim reimbursement later | Often includes direct billing, where the insurer pays the hospital directly |
| Best For | Short-term travelers, tourists (under 6 months) | Long-term expats, retirees, and families living in Bali |
