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Bahrain Expat Health Insurance

Bahrain is a small island archipelago consisting of 33 islands and bordering Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the Persian Gulf. Bahrain is sometimes referred to as “Middle East Lite” because it maintains a Persian Gulf identity with modern infrastructure coupled with religious tolerance. It is a constitutional monarchy with a king, head of government, a bicameral National Assembly, and a Council of Representatives. In terms of political standings, Shia and Sunni Islamists have been making strides in elections, and women were granted the right to vote in 2002. The capital of Bahrain is Manama ,and the country is split into 5 governorates with a population of 1.234 million. Bahrain has the fastest growing economy in the Arab world, as well as the freest economy in the Middle East. Oil is largely responsible for this, as petroleum production and processing account for 60% of government revenues and 30% of the GDP. However, depletion of oil resources as well as unemployment are long-term economic issues that Bahrain is currently facing. The official language is Arabic, but English is widely spoken. The principle religion is Islam, with Shi'a Muslims constituting over 70% of the Muslim population. Tourism has been on the rise, with estimates at over 8 million visitors per year. Bahrain is also home to the Qalat Al Bahrain castle which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Bahrain is essentially a low desert plain that is very flat and arid, with mild winters and hot, humid summers. Summer temperatures can be higher than 40 degrees Celsius. Dust storms and periodic droughts are natural hazards for inhabitants of Bahrain as the country is 92% desert.

There is an underlying risk of terrorism in Bahrain, usually in places frequented by expatriates and usually military or oil related. Tourists should remain vigilant in crowded, public areas and avoid demonstrations; British nationals should be especially careful. Bahrain has a zero tolerance policy for drinking and driving; offenders will be put in prison and not have their cases tried until the next working day and will have to pay a minimum of 900 pounds. Visitors should exercise caution when using Dhow sailing vessels to travel as their safety standards may not be up to that of the UK's. Visitors should be respectful of local customs; although Bahrain is liberal, revealing clothing or immodest behavior will be looked down upon by Bahrainis. The country also celebrates many religious holidays. Homosexual behavior is illegal, and women should remain especially careful when traveling at night, and only take taxis from reputable companies. Petty crime may also occur; expatriates should protect their personal belongings as there have been reports of stolen passports.

Bahrain Healthcare System

Before traveling to Bahrain, visitors should make sure their routine vaccines are updated (MMR, DPT, poliovirus, etc) as well as having received the Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Typhoid vaccinations. Those who will be staying in the country for the long term or who will be around bats or other mammals are also recommended to receive the rabies vaccine. Other diseases that travelers may be at risk for when traveling to the Middle East are cutaneous leishmaniasis, visceral leishmaniasis, West Nile virus, schistosomiasis, measles, and H5N1 (avian flu). To prevent vector-borne infections, visitors should wear protective clothing and strong insect repellent with 30-50% DEET. Expatriates are also advised to drink only bottled water, and to bring iodine/water purification tablets in the event that bottled water is not readily available.

The adult mortality rate per 1,000 adults ages 15-59 is 112 people, while the maternal mortality ratio per 100,000 live births is 19 women. The infant mortality rate is 9.5 babies per 1,000 live births and the under-5 mortality rate is 12 children per 1,000 live births. 57 out of 100,000 people have tuberculosis and .2% of the population have HIV/AIDS.

Bahraini healthcare is of a high standard. Currently, Bahrain has three full service private hospitals, four government hospitals, 19 government health centers, five government maternity hospitals, and many private specialty clinics, however many locals receive specialty treatment outside of Bahrain as it may be of a higher standard. Hospitals are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and both English and Arabic are usually spoken. Due to the small population combined with the many medical facilities, there are no long lines or waiting times, although treatment is offered on a first come, first serve basis. Doctors have many years of experience in a range of services including gynecological, pediatric, elderly, diabetes, and pregnancy treatments. All lab tests are available and equipment is of a reputable standard as well. Pharmacies are also widespread throughout the country; three major pharmacies are the Nasser Pharmacy, Al Bader Pharmacy, and Bahrain Pharmacy and General Store. Three major hospitals are the International Hospital of Bahrain, the American Mission Hospital, and the Bahrain Specialist Hospital. However, prices match the high standard of healthcare.

Although the percentage of GDP expended on health is only 4.5%, the government sees healthcare and health insurance as a priority and an effective system is in place. The Ministry of Health provides healthcare and distributes government funding to public health facilities. Treatment in public hospitals is free for citizens of Bahrain. Working, non-Bahrainis are charged for co-payments on treatment, while visitors are charged full price and are expected to pay out-of-pocket or though international health insurance. Some hospitals offer accommodations comparable to a 5-star hotel, but patients will be charged accordingly. Emergency services are not free and are also expensive. If you are a foreign national that is not employed in Bahrain, expat health insurance or local Bahrain health insurance that will cover you during your trip in order to protect your personal finances is highly recommended.

Bahrain Expat Health Insurance

It is advised that expatriates traveling to Bahrain take out an international health insurance plan in the event of anything unexpected and unfortunate happening. As expat health insurance policies are widely accepted around the world, it means in an emergency an expatriate would have easy access to private health care facilities and would also be covered for the high costs relative to treatment in Bahrain. Expat Health Insurance can offer specialized coverage such as medical evacuation, in case an expatriate requires serious, specialized medical treatment that is unavailable in Bahrainian hospitals, expatriates will be covered for expenses relating to medical transportation. For example, while you may be covered by an insurance policy in your home country, it may not cover hospital bills or medical evacuations in a foreign country, and getting another insurance policy may be necessary for your stay in Bahrain. Expat health insurance plans that Global Health Insurance works with can cover services including, but not limited to, dental, maternity, transportation, inpatient services, and more for your trip to Bahrain. Please contact us today for a free consultation on international health insurance.