• Individual plans
• Family plans
• Group plans
• Travel plans
• Teacher plans

Laos Health Insurance Advice

Global Health Insurance is a market leading medical and healthcare brokerage. We offer Laos insurance health advice to the expatriate community and pride ourselves on searching and selecting the right plan for you. As the Laos insurance health plan market continues to grow there is an even greater need for good quality advice and recommendations. Our international medical consultants constantly search the market for new policies that may better serve the needs and requirements of our Laos insurance health plan clients.

• Individual Plans
  Laos insurance health plans designed for individuals. These plans are flexible, annually renewable and can be tailored to meet your specific medical requirements.

• Family Plans
  Family is the most important thing in many of our lives. Our medical consultants can recommend international health insurance cover to provide protection for all the family.

• Group Plans
  Medical insurance is vital for today’s business. Executives often travel extensively in the course of their job and we can advise you on what levels of cover are needed and can often obtain group discounts on your behalf.

• Travel Plans
  Laos insurance health plans designed for people visiting or working in Hong Kong. Policies can be tailored for either for the short or medium term, but the trip cannot exceed 12 months.

Global Health Insurance aims to provide you with the complete insurance solution; everything from choosing the right medical plan to reimbursement of claims to choosing your hospital. This is all done in an efficient, customer focused manner ensuring your Laos insurance health plan gives the right cover for you.

The Lao People’s Democratic Republic, otherwise known as Laos, is located in South East Asia bordered by Vietnam, China, Burma, Cambodia and Thailand. Formerly a part of French Indochina, Laos achieved full independence in 1954 in the form of a constitutional monarchy under Sisavang Vong. The Communist Pathet Lao movement opposed Vong’s rule and began a 10 year civil war from which they emerged victorious. A single party socialist republic was subsequently established which remains in power to this day. The Laos economy is heavily reliant on trade with its neighbors, China in particular. Subsistence agriculture provides up to 80 percent of employment and constitutes almost half of national GDP. Tourism is the fastest growing sector in Laos with attractions that include ancient Buddhist temples, trekking, hill walking and rafting and approximately 1.9 million people visited the country in 2010. Laos prides itself on being one of the few countries in Asia where you can witness at first hand the centuries old lifestyle of many of its ancient tribes and ethnic minorities.

Laos Health Care and Insurance

The health care system in Laos has not changed much since the days when the ruling Communist party took power. For decades Laos has been acknowledged as one of the poorest countries in Asia, a fact reflected by the lack of modern medical facilities throughout the country. Health and social services in Laos do not reach the standard required to effectively meet the needs of the approximate 7 million residents. The government’s inability to retain its young professionals has been identified as one of the primary reasons behind the country’s lack of development. Health facilities in the capital city Vientiane and other large urban areas are marginally better than those in rural areas but overall they fall considerably short of international standards. Despite the added medical and travel costs, large numbers of Laotians travel to Thailand for routine medical and dental treatments. As an expatriate or traveler relocating to or visiting Laos it is imperative that you are in possession of an international Laos health insurance policy to assist you in the event of a medical emergency.

Overall confidence in the Laos health care system is low. Significant numbers of doctors, nurses and health professionals left the country during and after the civil war and as a result Laos suffers from a chronic shortage of highly trained medical personnel. In common with all civil and public servants in Laos, the salaries of medical staff are meager and rarely paid on time, modern equipment and medicines are unavailable and management offer little encouragement and support. Consequently morale is poor and health care is ineffective. The lack of a widespread network of health workers has resulted in a dependence on traditional medical practitioners, particularly in rural areas. These practitioners rely on the use of herbs and plants to treat common ailments and many Laotian citizens would as easily visit their local traditional practitioner as they would a government run health center. The pharmaceutical sector in Laos is unregulated and many shops sell drugs and medicines without a license. Incorrect prescriptions are common and such shops in rural areas typically sell single dose cures made up of a variety of antibiotics and vitamins to treat many illnesses.

Laos Travel Insurance Concerns

Expatriates and foreign travelers must take into account how the low standard of health care in Laos will impact on their time in the country. Individuals with ongoing medical problems are advised not to visit. If you are taking prescription medicine prior to your arrival in Laos, you should bring adequate supplies to cover your length of stay. In the event that you suffer from a medical emergency while in Laos, specialist treatments and complicated surgery will not be available meaning that medical evacuation to Thailand or Singapore will be necessary. Air evacuation to another country is prohibitively expensive; therefore, it is recommended that you include a provision for emergency medical evacuation with your Laos health insurance cover.

Water borne, food borne and other infectious diseases are common to Laos and the region. Poor sanitation and contaminated food can cause diarrheal illness and increase the risk of cholera. A visit to a travel health professional four to six weeks prior to your arrival in Laos is advised. The routine vaccination should be updated and vaccinations against Malaria, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid, Japanese encephalitis and Rabies are recommended. With the exception of Vientiane, Malaria is prevalent throughout the country. Using prescription anti-malarial drugs, insect repellant and bed nets can reduce the risk of insect bites.

Crime levels in Laos are quite low although incidents of pick pocketing and bag snatching do occur, particularly in areas frequented by tourists. Expatriates and travelers are advised to pay attention to your personal security and belongings and to ensure all valuables such as travel documents and cash are safe. The police are entitled to stop anyone and request proof of identification; therefore, you should carry your passport at all times. Unexploded mines and ordnance continue to cause problems in rural areas, particularly along the former Ho Chi Minh trail at the Laos-Vietnamese border. Such areas are not clearly identified and travelers are advised to remain on clearly marked routes.

Laos Expat Health Insurance

The health system in Laos is outdated and operates far below the standards expected by many expatriates or international travelers. Medical emergencies do happen, therefore to ensure you, your family or traveling companions are fully protected invest in comprehensive Laos health insurance today. Global Health International can assist you, free of charge, through the various policies and plans that offer comprehensive health cover. For more information on Laos health insurance or the international health insurance plans available, please contact a Global Health International advisor today.

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