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Marshall Expat Health Insurance

The Republic of the Marshall Islands is a group of islands and atolls located in the central Pacific Ocean. Originally settled by the Micronesian people, the Marshall Islands were subsequently claimed by Spain, Germany and then by Japan during World War I. The islands were then the scene of a World War II confrontation between Japan and the United States. In 1944 and after just two months of fighting, the United States had taken control of the Marshall Islands. Following the end of World War II, the United States established the Pacific Proving Grounds on the Marshall Islands and from 1946 to 1958, it carried out numerous atomic weapons tests, severely contaminating the surrounding atmosphere and in some cases completely destroying a number of islands. The Marshall Islands became a sovereign nation in 1986 although the United States remains responsible for the protection and defense of the islands. With few natural resources, the nation’s two main industries are fishing and the production of coconut oil.

Marshall Islands Health Care and Insurance

Approximately 67,000 people inhabit the Marshall Islands, with the majority residing on the Majuro and Kwajalein atolls. Unsurprisingly, health facilities of the Marshall Islands are limited to these two atolls. The Ministry of Health (MoH) oversees the provision of health care services on the islands. The MoH aims to ensure that affordable, efficient and high quality health care is available to the citizens of the Marshall Islands. In reality, health care services are basic and limited in the range of treatments available. Travelers and expatriates intending to visit or relocate to the Marshall Islands are advised to purchase international Marshall Islands health insurance.

There are two hospitals and 61 health clinics serving the population of the Marshall Islands. The total number of health personnel includes 172 nurses, 7 dentists, 38 doctors and 2 pharmacists. Primary level health care services are available at the various health clinics and these health facilities are capable of providing basic treatments. Patients requiring hospital or specialist treatment are subsequently referred to one of the two main hospitals. The country’s largest hospital is the Armer hospital which is located in the capital city Majuro. The Armer was built in the 1980s and acts as the main referral hospital. It is capable of providing diagnostic, emergency and in-patient services and has a total of 81 beds. The Ebeye hospital is situated on Ebeye Island and offers emergency, out-patient, dental and some specialist services. The hospital has slowly become out-dated and its equipment is in need of an upgrade. Drugs and medicines occasionally run low resulting in increasing numbers of citizens being referred to the Armer hospital. The MoH, with financial support from the United States, intends to improve the standard of health facilities in the coming years with the aim of introducing health care facilities and coverage to more of the islands and atolls.

Marshall Islands Travel Advice

The Marshall Islands is situated just north of the equator and it experiences a hot and humid year round climate. Some diseases associated with the tropics can be found in the region and it is advisable to consult with a travel health specialist at least four weeks prior to your arrival on the islands. The routine vaccination should be updated accordingly along with vaccinations for Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B and Typhoid. Diseases spread from the bites of insects such as Dengue fever, chikungunya, filariasis, Ross River virus and Murray Valley encephalitis are common to the region. To reduce the risk of contracting these diseases, precautions against insect bites should be adopted. Sporadic outbreaks of tuberculosis do occur on the Marshall Islands and a number of cases were reported in 2010 and 2011, hence vaccinations for tuberculosis are also advised. Health facilities in the Marshall Islands are limited in the treatments they can provide, therefore; travelers and expatriates should purchase an international Marshall Islands health insurance policy for the duration of their time in the country.

The Marshall Islands are located in an isolated region of the Pacific Ocean and are vulnerable to various natural weather phenomenon such as typhoons, flooding and hurricanes. In 2008, heavy rains and high sea levels caused extensive flooding on Majuro and Ebeye Island. Sea defenses are quite low and most of the Marshall Islands terrain sits just one meter above sea level. Visitors and expatriates should monitor the weather situation on a daily basis and adhere to local government announcements and emergency evacuation procedures.

Sometimes referred to as the ‘Pearl of the Pacific’, the Marshall Islands with its pristine beaches and lush tropical greenery has seen increasing numbers of tourists in recent years. Atmospheric radiation from decades of nuclear testing has now dropped to levels that are regarded as safe for international tourists to visit the islands. The Marshall Islands contain a wide variety of marine life and there are a large number of spectacular diving sites located throughout the country’s atolls. It should be noted that there is no decompression chamber on the Marshall Islands. Should a diver experience problems, emergency air evacuation to Hawaii would be necessary. Travelers and expatriates are advised to include a provision for emergency evacuation in their Marshall Islands health insurance policy.

Marshall Islands Expat Health Insurance

The Marshall Islands has a small health care system which is capable of offering a limited range of treatments and services. Should an expatriate or traveler require complicated surgery or specialist treatment, evacuation to a hospital with modern health facilities would be necessary. A considerable distance of over 3,000 kilometers separates Hawaii and the Marshall Islands and air evacuation costs will be extremely expensive. Global Health Insurance can assist you, free of charge, to sift through the various health insurance products and policies available and understand which will provide you the best coverage possible in the Marshall Islands. Expat health insurance policies such as these can be tailored to include benefits such as in-patient or out-patient services, dental, maternity and more. For more information on Marshall Islands expat health insurance or international health insurance plans please contact a Global Health Insurance advisor today.