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Palau Expat Health Insurance

The Republic of Palau is an archipelago of over 200 islands located in the South Pacific and is home to about 21,000 inhabitants. Of the many islands that make up Palau, only eight are inhabited and travel between them can sometimes be quite long by boat. What really makes Palau famous, however, is what is under its waters. Some of the best preserved coral, aquatic wildlife, and natural marine habitats in the world are found here, a few species are found nowhere else. This has made Palau a major destination for snorkelers and divers and caused a boom in the tourism industry. Wisely, Palau has put forth great effort to preserve it's natural surroundings so that these areas can continue to be enjoyed in the future. Warm water, tropical weather, peaceful surroundings and relaxed people make Palau a perfect place for a tropical vacation.

For all this serenity however, Palau has had a difficult history. Serving as the battle ground for much fighting during World War II, and having been seized by many different foreign governments in the past because of its strategic location in the Pacific, Palau has only been a sovereign country since 1994. Despite the violence Palau has a very welcoming demeanor toward most outsiders, no doubt realizing the profit potential tourism presents.

Travelers should be aware that Palau is a remote location, and as such it is still developing modern infrastructure and transport. Great steps forward have been made by the stable and forward thinking government, but some distance still has to be covered before it will be entirely up to western standards. One area of concern for tourists, travelers, and expatriates in the country is health care, especially given the great amount of ocean surrounding Palau and the activities, such as diving, that one may partake in while visiting.

Palau Healthcare System and Insurance

For decades Palau has relied on neighboring countries, primarily the Philippines, and Hawaii in the United States, to provide needed medical treatment for its people. However, past experience in off-island health care referral yielded evidence pointing to the necessity for construction of a hospital to serve the nation without relying on foreign based health care facilities for all major medical situations. The considerations of ever escalating cost for foreign health care along with no real marked improvement in the general health of the population after receiving foreign provided services led to the decision to create their own health care system. This culminated in the construction of Balau National Hospital opened in 1993 and implementation of a national health care system organized to serve the needs of the people. Much of this was funded by the United States and has been assisting financially for a decade and a half after sovereignty was granted, though contributions are lessening every year.

Palau's national health care system is overseen by the Ministry of Health, which is subdivided into two parts, the Bureau of Public Health and the Bureau of Clinical Services. These two entities are each overseen by a separate doctor who is responsible for all operations of his or her branch of the Ministry and then reports to the Minister who answers directly to the President of Palau. This short chain of command is in hopes of avoiding bureaucratic hold ups and ensuring quick action should problems arise in either service.

Restructuring of the previously chaotic system has resulted in the reopening of many rural clinics and pharmacies that had shut down because of past disuse due to lack of staff and inability to procure needed supplies. The general public has now regained some faith in the capabilities of the clinics to serve their needs and has also lessened the demand on the country's only hospital to serve every minor situation, thus allowing staff to focus more on providing secondary care to patients in a more serious condition. Additionally, care is once again available to residents of more rural communities through the country's nine public clinics, which in turn have the authority to refer needed care to the hospital when necessary. The successful overhaul of the Palau health care network is owed largely in part to the effective consultation provided by the World Health Organization and many outreach programs extended from foreign universities and medical schools to better train and educate Palau's health care personnel.

Currently, continued funding is the major concern and various schemes, such as co-pay savings accounts and income taxation plans, are being considered as a form of financial support for the system to avoid bankruptcy. These decisions will ensure or destroy the currently functioning system when the limited funds set aside, including foreign donations, are exhausted. At this time, a national Palau health insurance policy has not been finalized and current the care provided is primarily at cost to the government.

A smaller portion of the medical treatment available in Palau is in the form of privatized health care. There are currently only two private medical clinics, two privately operated pharmacies, one private surgical theater, and one private dental clinic. Initially started in the early 1980's to serve the populace which had very little care available, its doctors have worked more closely with the government funded public health care sector than is usual in most countries and commonly provided needed services such as on-call doctors to hospitals at times, as well as providing a second opinion on diagnosis for patients with concerns regarding the decision of their primary care physician. Private health care in Palau is open to all, Pulauan and foreigner alike, and is paid for by the private individual.

Both systems offer basic levels of care for accidents and sickness, including a modern decompression chamber for diving related emergencies, but for some emergencies evacuation via air or sea may be required. For Palauans this cost is currently covered by the government, but the same cannot be expected for non-citizens, and they will be required to provide their own payment for needed services, public or private. Balau National Hospital offers clinical services, radiology, birthing and nursery facilities, pediatrics, surgical capabilities, and hemodialysis.

Recent funding by the government and education outreach programs have resulted in greater access to clean water and sanitary sewer disposal and hygiene has improved considerably in recent years as well, both contributing to better health and increased life expectancy, now at about 67 years of age, slightly above the world average and commendable for a developing country.

Major health dangers for Palau are now coming from changes in diet and lifestyle, causing such diseases as cancer and diabetes due to smoking, betel nut and tobacco chewing, alcohol abuse, and high fat diets along with a lack of exercise. These new scourges have demanded an unequal share of the already small budget set aside for public health care services and are a major concern for the government. Sexually transmitted diseases are also unusually common in Palau and some are serious, even life threatening, including the AIDS virus. Sex education is only recently becoming common for the younger generation and it hopes to bring awareness some of these problems.

Travelers and tourists should be aware that common communicable diseases in Palau include dengue fever and occasional outbreaks of scrub typhus and many residents are carrying hepatitis and or tuberculosis. It is strongly recommended that all travelers visit Palau ensure that their normal vaccinations are up to date and they should also give serious thought to inoculation for hepatitis A and B, typhoid, diphtheria, tetanus, measles, mumps, and rubella, polio, cholera, rabies, and yellow fever. Yellow Fever and cholera immunizations are required by the government for visitors from infected areas or if they have recently traveled to any location with recent outbreaks, it is a good idea to bring the vaccine card if possible. Drinking water should be viewed with discretion and it is advisable to boil any water that comes from a tap. Certain species of fish too should also be avoided as many tropical fish possess natural toxins that can cause severe illness when eaten.

Palau Expat Health Insurance

Few things could be worse than an accident or sudden illness in a remote location such as beautiful Palau. As health care assistance is sometimes far away and many islands are not even inhabited it is critical to be prepared for the unexpected, which may include ensuring you have access to emergency medical evacuation and transportation services while in Palau. Expat health insurance plans that we work with can provide coverage for such events, ensuring that even if you are injured in a remote location, you can have access to quality healthcare. Global Health Insurance can help you to be prepared by providing free assistance in selecting a health insurance package for you, your family, or your travel group whether visiting or relocating anywhere in the world, including Palau. Expat health insurance providers vary greatly in services available and levels of coverage may be different depending on the country you are in. Our Insurance Experts will find you the right level of coverage for any budget or length of stay and guide you through the process of application to ensure you get the international health insurance plan that best suits your needs.