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

Puerto Rico Expat Health Insurance

Puerto Rico is a Caribbean island that lies to the east of the Dominican Republic, between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The capital city is San Juan, the official languages are Spanish and English and the local currency is the US dollar. Puerto Rico has a total land area of 13,790 square kilometres with a coastline of 501 square kilometres. The climate is tropical marine with little seasonal temperature variation. The highest point of the island measures 1,338 meters above sea level at Cerro de Punta, while the terrain is, for the most part, mountainous. There is a coastal plain belt in the north of the country, and sandy beaches run along most coastal areas.

Roughly 3.69 percent of the Puerto Rico’s land is arable, accounting for some 220 square kilometres; 5.59 percent of the island’s land is allocated to permanent crops. The mainstays of Puerto Rico’s economy are copper and nickel, with potential existing for the development of drilling for onshore and offshore oil. Gross domestic product was estimated at US$93.52 billion as of 2010, a negative real growth rate of -5.8 percent on the previous year. The per capita earning of the 3.989 million inhabitants of the island was estimated at US$16,300 in 2010. Agriculture represented 1 percent of total GDP, while industry and services accounted for 45 percent and 54 percent respectively in 2005. The labour force, broken down by sector, during 2005 saw 2.1 percent of the population engaged in agriculture, 19 percent industry and 79 percent services. The percentage of the population living below the international poverty line of US$1.25 a day is 44.8. In 2005 the Puerto Rican government spent US$1 billion to subsidize the health care system as user contributions only amounted to US$400 million from deductibles and charges in relation to health care services.

Puerto Rico Expat Health Insurance

Puerto Ricans rely exclusively on the island government for the provision of health care services. The government provides services on three tiers; hospitals, emergency centres and free medical clinics. The total expenditure on health care services as a percentage of GDP between the years of 2000-2005 was 20 percent.

The Department of Health oversees the operation of the health care system within Puerto Rico. Regulation of the health care system ensures that access, equity and participation, is maintained through out the whole system. The department certifies and monitors health care facilities such as laboratories, hospitals, treatment centres, orphanages, pharmacies and convalescent homes. The Department of Health also oversees water quality, foods and medical technology. For fiscal year 200-2003 additional funding for the medical system came from the United State; the USA contributed approximately US$189 million which was used to fund the Puerto Rican Medicaid program. Supplementary funding sources include the SCHIP, local municipalities and general funds from NGO’s and charities. Individual spending on health care is the main source of funding for the private health care.

The Government of Puerto Rico provides basic health care coverage plans through the nation’s health care system. Services that are provided are hospital inpatient services, physician visits, surgical services, maternity, and preventive medicine. These services are accessible through primary care centres located in each municipality and by independent practitioners (IPAs). In order to access cardiovascular, neurovascular and neurosurgical procedures patients will typically require a referral, or some form of extended coverage often found with the purchase of a private health insurance plan.

Each primary care centre is staff by physicians, paediatricians, obstetricians-gynaecologists, internists, and general practitioners. The staff of these care centres provide support for dental practitioners, optometrists, clinical laboratories, radiography facilities and pharmacies. Mental health coverage includes evaluation, screening, and treatment services for mental health, psychiatric and psychological disorders.

Around 89 percent of Puerto Rico’s municipalities have a 24 hour a day emergency medical services, including those that do not have hospital facilities. The private sector is the largest provider of services in the health care sector. The government is responsible for the vast majority of high-risk cases. This is due to the fact that most tertiary health care services are provided by the state at the Rio Piedras Medical Centre. There are currently 67 hospitals, 12 public and 56 private within Puerto Rica. The San Juan metropolitan region is home to 38 percent of Puerto Rico’s hospitals, Ponce 16 percent, Arecibo, Caguas, and Mayaguez 13 percent and Bayamon 7 percent. To ensure that your every health care need is met you are advised to purchase comprehensive international medical insurance before you travel. It is also advisable to consult with a travel medical health professional at least eight weeks before you travel to Puerto Rico and that all routine vaccinations are up-to-date.

Puerto Rico Travel Advice

There are many areas of attraction around the island of Puerto Rico outside of the main touristy districts of San Juan that you should consider visiting on your trip. These are Humacao, Fajardo, Culebra Island, Aguadilla, and Lares. The island can be covered in one day by car however there are many plantations, beaches, and golf courses, kayaking and discovering little pieces of paradise. Puerto Rico has a rich cultural mix from African, Taino, and Spanish and from recent years North America. Puerto Rico’s culture history is influenced by music and has evolved over time by mixing it traditional rhythms and melodies from its various cultural backgrounds. Baseball is the only professional sport on the Island and has enjoys wide popularity as with basketball, boxing and volleyball.

Due to Puerto Rico location in the Greater Achilles hurricane season affects the country. Puerto Rico enjoys a tropical climate making it a prefect holiday destination.

Puerto Rico Expat Health Insurance

If you would like to hear more about the medical insurance option that are available to you in order to ensure peace of mind through your trip call Global Health Insurance today. Our team of professional advisors are on hand to offer advice if you are considering travelling or moving to Puerto Rico, expat health insurance can provide cover for a range of healthcare treatments and services including paediatrics, maternity, existing conditions, and dental. Our team can offer tailor made international health insurance packages to suit every budget and group need.