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Romania Expat Health Insurance

Boasting the second largest river delta in all of Europe, Romania lures many visitors into a diverse landscape and provides an opportunity to explore communist monuments, hidden cathedrals, rustic countryside and boldly painted monasteries, not to mention medieval towns and Transylvanian castles. Superb biking, hiking and skiing trips await the adventure tourist on the Carpathian Mountains which form the heart of the country. The mighty Danube Delta is a wildlife-enthusiasts Garden of Eden, supporting over 300 different varieties of resident and migratory birds, and some 160 species of salt-water and fresh-water fish. Bird-watching, kayaking and fishing are the draw-cards as well as exploring the Delta’s intricate network of canals, marshes and reed islands.

Nestled in between Bulgaria and the Ukraine and with a coastline bordering the Black Sea, Romania has a total land area of 229,891 square kilometers, and a total populace of an estimated 22 million inhabitants (CIA, 2011). The country experiences a temperate climate, frequent snow during the cold winters, and regular showers and thunderstorms during summer. Romanian is the official language, however Hungarian and German are also commonly heard being spoken. Despite well-developed tourism facilities being available in the country’s capital, Bucharest the quality of facilities varies throughout the rest of Romania. Traveler advice is to use only reputable guides and tour operators, follow closely park regulations and the advice of wardens, as well as ensure expatriate travel insurance is prearranged, which covers all the activities that expats or tourists wish to undertake.

Romania Health Care and Insurance

Romania’s Ministry of Health is the governing body of the country’s health system. The system faces a number of challenges, as state spending on the sector has been predominately low, resulting in poor infrastructure, debt-ridden hospitals, poorly paid staff, outdated equipment and widespread corruption. Romania currently has 435 hospitals however plans are afoot to close between 150 and 200 of these, some of which are bankrupt. Only 3 out of the 435 hospitals meet European standards of health care. These medical facilities which provide quality-of-care equivalent to western standards are available in Bucharest however can reportedly be difficult to find. Depending on the area of the country and the type of emergency, response times for such services can vary widely. Helicopter services are available for serious medical evacuations however the associated costs are expensive, presenting the need for comprehensive medical insurance coverage with a provision for evacuation by air. Those Romanian’s who can afford overseas treatment often travel to other European nations such as Turkey, Austria and Germany in order to attain a better quality of treatment. Romania’s leaders take this option also given the limitations of local facilities.

Bribe-taking by healthcare staff is endemic, and it is reported that these payments are the only means in which Romania’s poorly paid doctors can make ends meet. The World Bank reports that patients gave medical staff informal payments of hundreds of millions of Euro every year, and noted that approximately 75% of a household’s monthly income was forfeited to such payments once a patient is actually checked into a hospital. Payments are typically paid to arrange hospital admission, to have a qualified medical professional present during operations, and to facilitate the purchase of medicines and basic medical supplies. Common practice is also to pay fees to have hospital bed linens changed. In an effort to curb corruption and reform the flailing health system, the Government established an internal control and audit project in July 2011, for the purpose of combating fraud. A co-payment system, with set fees and payment in advance was also designed in order to eliminate bribes, and bring more money into the sector. Health officials note that transparency in treatment fees should result and that an estimated 160 million Euro will be raised each year, as well as improve efficiency in the delivery of services and ultimately reduce costs. Concerns are focused on rural Romanian’s and whether such co-payments will have a limiting affect regarding access, basically shifting from services that were previously free for those insured, to a system in which some may be unable to pay the additional costs.

Staff shortages are also of concern. Doctors report that a normal shift lasts for 36 hours, and they’re often responsible for the care of up to 100 patients on their shifts. Due to low wages, qualified healthcare workers emigrate in favour of other European nations, with the number of Romania’s medical personnel now approximately two thirds that of the European average. According to the World Health Organization the average Balkan doctor/patient ratio is 3.2 for every 1,000 people, compared to Romania’s 1.9 doctors per 1,000 people. Heavily in debt, many of the country’s hospitals are refused delivery of medications until suppliers are paid the arrears they’re owed. This has resulted in shortages of basic medicines, such as antibiotics or supplies such as bandages and syringes. Patients, particularly in rural areas, have at times purchased their own drugs offsite to ensure they receive treatment in hospital, and families are often expected to provide assistance, such as supply meals to those hospitalized. Dismal sanitary conditions and a lack of funds to purchase reliable medications were reported by doctors to have resulted in more than 1,200 patients contracting infections last year while being treated in hospital. Given these low standards of healthcare, and the risks associated with medical care in country, it is recommended that Romania health insurance is arranged which has coverage for evacuation by air ambulance.

Romania Travel Advice

Serious outbreaks of water and food-borne diseases occur periodically. Care should be taken to reduce the chance of illness by practicing basic hygiene, particularly prior to eating, and avoiding raw and undercooked foods. Water should be treated as a potential health risk in rural areas, and only boiled or bottled water consumed. Medical providers who specialize in travel medicine suggest vaccinations for Hepatitis A and B prior to travel. Romania’s Health Ministry confirmed in many of its cities, including Bucharest, cases of the West Nile virus which is transmitted via mosquito bites. There is no pre-exposure vaccination available, however protective measures, such as those to guard against malaria are recommended. Endemic in the country and of considerable concern is rabies. Strays reportedly roam the streets in packs but are tolerated to the point that they’re often fed. Dog attacks are reported in some statistics as occurring every hour in Bucharest. Dogs transmit rabies via saliva, most often through biting. The pre-exposure vaccine is recommended for specific travelers to Romania, including expats and long term travelers living in areas that are at higher risk of exposure, or involved in activities which might bring them into contact with animals.

Travel advisories note that the local driving standards are poor, and that wandering livestock and horse-drawn carts pose additional hazards, as do poorly maintained roads, which are narrow and badly lit. The World Economic Forum has ranked Romania 126th for its road quality, limited motorways and rare passing lanes, out of a total of 134 states. The European Union’s Road Federation has reported that the country has the highest rate of traffic-related fatalities per vehicle, than any other country in the EU. These issues, along with the need for foreigners to present proof of having expat health insurance which covers them if they wish to extend their stay in the country, makes the case for Romania medical insurance a necessity.

Travelers are recommended to be aware of personal security, as foreigners are known targets for muggings, bag-snatching and pick-pocketing. Theft from hotel accommodation is also common, and there have also been reports of people being robbed by locals posing as policemen. Travel advisories recommend that people not walk by themselves after dark, and while violent crime is reportedly low, incidences have occurred where victims have been harmed. It is therefore especially important to arrange comprehensive travel and Romania medical insurance in the event the unexpected happens and additional costs are incurred through medical expenses or replacing stolen belongings. English-speaking emergency services can be contacted by dialing 112.

Romania Expat Health Insurance

Romania’s health system is underfunded and medical supplies are limited. The standard of care, particularly outside the major cities is considered inadequate when compared to western standards. Payment for services is often required up-front, and serious illnesses or accidents require evacuation, at considerable expense from Romania. Expat health insurance plans that Global Health Insurance offers different levels of coverage available for both long and short-term travel, and policies can be tailored to meet specific needs, whether you are travelling anywhere in the world including Romania. Expat health insurance policies can be transferred worldwide and can include inpatient services, repatriation and emergency evacuation, doctor consultations, medications, specialist care, maternity coverage and many more. To ensure a medical emergency does not become a financial burden, contact one of our insurance experts for assistance on the health care insurance package that is right for you and your family. You’ll receive friendly and helpful advice at no cost.