Last Updated on by Talita
Have you thought about moving to Barbados? Want to know about how to have good health coverage in the country? Here you will find information on everything you need to ensure your safety in case of emergencies! Keep reading!
There are lots of things you need to take care of before you move to another country – have an established place to live, find work, understand all the paperwork, buy your plane tickets, dive into learning a new language…
In the midst of so many tasks, sometimes people don’t remember or don’t know that they need to guarantee health insurance.
The island is often called “Little Britain” by the British and has a great standard of living, good cuisine, excellent health infrastructure and low crime. The country was part of the British Commonwealth until 2021, the official language is English and there you drive on the left side of the road!
But aside from talking about your international health insurance options as an expat in Barbados, let’s first talk a little bit about how Barbados’ health care system is structured, what is the difference between travel insurance and expat insurance, what is the coverage that you will need, and much more.
(And be sure to read to the end of the article to learn more about the different types of visas you can use to start living, studying or working in the Caribbean country!)
How does the health system in Barbados work?
The island nation has its healthcare system divided into public and private sectors.
The right to universal healthcare extends to all Barbadian citizens. The standard of healthcare on the island is very high, and the facilities are easily accessible to all residents.
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital is the main government hospital, consisting of 600 beds. Barbados also boasts eight government polyclinics that provide free treatment for various ailments.
Barbados’ private sector is known to be the largest investor in public and private healthcare than any other nation in the Caribbean and Central America region. But, it is essential to know that over 80% of private healthcare facilities may ask you to pay fees in advance.
The tiny country has two fully equipped private medical facilities called Sandy Crest and the FMH Emergency Medical Clinic. Those who use the facilities find that the service is five stars.
Do expats need to have health insurance in Barbados?
In short: yes! Healthcare in Barbados is mandatory for expatriates to have a resident visa or work permit.
So, it’s essential that you insure yourself with one of the coverages I’ve selected from the list below 🙂
But in addition to being mandatory, an international health plan gives you more peace of mind. Especially being in a new country, different from your own, with laws, structures and a language you may not know, and unpredictable healthcare costs.
So, by securing international health insurance coverage you will be assured that you are covered in any emergency or unexpected situation. In addition, there are several other benefits that you can get with an international plan (as I will say in the next question).
As an immigrant in Barbados, should you get an international health plan like those recommended in the list below? Or should you get a national plan?
So it’s up to you, as only you know your specific medical needs, the specific coverages you’ll need in your insurance, from the duration of your stay in Barbados to the options available under national plans.
An international health insurance plan must meet your in-country coverage requirements. If you choose to get an international plan, be sure to check with Turkish government embassies to find out if there is and what is the minimum insurance coverage required.
I’ve never lived in Barbados so I don’t know enough about the national plans that might be available and so I can’t say too much about them.
With that in mind, below are some of the reasons you might want to choose an international health insurance plan over public coverage:
- Compared to the costs you may incur, international health insurance may have cheaper monthly fees;
- International health insurance may be easier to use if your stay is short in Barbados, as you can choose exactly how long you want your plan to be;
- International health insurance has greater flexibility as you can cancel or extend it at any time;
- International health insurance provides coverage in other countries, not just Barbados (hence “international” health insurance).
Who do these international health insurance policies cover?
The health insurance companies I’ve listed below are for the following citizens living in Barbados as expatriates, immigrants, workers, or even students:
- Americans
- Canadians
- Australians
- Brazilians
- European Union citizens (Portuguese, French, German, Dutch, Spanish, Polish, Belgian, Swedish)
- Argentines
- British (English, Scottish, Welsh, Irish)
- New Zealanders
- And for citizens of almost any other country
In addition to expats/immigrants residing in Barbados, these companies also work for residents living in:
- The United States;
- Canada;
- Europe (European Union and United Kingdom);
- Australia;
- And for expats living in almost any other country in the world.
Overall, as they are international plans and companies, they can be used by virtually anyone anywhere as they have worldwide coverage!
Why can’t I take out travel insurance when I move to Barbados? What is the difference between travel insurance and expat insurance?
Travel insurance is necessary for any trip as it will not only cover issues you may experience in the event of emergencies and unexpected medical issues, but also for issues with your trip such as misplaced luggage or flight cancellations.
You should know that travel insurance is not ideal for immigrants. While it is possible to take out travel insurance for longer periods, it is only available to travelers staying temporarily in a country. Travel insurance coverage is not valid for someone who will be staying in another country for the long term.
In addition, travel insurance will not meet your health insurance coverage required by law to live in Barbados.
So, you’re really going to want to choose a travel insurance plan that specifically covers expats. And that’s exactly what I’ll help you with the list below.
What are the 7 best health insurances for expats and immigrants in Barbados?
I know it’s exhausting to find the right insurance plan. With that in mind, take a look at the comparison table of the companies I recommend below. So you can quickly see what the pros and cons of each company are and make the best choice for you!
After the table, I will make a longer description of each of the companies, their plans, main benefits and much more!
So the biggest advice I can give is to quickly get a quote with each of the companies on this list before making your decision. It might take a while, but at the end of the day, you can save a lot of money!
|
|
|
|
|
|||
| BENEFIT | LIMIT | LIMIT | LIMIT | LIMIT | LIMIT | LIMIT | LIMIT |
| Benefit Information | |||||||
| Medical Maximum | Unlimited (for the Platinum plan) | $8,000,000 | The site doesn’t specify | Unlimited | US$1,000,000 per year | The site doesn’t specify | $1,000,000 |
| U.S. In-Network Coinsurance | You choose. From 70%(100% thereafter) to 100% | 100% | No | 60% for maximum coinsurance and then 100% | Yes, for higher fees | Only in emergencies | Yes |
| U.S. Out-of-Network Coinsurance | You choose. From 70%(100% thereafter) to 100% | 90% to $5,000 (100% thereafter) | Yes, for higher fees | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Mental Health Availability | No waiting period | 12-month waiting period | Co-payment of $25 per visit, waived deductible | 75% up to 40 visits / 60% after that | No | Waiting period of 10 months | Depends on the plan |
| Mental Health Benefit | Inpatient and Outpatient: $5,000 lifetime maximum to paid in full depending on the plan | Inpatient and Outpatient: $50,000 lifetime maximum | Co-payment of $250 after deductible | 100% up to 60 days | International and ambulance: limit not specified | ||
| Inpatient Prescription Drugs | $500 to paid in full depending on the plan | Up to $8,000,000 | Yes | Complete reimbursement | Yes | Yes | |
| Outpatient Prescription Drugs | None, unless you buy the International Outpatient Option | Up to $8,000,000 | Complete reimbursement | Yes | Yes | ||
| Evacuation and Repatriation of Remains | Paid in full | Up to $8,000,000 | Yes | Up to $25,000 | No | Up to 10,000 euros | Yes |
| Accidental Death & Dismemberment | Depends on the plan | Rider available, limit depends on age. | $50,000 | Depends on the plan | |||
| Emergency Dental | Paid in full | Up to $8,000,000 | Optional | 1,000 per year, $ 200 per tooth | Yes, however you need to pay an extra fee on top of your plan | Depending on the plan, it’s unlimited | It has coverage in the Diplomat Long Term and Diplomat International plans |
| Treatment Necessary as Result of Terrorism | Up to the amount of the coverage | Rider available up to $50,000-lifetime maximum | Clause available up to maximum of $50,000 in lifetime payments | ||||
| Amateur Sports | Unlimited | Rider available up to $10,000 | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Newborn Care | |||||||
| Routine Nursery Care of a Newborn Child of a Covered Pregnancy | $25,000 to $156,000 depending on the plan | $1,000 additional deductible, $50,000 lifetime maximum, $200 wellness benefit for first 12 months | Yes | Depends on the plan | Can be unlimited depending on the plan | Can be unlimited depending on the plan | |
| Children born as a result of fertility treatment (such as IVF or surrogacy) | Only after the baby is 90 days old | Excluded | Depends on the plan | Excluded | No | ||
| Neonatal Intensive Care Unit | Check website for updated information | $250,000 maximum for first 31 days | No | Up to $250,000 for the first 31 days | No | ||
| Pre-existing Conditions | |||||||
| Pre-existing condition exclusion period | Conditions that are fully disclosed on the application and have not been excluded or restricted by a rider will be covered as any illness | Conditions that are fully disclosed on the application and have not been excluded or restricted by a rider will be covered as any illness | Conditions that are fully disclosed on the application and have not been excluded or restricted by a rider will be covered as any illness | Conditions that are fully disclosed on the application and have not been excluded or restricted by a rider will be covered as any illness | Conditions that are fully disclosed on the application and have not been excluded or restricted by a rider will be covered as any illness | Conditions that are fully disclosed on the application and have not been excluded or restricted by a rider will be covered as any illness | Conditions that are fully disclosed on the application and have not been excluded or restricted by a rider will be covered as any illness |
| Pre-existing condition look back period | Any time prior to effective date | Any time prior to effective date | Any time prior to effective date | Any time prior to effective date | Any time prior to the effective date | Any time prior to the effective date | Any time prior to the effective date |
| Pre-existing annual maximum once covered | Unlimited depending on the plan | Up to $8,000,000 | Unlimited depending on the plan | Unlimited depending on the plan | Full reimbursement | Unlimited depending on the plan | Unlimited depending on the plan |
| Pre-existing lifetime maximum once covered | Unlimited depending on the plan | Up to $8,000,000 | Unlimited depending on the plan | Unlimited depending on the plan | Full reimbursement | Unlimited depending on the plan | Unlimited depending on the plan |
Attention: This article and table are made for informational purposes as the information contained here is subject to changes and updates.
In my opinion, the best international health insurance companies for expats are:
- Cigna
- IMG
- Aetna
- GeoBlue
- SafetyWing
- Global Underwriters
- Foyer Global Health
1. Cigna
First up, we have Cigna, a large American insurance company that’s also widespread in Europe. Cigna is a great choice when we talk about international health insurance.
With more than 60 years of operating on the market, Cigna is well-known for its insurance and has more than 170 million clients around the world. My partner, Nikki, actually purchased a health insurance plan from Cigna in order to qualify for her residence card in Sweden.
Cigna is a company with a wide range of plans for you to choose from, including specific plans for expats (and which work very well if you are moving to Barbados!), as well as individual and family plans.
There are individual or family plans for you moving to Barbados. An advantage of Cigna’s plans is that you have the ability to add benefits to your plan according to your specific needs and the type of medical care you need coverage.
You can choose from a Silver, Platinum or Gold plan, which has coverage in over 200 countries and territories around the world.
If you are looking for a cheaper insurance plan for Barbados, a great option is Cigna’s Close Care plan. This particular plan is the most affordable that Cigna has, because the coverage is only for your country of origin and the country where you intend to reside (in Barbados, in this case).
Pros of an international health insurance plan with Cigna:
- Customer service available 24 hours 7 days a week
- Flexibility to make changes to and tailor the plan for your specific medical needs
- Includes coverage for Covid-19 and PRC tests
- No registration needed to get a quote
- They have a digital system that lets you easily find hospitals and clinics near you
- Normally, Cigna will pay health providers directly so you won’t need to request reimbursement
Cons of an international health insurance plan with Cigna:
- Some of their plans don’t cover maternity care
2. IMG 
One more well-known company in the world of international insurance is IMG, which has more than 25 years of experience and 3 subsidiaries worldwide.
IMG has several types of plans for you to choose from, whether as an individual or as an entire family. They also have a variety of plans made specifically for various types of travelers, including expats. You’ll see that you’ll have the option for both long-stay plans of a year or more as well as for much shorter time periods.
IMG’s website is easy to use and search plans on since you can use filters for date, plan length, destination, and much more. Beyond these filters, you can also add in personal details like your age and specific medical needs before seeing your coverage options.
This way, IMG can get you a personalized and detailed quote that lets you easily compare your options for plans and coverage and figure out which is best for you.
Just keep the specific details of each plan in mind since some of them don’t cover certain age groups and not all of them cover Covid-19.
Pros of an international health insurance plan with IMG:
- Customer service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Flexibility to customize your plan and coverage limits
- Ability to choose from more than 17,000 in-network doctors
Cons of an international health insurance plan with IMG:
- They don’t have Covid-19 coverage, depending on the plan
- They don’t offer coverage for individuals above 75
As its name implies, Now Health International is dedicated to providing a service that is efficient, affordable, and readily available. The company places a strong emphasis on cultivating a close relationship with its customers. They strive to offer clear and concise information about their plans and promptly resolve any queries through their responsive customer support team.
The focus of Now Health plans is to address the unique challenges faced by individuals living abroad, offering guidance and ensuring access to high-quality healthcare services worldwide.
Pros of an international health insurance plan with Now Health:
- Customized plans according to your needs
- Clear information and excellent customer service team
- Provides coverage in 194 countries and territories
- Plans with high coverage routine maternity coverage
Cons of an international health insurance plan with Now Health:
- You must wait a 12-month grace period to use maternity coverage.
- In some procedures, it is necessary to use the company’s reimbursement system, which means that you would have to pay for your care initially
4. Aetna (acquired by Allianz) 
Aetna is a leader and award winner in the area of international insurance. If you’re in search of safety and credibility in your choice of insurance provider before your move to Barbados, Aetna is a good company to consider.
Although they don’t have a large variety of plans on offer, the ones they do have give you the flexibility to adjust and add on complementary coverage (like dental care). Depending on the policy, some include coverage of up to 5 million USD.
You can choose from family or individual plans, as well as include coverage for repatriation and medical evacuations.
As an expat, I can recommend the Aetna Pioneer plan. This plan has basic coverage of up to 1.75 million USD. Just fill out the short form on their website to get an exact quote and detailed information about all of the available policies.
Pros of an international health insurance plan with Aetna:
- Maternity care is covered
- Aetna has a mobile app to help you easily find nearby medical services and providers
- Short-, mid-, and long-term plans to choose from
- Customer services available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Pre-trip assistance available to help answer your questions on things like vaccines and accessing regularly-used medications while traveling
Cons of an international health insurance plan with Aetna:
- Few plans to choose from
- Cost of plans above the average of the other companies on this list
5. SafetyWing 
SafetyWing is a popular and well-known company particularly for insurance for digital nomads, given that they have insurance plans specifically for remote workers and companies, expats, and digital nomads.
One of the advantages of SafetyWing is that its policies are a little more accessible and easier to understand than the other options on the market. SafetyWing also covers children aged 2-10 for free if their caretakers have a plan with them.
Each plan has a specific price that depends on your age. The cheapest SafetyWing plan doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions, but it does have coverage of up to 250,000 USD. Though you do have the freedom to add additional pre-existing condition coverage separately if you need to.
What I like most about SafetyWing is that they offer 30 days of coverage for free in your home country for every 90 days that you use it overseas, like in Barbados.
Pros of an international health insurance plan with SafetyWing:
- Modern, intuitive website that makes it easy to find policy info
- Customer services available 24 hours a day every day of the week
- 30 days of coverage given for free in your home country for every 90 days of coverage overseas
- They cover Covid-19 and treatments recommended by specialists
Cons of an international health insurance plan with SafetyWing:
- Plans aren’t quite as complete and tend to have lower coverage overall than some of the other options on this list
- The prices shown on the website don’t include taxes and fees
Global Underwriters is another well-known and very popular company when we talk about insurance. They have policies that serve immigrants, students, digital nomads, and expats with will be beginning a new life elsewhere in the world.
For anyone who is moving to Barbados, I recommend the Diplomat long Term or the Diplomat International Plan. Both have very complete medical coverage that in general includes all that an expat may need in their new home.
Pros of an international health insurance plan with Global Underwriters:
- Up to 1 million USD in medical coverage is included in the plans cited above, plus 1 million USD in coverage for cases of accidental death or dismemberment
- Client support available 24 hours a day each day of the week
- The plans I mentioned include emergency dental coverage, medical evacuation, and repatriation of mortal remains
Cons of an international health insurance plan with Global Underwriters:
- The Diplomat Long Term plan doesn’t protect travelers in Iran, Afghanistan, or Cuba
- The Diplomat International plan doesn’t have Covid-19 coverage
- Global Underwriters doesn’t work with residents of Australia, Iran, South Dakota, Maryland, or New York
Foyer Global Health is renowned for its international health insurance plans for travelers, expats, digital nomads, and immigrants.
They are a company with many, many plans to choose from (probably more than any other company you’ll find out there), as well as being a trustworthy organization (they are part of the larger European Foyer Group).
Pros of an international health insurance plan with Foyer Global Health:
- All plans include coverage for dental surgeries, appointments, and treatments
- Customer service available online by email or by phone 24/7
- Includes pre-trip preparation support on vaccinations and in preparing a first aid kit
- Coverage available for evacuation and repatriation
Cons of an international health insurance plan with Foyer Global Health:
- The limits of their plans aren’t very clear
Bonus
– GeoBlue 
GeoBlue has spent 20 years providing insurance plans with international health coverage.
But GeoBlue only allows their plans to be purchased by citizens and residents of the United States. So if you aren’t an American citizen or green card holder moving to Barbados, you can skip this option.
GeoBlue has health plans for all types of travelers, including immigrants. Their Xplorer Essential plan is the one I most often recommend since it’s made for long stays overseas and has unlimited coverage.
But if you’re looking for a shorter plan, take a look at GeoBlue’s Voyager option. Just fill out the form on their website or reach out to an insurance broker to get a quote and more detailed information about their plans.
Pros of an international health insurance plan with GeoBlue:
- They have an app with resources like telehealth
- 24/7 customer services
- All of their plans include unlimited coverage
Cons of an international health insurance plan with GeoBlue:
- Their plans are only available for residents of the United States or American citizens
- Not a lot of flexibility in their plans
- You need to fill out a form or contact an insurance broker to get more information and an exact budget for their plans
Types of Barbadian Visas
Below are the types of visas most commonly used by new immigrants for residency in Barbados
The Barbadian government offers two different types of work visas: short-term and long-term.
Short-term ones last up to 11 months, and your employer (if applicable) will have to arrange them for you.
Long-term visas last for three years and you are responsible for the application process. However, your employer must provide good evidence that there are no natives on the island capable of filling the position. At the end of the 3 years, you must apply again to receive a renewed work visa.
Requirements to obtain a work visa in Barbados
For short-stay visas the documents are:
- A valid passport.
- The mandatory registration form.
- The Police Personality Certificate (PCC) from the employee’s home country.
- A letter from you describing the nature of the work.
- The candidate must include a CCP from every country where he/she has lived in the last three years. Living in a country is classified as any stay longer than six months.
Additional documents to apply for a long-term work visa are:
- A completed medical form with x-rays attached.
- Evidence of qualification for the position.
- Two character references.
The flat rate for a work visa application is 300 Barbadian Dollars (BDD).
Application process
After receiving a job offer, you need to gather documentation and submit it to the Department of Immigration. The department’s website has links to required applications and lists for all items you must attach. Applications take approximately one week to process.
Before applying for a work visa, you will need a visa to enter Barbados. You can get a visa at the nearest consulate or send it to the Immigration Department.
Conclusion
Now you know that the best insurances are:
- Cigna
- IMG
- Now Health
- Aetna (Allianz)
- SafetyWing
- Global Underwriters
- Foyer Global Health
Finally…
Starting a life in the land of dreams can be a complicated decision…I hope that with this article you will clear many of your doubts and make this process easier! If you still have any questions about getting health insurance for your move to Barbados (or moving abroad in general), let me know in the comments area below and I’ll get back to you!
Planning your next trip?
Then don’t forget travel insurance! You don’t want to get stuck paying a ton of money and ruining your trip if you get sick or have an accident without travel insurance. Our page with The 3 Best and Cheapest Travel Insurance on the Market can help you choose the right plan and will give you some discount coupons for the biggest insurance companies!
Already reserved your hotel or hostel? If not, our article with The 6 Best and Cheapest Websites to Find & Reserve Accommodation can help you out. You’ll also find some promotions and discount codes.
Still haven’t booked your plane ticket and want to save big? Take a look at our page with 16 Tips to Save on Flights where you’ll also find the 4 best websites to buy your plane tickets.
And finally, will you need to rent a car during your trip? Then surely our page with The 5 Best and Cheapest Websites to Compare and Rent Cars Around the World will help you choose the best rental car and find a good deal.
8LvG4w56H8xI6oS3MDSK2mZ1enEH_ABlpTx5jAsYdFQ