Have you ever thought about living in the Bahamas and changing your life journey? It is important to know about how to have good health coverage in your new country. Keep reading here to know everything to ensure your safety in case of any emergencies!
There are several things you need to know well to prepare for country change – to have a place to stay, understand the various bureaucracies, look for jobs, secure your passages, go after learning the new language…
But one detail that people sometimes let go is to have and ensure health coverage.
The Bahamas, in addition to being a paradisiacal country, has a well-equipped public health system with advanced medical infrastructure and trained medical professionals. The country’s health system is considered excellent in terms of services.
But in addition to talking about your international health insurance options for an expatriate in the Bahamas, let’s first talk a little bit about how the Bahamian health system is structured, what is the difference between travel insurance and expatriate insurance, what the coverage of insurance plans, and more.
(And make sure you stay until the end of the article to learn more about the different types of visas you can start living, studying and working in the Bahamas!)
How does the health system in the Bahamas work?
Regardless of where you move, you need to be sure that you know how the health system works. Especially in a place like the Bahamas, to know if the public system offers coverage for you.
The Bahamas makes the medical structure available to all, expatriates, workers, if you have dual citizenship or if you are only a tourist, you can still have access to the structure in the same way as any native citizen. NHI Bahamas was established in 2016 with the goal of being accessible and modern.
Costs compared to the United States are considered 40% lower, so the collection of services is not very heavy in the pocket.
The NHI programme has some limitations. It does not cover, for example, care abroad, pharmacy services or other services provided by specialists. The average is that hospitals and clinics tend to always charge the same amounts.
But those who own a residence and are a resident of the Bahamas can register in local health centers to receive user numbers within the public health system.
After all, even though it has a good structure of aid in public health, depending only on this system may not meet your needs in emergencies and be expensive.
Why take international health insurance for expats in the Bahamas?
Most Bahamian residents do not have private coverage, but if you plan to live for a long time in the country private health insurance can cover any cost for you.
Therefore, it is important that you ensure yourself with a coverage as one of the one I speak in the list below
An international health plan allows much more tranquility for you in your new life in this paradisiacal place. Even more being in a country that is new and different from yours, with laws, structures and a language that you may not know, and high health costs.
Therefore, having an international health insurance coverage will give you the security that you are safe under any unexpected situation or emergencies. In addition, there are several other benefits you will have with an international plan (as I will say in the next question).
As an immigrant in the Bahamas, should I get an international health plan as from the list below?
At the end of the day, this is a completely individual choice of you, as it depends on your specific needs, the coverage you will need for your problems and/or concerns, the length of your stay in the Bahamas and check the options available from national plans.
An international health insurance plan must meet your coverage requirements in the Bahamas. If you choose to get an international plan, be sure to check with the Bahamian government embassies to see if there is minimal insurance coverage required.
I have never lived in the Bahamas, but through my experiences, I can say that the companies below will be able to provide you with what you need, I will talk more about them during the article.
With that in mind, below are some of the reasons you may want to choose an international health insurance plan rather than using public coverage:
- Compared to the costs you may have to pay, international health insurance may have more affordable tuition
- International health insurance may be easier to use if your stay is short in the Bahamas (in addition to being mandatory for travelers who will stay short time in the country)
- International health insurance has greater flexibility (this is important if you are not sure how long you will stay in the Bahamas, as you are able to renew, extend or cancel your policy)
- International health insurance offers coverage in other countries, not just in the Bahamian territory (so they are “international” health insurance).
Who do these international health insurance services cover?
The health insurance companies I will list below are for citizens living in the Bahamas as expatriates, immigrants, workers, or even students:
- The Americans and Americans
- Canadians and the Canadians and the
- The A’less a-
- Brazilians
- Citizens of the European Union (Portuguese, French, German, Dutch, Spanish, Polish, Belgian, Swedish)
- Argentinians
- British (English, Scottish, Welsh, Irish)
- The New Zealanders
- And for citizens of almost any other country
In addition to expatriates/immigrants residing in the Bahamas, these companies also work for residents living in:
- The United States
- Canada
- Europe (European Union and United Kingdom)
- Japan
- Australia
- And for expatriates living in almost any other country in the world
In general, as are international plans and companies, they can be used by virtually anyone anywhere, since they have global coverage!
Why can’t I take out travel insurance when I move to the Bahamas? What is the difference between travel insurance and expatriate insurance?
Travel insurance is important and necessary for any type of trip, as it will not only cover problems that you can pass in case of unexpected emergencies and necessarily medical problems, but also for any emergency with your trip, such as lost baggage or flight cancellation.
It is important to know that travel insurance is not ideal for the needs of immigrants. Although it is possible to have travel insurance for longer periods of time, it is made only for travelers with temporary stays in a country. Travel insurance coverage is not valid for someone who will stay long term in another country. So it is extremely necessary to choose an insurance plan that specifically covers expats. And that’s what I’ll help you with the list below.
What are the 7 best health insurance for expatriates and immigrants in the Bahamas?
Finding the perfect health plan can be very stressful. Thinking about facilitating this process, look in the following table with a comparison of the companies I will recommend on the list. So you can quickly check out the advantages and disadvantages of each one and choose the one that fits you best!
After the table, I will show you a detailed description of each of the companies, their plans, benefits and more!
Even so, the tip I give is that you make a quick budget online with all the companies I suggest here. It may take a while to do this, but in the end you can save good money! 
Note: the 7 companies are international. If you prefer to work with a Brazilian company with service in Portuguese, check out in Seguros Promo. I talk more about it at the end of the article.
 Make a Quote |  Make a Quote |  Make a Quote |  Make a Quote |  Make a Quote |  Make a Quote |  Make a Quote | |
| BENEFIT | LIMIT | LIMIT | LIMIT | LIMIT | LIMIT | LIMIT | LIMIT |
| Information about the benefit | |||||||
| Medical Maximus | Unlimited (for the Platinum plan) | $8,000,000 | The website does not inform | Unlimited | $1,000,000.00 per year | The website does not inform | $1,000,000 |
| Co-insurance in the US | You choose. From 70% (100% subsequent) to 100% | 100% 100% | Not to | 60% for maximum co-insurance and then 100% | Yes, for higher rates | Only for emergencies | Yes I |
| Off-net-net-safe co-insurance in the US | You choose. From 70% (100% subsequent) to 100% | 90% to $5,000 (100% subsequent) | Yes, for higher rates | 100% 100% | 100% 100% | 100% 100% | 100% 100% |
| Availability for Mental Health | No period of waiting | Waiting period of 12 months | Co-payment of $25 per visit, franchise exemption | 75% up to 40 visits / 60% after this | Not to | Waiting period of 10 months | It depends on the plan |
| Benefit for Mental Health | Hospital and Ambulatory: maximum $5,000 (for all life) to full coverage depending on plan | Hospital and Outpatient Clinic: maximum $50,000 for life | Co-payment of $250 after franchise | 100% up to 60 days | Hospitaltion and Ambulatory: limit not described | ||
| Remedies prescribed in the hospitalization | $500 to total coverage depending on plan | Up to $8,000,000 | Yes I | Refund total | Yes I | Yes I | |
| Remedies prescribed in the outpatient clinic | None unless you buy the option of International Outpatient Clinic | Up to $8,000,000 | Refund total | Yes I | Yes I | ||
| Evacuation and Repatriation of Remains | Full coverage | Up to $8,000,000 | Yes I | Up to $25,000 | Not to | Up to 10,000.00 | Yes I |
| Accidental death and dismemberment | It depends on the plan | Clause available, limit depends on age. $75,000 for 19-29 years; $7,500 for 65-89 years. | $50,000 | It depends on the plan | |||
| Dental Emergency | Total coverage | Up to $8,000,000 | Optional | $1,000 per year, $200 per tooth | Yes, however you must pay an extra fee to the contracted plan | Depending on the plan, it is unlimited | Has coverage in the Diplomat Long Term and Diplomat International plans |
| Treatment Required on Terrorism | Up to the limit of coverage | Available clause up to a maximum of $50,000 for life | Available clause up to a maximum of $50,000 for life | Available clause up to a maximum of $50,000 for life | Yes I | ||
| Amateur Sports | Unlimited | Available clause up to $10,000 | Not to | Yes I | Not to | Not to | Not to |
| Neonatal care | |||||||
| Routine nursery care of a newborn child from a covered pregnancy | $25,000 to $156,000 depending on plan | Additional deduction of $1,000, maximum $50,000 for life, wellness benefit of $200 for the first 12 months | Yes I | It depends on the plan | Depending on the plan, it may be unlimited | Depending on the plan, it may be unlimited | |
| Child born through fertility treatment (such as IVF or surrogacy) | Only after the baby completes 90 days | Excluded | It depends on the plan | Not to | Waiting period of 10 months | ||
| Neonatal Intensive Treatment Unit | See the website for updated information | Maximum of $250,000 for the first 31 days | Not to | Not to | Up to 20,000 with 10-month waiting period | ||
| Pre-existing diseases | |||||||
| Period of exclusion of pre-existing condition | Conditions that are fully evidenced in the application and have not been excluded or restricted by any clause will be covered as any disease | Conditions that are fully evidenced in the application and have not been excluded or restricted by any condition will be covered as any disease | Conditions that are fully evidenced in the application and have not been excluded or restricted by any condition will be covered as any disease | Conditions that are fully evidenced in the application and have not been excluded or restricted by any condition will be covered as any disease | Conditions that are fully evidenced in the application and have not been excluded or restricted by any condition will be covered as any disease | Conditions that are fully evidenced in the application and have not been excluded or restricted by any condition will be covered as any disease | Conditions that are fully evidenced in the application and have not been excluded or restricted by any condition will be covered as any disease |
| Pre-existing condition, grace time | Any date prior to the day of implementation | Any date prior to the day of implementation | Any date prior to the day of implementation | Any date prior to the day of implementation | Any date prior to the day of implementation | Any date prior to the day of implementation | Any date prior to the day of implementation |
| Pre-existing, maximum annual single coverage | Unlimited depending on plan | Up to $8,000,000 | Unlimited depending on plan | Unlimited depending on plan | Refund total | Unlimited depending on plan | Unlimited depending on plan |
| Pre-existing, maximum single coverage for life | Unlimited depending on plan | Up to $8,000,000 | Unlimited depending on plan | Unlimited depending on plan | Refund total | Unlimited depending on plan | Unlimited depending on plan |
Please note: This article and table have been made for informational purposes and the information contained herein is subject to changes and updates.
In my opinion, the best international health insurance companies for expatriates are:
- Cigna
- IMG
- GeoBlue
- Aetna
- Global Underwriters
- SafetyWing
- Foyer Global Health
1. Cigna
For starters, Cigna. It is a company with foundation in the United States but has a large presence in Europe. It is a great choice when it comes to international health insurance.
With more than 60 years of history in the field, Cigna has recognition because of its insurance, globally they have more than 170 million customers. My partner, Nikki, has already had Cigna medical assistance to get her resident card in Sweden.
Cigna is a diverse company in your plans for you to choose from, including plans precisely for expatriates that will work in the Bahamas.
There are individual or family plans for you that are moving to the Bahamas. One advantage of Cigna’s plans is that you have the possibility of adding benefits to your plan according to your needs and the type of medical care you need for coverage.
You can choose from the Silver, Platinum or Gold plan, which has coverage in more than 200 countries and territories around the world.
If you are looking for a cheaper insurance plan for the Bahamas, a great option is Close Care. This plan is particularly the most important that Cigna has, because coverage is only for your country of origin and the country where you want to reside.
Advantages of an international health insurance plan with Cigna:
- Service available 24 hours, 7 days a week
- Flexibility for changes to the plans tailored to your needs
- It has coverage for COVID-19 and for PCR testing
- No need registration to make a quote
- It has a digital system to find hospitals and clinics with care near its location
- Cigna, for the most part, directly pays health providers, without the need for a reimbursement system
Disadvantages of an international health insurance plan with Cigna:
2. 2. IMG
Another company with a name for weight in the area of international insurance is IMG. She has more than 25 years of experience and 3 subsidiaries around the world.
IMG has many types of plans for your choice, either for individual profiles or families. They also have a variety of specific plans for travelers, such as expats. You will see that they have the possibility of plans with long stays of 1 year or more, but also plans of short stay trips.
Their website is intuitive and simple to navigate, with filters for dates, plan duration, destination and more, which facilitate your search. In addition to these filters, you can add your personal details as age and specific needs for the best coverage.
In this way, IMG will provide a quote full of details that allows a comparison of options for plans and coverage for you to have freedom and choose what is best.
Only pay attention to the specifics of each plan, since some do not have coverage to all age groups and not all of their plans cover the needs of Covid-19.
Advantages of an international health insurance plan with IMG:
- You have the Portuguese choice on the website
- Customer service 24 hours, every day of the week
- Flexibility in profiles and plans
- Availability of more than 17,000 doctors to support
Disadvantages of an international health insurance plan with IMG:
- No cover for COVID-19 depending on the plan
- No coverage for people aged 75+
The main mission of Now Health International is to ensure fast, efficient and affordable care, as the name suggests. The company strives to establish a solid relationship with its customers, providing clear and agile information about its plans, and has a dedicated support team to resolve any questions that may arise.
Now Health’s plans are meticulously designed to address the daily challenges faced by individuals living abroad, providing guidance and health care of excellence worldwide.
Advantages of an international health insurance plan with Now Health International:
- Plans customized according to individual needs.
- Clear information and excellent customer service.
- Comprehensive coverage in 194 countries and territories.
- Plans with high quality maternity routine coverage.
Disadvantages of an International Health Insurance Plan with Now Health International::
- 12-month lack required to use maternity coverage.
- Some procedures require the use of the company’s reimbursement system, which implies initial payment for the service.
4. 4. Aetna (acquired by Allianz)
Aetna is the winner of several awards and leader in the international insurance area. If you are seeking security and credibility for your insurance choice before your move to Portugal, Aetna is a good company to consider.
Although they do not have a high variety of planes, they have flexibility and allow them to add a complementary coverage (such as dental). Plans include a policy of up to $5 million, depending on the cases.
You can choose between family or individual plans, and may include coverage for repatriation and medical evacuation.
As an expat, I recommend the Aetna Pioneer. It has a base coverage of up to $1.75 million. Just fill out a form on the site itself to see an exact quote and get detailed information about the available programs.
Advantages of an international health insurance plan with Aetna:
- Maternity coverage
- Have app with all the information you need and easy location of services and providers
- Short, medium and long-term plans for travel
- 24h, 7 days of the week
- Pre-vivial assistance to help with questions, such as vaccines and drugs for regular use
Disadvantages of an international health insurance plan with Aetna:
- Low diversity of plans
- Price above average compared to other companies on this list
5. . 5. Global Underwriters
Global Underwriters is another company with recognition and great popularity when it comes to insurance. They have programs that cater to immigrants, students, digital nomads and immigrants with the aim of starting a life elsewhere in the world.
For someone moving to the Bahamas, I recommend the Diplomat Long Term or the Diplomat International Plan. The two have wide coverage and generally include everything an immigrant may need in their new home.
Advantages of an international health insurance plan with Global Underwriters:
- Up to $1 million of medical coverage in the two plans cited above, and $1 million in coverage in case of accidental death or dismemberment
- Customer assistance every day of the weeks, 24 hours a day
- The plans I cited have dental emergency coverage, medical evacuations and repatriation of remains
Disadvantages of an international health insurance plan with Global Underwritres:
- Diplomat Long Term does not guarantee travelers in Iran, Afghanistan and Cuba
- Diplomat International has no coverage of COVID-19
- Global Underwriters does not serve residents of Australia, Iran, South Dakota, Maryland and New York
SafetyWing is one of the most popular and in-recognized companies for digital nomads, as it offers health insurance specific to remote workers and businesses, expatriates and digital nomads.
One of the advantages of SafetyWing is that its policies are slightly more accessible than the other ones in the market. They also cover free children from 2 to 10 years if their guardians have a plan.
Each plan has a specific cost that depends on age. The most affordable plan does not cover pre-existing conditions, but has a policy of up to $250,000. But you also have the possibility to add pre-existing condition coverage to the part if you need to.
What I like most about SafetyWing is that the company offers 30 days of free coverage in your home country every 90 days when you use your plan in another country, like the Bahamas.
Advantages of an international health insurance plan with SafetyWing:
- Modern website with easy access to information and intuitive
- Customer service 24 hours, all days of the week
- Has 30 days of free coverage for your home country for every 90 days of coverage abroad
- Has coverage of COVID-19 and treatment recommended by medical specialists
Disadvantages of an international health insurance plan with Safety Wing:
- They’re not very complete like the other options on this list
- Site prices do not include taxes and taxes
Foyer Global Health is renowned in international health insurance plans for travelers, expats, digital nomads and immigrants.
It is a company with a wide variety of plans, probably the largest you find in the market, besides being a reliable company (it is one of the parts of the largest European Foyer Group).
Advantages of an international health insurance plan with Foyer Global Health:
- All plans have coverage for surgeries, consultations and dental treatments
- Online service by email or phone 24/7 days
- Offer support service for pre-viations preparation for vaccinations and preparation of first aid kit
- They have evacuation and repatriation services available
Disadvantages of an international health insurance plan with Foyer Global Health:
- Coverage limits are not clear
- No support in Portuguese, only in English, French and German
Bonus options
GeoBlue has been offering insurance plans with international health coverage for over 20 years.
But GeoBlue only provides insurance to U.S. citizens and residents. So if you are not a U.S. citizen or resident moving to Portugal, you can skip this option.
GeoBlue has health plans for different traveler profiles, including immigrants. Xplorer Essential is the plan I recommend the most, as it is made for long-term stays with unlimited coverage.
If you are looking for a short-term plan, try the Voyager program. Only fill out a form or contact a broker, it is possible to make a quote and more detailed information about the plans.
Advantages of an international health insurance plan with GeoBlue:
- It has application with technological resources and telemedicine service
- 24h/7 customer service
- Some plans have coverage for pre-existing conditions
- All plans have unlimited coverage
Disadvantages of an international health insurance plan with GeoBlue:
- Only available to U.S. residents or U.S. citizens
- Low flexibility of programs
- You need to submit a form or contact a broker to get information or budget of the plans
If you are looking for a Brazilian company to close your health insurance, Insurance Promo is an excellent option.
With 100% service in Portuguese, dealing with the bureaucracies of documents when buying your insurance is simpler and quieter, especially if you do not know other languages.
Seguros Promo, unlike the other options I mentioned, is not an insurance company, but an intermediary with other companies and their customers. So, it works as an aggregator of services, providing all the aid to simplify transactions and provide important information.
In addition, Seguros Promo is a good platform to assist in the comparison of plans available in the market in a simple and efficient way.
Just be sure to confirm that you are acquiring international travel health insurance, since they also offer travel insurance.
Advantages of an international health insurance plan with Insurance Promo:
- Good system for comparing companies, prices and plans
- No international payment required and negotiations are made in Portuguese
Disadvantages of an international health insurance plan with Promo Insurance:
- As it works as an intermediary, its prices are more above average
Types of Bahamian visas
If you are planning to live in the Bahamas, one of your priorities will be to research and apply for a visa.
As an immigrant going to the country to work, your company will likely offer assistance with your establishment in the country, including applying a visa and even finding a new place to live.
The most important thing is to be careful and attentive to the different types of visas you can apply for, the documents you will need for your goals and the deadlines for your visa to be ready. If other family members are to live with you, then you also need to see what type of visas they need.
The Bahamian immigration system requires a view that it varies according to their country of origin, less for citizens of the U.S. and Canada. For stays under 90 days no visa is required.
You must have a valid passport at least six months from the date of arrival in the Bahamas, a return or continuation ticket, evidence of local accommodation and sufficient funds to sustain themselves during your trip.
For any stay visa greater than the 3 months will need:
- Your passport – must be valid for at least another six months and must have at least one blank page
- Two photos of your passport – these must not be more than three months old
- A letter that includes the dates and purpose of your visit, as well as your home address
- A confirmed e-ticket, showing the round trip, with the dates you intend to arrive and depart; or a confirmed voucher for a cruise
- Proof that you have the right to return to your country of residence
- Any transit visas required for your trip
- Current financial statement, for a bank account or credit card, confirming that you have sufficient funds for your trip; or the equivalent of cash or traveler’s checks
- Proof that you are in employment, education or retired
- Confirmed hotel booking or an invitation letter from a host in the Bahamas, with details of the duration of your stay and the address and telephone number of your hotel or host
- Some nationalities are required yellow fever vaccination of at least 10 days before travel
Below are the 2 types of visas most commonly used by new immigrants in the Bahamas home.
Working Visa in the Bahamas
There are work visas for short and long stays, with the short term allowed up to 90 days, available to anyone. The only requirement is to find an employer first.
For long-term or permanent stay visas it is required that the employer proves that no appropriately qualified Bahamian is available to fill the position, before he can make a job offer to a foreigner.
From this, you can download the visa form on the website of the Government of the Bahamas.
Visa for residence in the Bahamas
If you do not have work in the Bahamas, you will need the residence permit given by the Immigration Department.
The residence visa is renewed annually. This type of visa is only available for dependents of people working in the Bahamas, their spouse or children (under 18) and for full-time students at a school, university or college in the Bahamas.
A permanent residence visa is for life. You can apply for permanent residence if:
- You’ve been married and cohabited with a citizen of the Bahamas for five years
- His mother was a citizen of the Bahamas
- You are financially independent and own property in the Bahamas (owners of properties worth BS $1.5 million or more are accelerated)
- You have been employed in the service of the Government of the Bahamas as a police officer or police for at least 10 years
- You have been employed in government service or by a religious or charitable institution as a nurse or teacher for at least 10 years
- You have been employed as a priest, minister of religion or doctor for at least 20 years
- You have a work or residency permit valid for more than 20 consecutive years
Citizens of Haiti have special conditions for permanent residence.
In a short…
Here are the 7 best health insurance companies for expatriates and immigrants moving to the Bahamas:
- Cigna
- IMG
- Now Health
- Aetna
- Global Underwriters
- SafetyWing
- Foyer Global Health
Concluding
Deciding to start a life in another place in the world can be tricky…I hope this article will help you to ask questions and facilitate this process! If you still have any questions about how to get health insurance for your move to the Bahamas (or about moving abroad in general), tell me in the comments area below and I will answer you!
