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As a specialised international health insurance provider, we are experts in providing premium coverage for expats in Mauritius. We pride ourselves on making all aspects of your policy as simple as possible – from finding the right coverage for you, to making a claim.
This article will discuss how to get health insurance in Mauritius, what William Russell can offer, and what you need to know about healthcare on the island.
How to get global health insurance in Mauritius
There are two ways to find an international health insurance plan in Mauritius:
- Through a broker: Insurance brokers will help you compare different options based on your needs. They won’t provide insurance, but they can help you pick the right provider for you.
- Get a direct quote from an insurance provider: You can go directly to an insurance provider like William Russell. You’ll be able to get a quote and a ballpark price in a few minutes.
How to get health insurance in Mauritius with William Russell
We’ve been operating as a private international insurance provider since 1992. As a specialist provider, our primary goal is to provide the best possible service to expatriates and their families via health insurance, income protection, and life insurance.
We offer four levels of cover, starting with Bronze, SilverLite, Silver, and Gold. Gold is our plan with the highest coverage.
Every plan from William Russell covers you for:
- Hospital treatment
- Local ambulances (including air ambulance)
- Advanced diagnostic tests
- Cancer treatment (including genome testing)
- Transplants
- Emergency medical evacuation
- Access to a 24hr emergency helpline
| Only covered in some plans: |
|---|
| Doctor visits and other out-patient care (SilverLite, Silver & Gold) |
| Pregnancy & maternity care (Gold plan only) |
| Dental care (different options on SilverLite, Silver & Gold) |
Areas of cover
After deciding on your plan level, it’s important to determine what areas you need coverage in. At William Russell, you can choose from 6 different areas of coverage or “zones”:
| Zone 1 | Zone 2 | Zone 3 | Zone 4 | Zone 5 | Zone 7* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worldwide cover, with restricted cover in the USA | Full cover in most countries, with restricted cover where private healthcare is expensive but no cover in the USA | Special area of cover for residents in Indonesia, with restricted cover where private healthcare is expensive but no cover in the USA | Full cover in Africa & Indian Subcontinent, with restricted cover elsewhere but no cover in the USA | Full cover in Africa (except South Africa) & Indian Subcontinent, with restricted cover elsewhere but no cover in the USA | Full cover in Southeast Asia only |
If you’re based in Mauritius and regularly travel to other parts of Africa, you may want to consider Zone 4, which provides full cover in Africa. If you also want coverage for the Indian Subcontinent, you can choose Zones 4 and 5.
Naturally, the wider the geographical areas of coverage, the more expensive your premium will be.
*Wondering if there is a Zone 6? There is, but we use it on our international life insurance plans only.
How to get started with William Russell
To get started with an international health insurance plan in Mauritius, simply:
- Get a quote here. Simply enter a few details about yourself and where you need coverage.
- We’ll show you a quick overview of our different plans with a ballpark price.
- A team member will be in touch to better understand your needs. They’ll work with you to choose the right plan and areas of coverage.
- Once you’re clear about your plan, you agree to the terms and make payment.
- Your policy will begin.
Why choose William Russell as your health insurance provider in Mauritius
Many health insurance providers work in the same way – you pay a monthly premium and file a claim if you fall ill, have a medical emergency, or suffer injuries from an accident.
Here at William Russell, we also work this way. However, we excel in one area where other providers do not. We specialise in expatriate insurance, having over 30 years’ experience in insuring people living and working abroad.
As a member, here’s what you’ll get with William Russell:
1/ A dedicated claims manager
As a family-first organisation, we value a personal touch when working with all our members.
That’s why we don’t use call centres: instead, you’ll have a dedicated claims manager when you become a member of William Russell. This means only talking to a handful of team members rather than talking to a new person each time you need an update on your claim.
2/ Experts in international health insurance for expats
Most large insurance providers focus on local insurance. Offering international cover is a secondary part of their principal business, so it’s rarely their priority. For us, international health insurance for expats is what we specialise in.
We’ve been providing international health insurance to thousands of expats and their families for over 30 years. Some of our members have been with us for decades, and we have a Feefo rating of 4.5/5 for customer experience.
3/ Claim assessment in as little as 10 days
Making a health insurance claim can be stressful. At William Russell, we aim to make the claim process as simple as possible.
Though reimbursement claims can be a complex process, we strive to assess all claims within 10 days.
For in-patient claims, we pre-authorise your treatment and confirm payment with the medical facility beforehand, so you don’t have to pay upfront (except for an eventual excess, if necessary).
While we can’t guarantee lightning-fast decisions for every claim (no provider can), we can promise that your dedicated claims manager (who you’ve already spoken with by this point) will do their utmost to close your claim as fast as possible. They’ll also keep you updated from beginning to end.
4/ Access to the best hospitals
As an insurance provider that’s been around for over 30 years, we’ve built great partnerships with some of the best medical centres in Africa.
If you need a hospital or private clinic, we can recommend one of the hospitals in our network which meet our high standards of care.
Of course, you’re not just limited to the hospitals in our network. You have the freedom to choose the hospital you want within your coverage area for an eligible claim. We’ll give you the information you need to make the right decision for you.
5/ A comprehensive medical evacuation process
As standard in all of our plans, you’ll be offered medical evacuation. We’ll evacuate when there’s a life-threatening or limb-threatening condition that requires in-patient treatment that cannot be provided locally. It also includes repatriation for you (and one companion) to your home country. With Medevac Plus, this also includes getting you to medical facilities for advanced imagining and cancer treatment.
6/ 24/7 emergency helpline
Medical emergencies can’t always wait until 9am. As a William Russell member, you’ll have access to a 24/7 emergency helpline whenever you need it. From there, we’ll get you the necessary medical care and evacuate you if necessary.
7/ A specialist team of for emergency, cancer, and maternity claims
We have our own experts for emergency, cancer, and maternity claims. These experts will be here to support you as soon as you make a claim and can set up second-opinion appointments based on the findings at your hospital or medical centre.
8/ The certainty of being part of the Allianz Group
We’re a private insurance provider, but our policies are insured by an insurer in the Allianz Group since 2002. This means you’ll enjoy our international expertise and personal service while having the security of a large insurance company.
How does the claims process work with William Russell?
- In-patient or day-patient admissions – This is where you spend some planned time in hospital, usually for a procedure. These admissions require pre-authorisation from us.
- Out-patient treatment – This is a planned treatment, which doesn’t require admittance to hospital. In this scenario, we ask our members to self-pay their medical claim and then provide us with a receipt and invoice (where we’ll reimburse you).
- Medical evacuation – If you need immediate in-patient care for a life or limb-threatening condition, we will arrange for you to be moved to the nearest hospital to provide the care you need (assuming you can’t get there locally).
What’s our medical evacuation process like in Mauritius?
Moving to a different country can be intimidating. We want our members to feel comfortable and trust that we’ll be by their side if they fall ill.
For transparency, here’s what would happen if we were to medically evacuate you in Mauritius.
- You’d report your emergency on our 24/7 emergency helpline.
- Our medical team will evaluate your medical condition and whether you require a medical evacuation.
- We take care of the logistics. If you need medical evacuation, we’ll organise the destination and the most appropriate means of transport (whether on the ground or by an air ambulance).
- Your transport will pick you up as soon as possible.
Tilly’s Story
We recently completed an evacuation for a member’s daughter, Tilly, in Mauritius.
She had been admitted to a hospital in Mauritius with viral meningitis. However, she didn’t recover and began to feel worse after being discharged to the point where she couldn’t walk.
Our team requested Tilly’s notes and tests from the hospital. After a review by our medical experts, we decided we weren’t fully confident in the MRI scans. We arranged for Tilly to be medically evacuated to a specialist facility in Johannesburg.
From there, she got diagnosed with a rare condition. Fortunately, she was covered for all the treatment she needed and is now happy and healthy.
Who is William Russell good for?
We’ve been helping expats and their families across the globe since 1992, and we are proud to say that we’ve looked after many satisfied members for over three decades.
Our members include:
- Professionals who live and work in Mauritius
- International students
- Businesses with staff in Mauritius (and across Africa)
- Retirees settling down on the island
- Mauritian citizens who want private medical insurance
- Expats (with or without families) who plan to move to Mauritius
We know everyone’s situation and circumstances are different, which is why we offer a variety of plans and zones. This way, you can pick the optimal coverage for you, your family, and your employees.
3 tips on staying healthy in Mauritius
1/ Do your homework on medical clinics
A problem we’ve seen globally is medical centres and clinics exaggerating their credentials. While they may deal well with basic conditions, they may also lead you to believe they can handle more specialised issues to collect on the insurance claim.
Make sure you question the credentials of the clinics you go to.
Trust your gut; if something doesn’t feel right about a medical clinic, don’t hesitate to contact us, and we’ll suggest a reliable clinic nearby.
2/ Be safe in the water
Mauritius is well known for its incredible beaches and popular water activities like snorkelling, diving, and swimming. However, make sure you’re staying safe! There can be strong currents and rough waves. We’d advise against heading out to the Indian Ocean on your own.
3/ Learn some local phrases
Most locals in Mauritius speak Creole and French. It can be worth learning a few phrases in each! That said, most private hospitals will have plenty of English speakers.
What is Mauritius' healthcare system like?
Public healthcare in Mauritius is free for all citizens and residents. The country’s healthcare system is modelled on the British NHS (National Health Service) and is primarily government funded. The public system is funded by the government and is managed by the Ministry of Health and Wellness.
The public facilities include hospitals, health centres, and clinics, which provide various services, including preventive care, treatment, and rehabilitation. In recent years, Mauritius has tried to develop a medical tourism industry, with visitors coming to the country for medical treatment – mainly cosmetic procedures.
Overall, the public healthcare system in Mauritius offers good quality. However, access to specialised care can be limited in some parts of the country.
For expats, the cost of a consultation with a general practitioner (GP) at a public hospital or health centre in Mauritius is around 200-300 Mauritian rupees (about US$5-8). The cost of laboratory tests and other medical procedures can vary greatly depending on the test type or procedure.
While it’s affordable, there are some drawbacks to only using the public healthcare in Mauritius. You might experience:
Long wait times: The public healthcare system in Mauritius can be pretty busy, and patients may have to wait for several hours or even days to receive medical attention or treatment. This is even worse for specialised treatments/surgery with long waiting lists.
Limited availability: Some specialised medical services and treatments may not be available through the public healthcare system. Patients may have to seek care through private healthcare providers, which can be expensive without insurance.
A lack of privacy: Public hospitals usually have dormitories of 10-20, which means it’s unlikely that you’ll get a private room.
Language barriers: While English is an official language in Mauritius, you might experience language barriers when seeking medical care through the public healthcare system.
Is there good private healthcare in Mauritius?
Mauritius has a well-developed private health sector, with several private hospitals, clinics, and healthcare centres. Private healthcare on the island is of a high standard, and private hospitals provide modern health facilities and advanced medical technology.
Private healthcare is popular among locals as well as expats, to get better (and faster) treatment.
While Mauritius is a small island, it can be worth making sure you know exactly where your nearest private hospital is.
Here are a few of the private hospitals in Mauritius and their locations:
- Apollo Bramwell Hospital: Located in Moka.
- Fortis Clinique Darné: Located in Floréal.
- Wellkin Hospital: Located in Ebène.
- Victoria Hospital: Located in Candos.
- Dr. Jeetoo Private Hospital: Located in Port Louis.
What vaccines should I get before going to Mauritius?
Before travelling to Mauritius, you must ensure you’re up to date with your vaccinations.
As well as routine vaccinations (such as for chickenpox and polio), the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recommends the following vaccinations before travelling to Mauritius:
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- COVID-19
- Measles
- Rabies
- Typhoid
Malaria is a common problem in Africa, but it’s highly treatable. It can be worth consulting with a medical professional about preparing for and avoiding malaria.
Get your international health insurance in Mauritius with William Russell
We’ve provided health insurance cover for thousands of expats and their loved ones for over 30 years.
By taking out a health insurance policy and becoming a member of William Russell, you can focus on building your life in Mauritius. We’ll provide the confidence you need to live, work, and enjoy yourself on the island, knowing that we’ll take care of you and your family.
