Health insurance in Cambodia
Whatever your situation and the reason for your stay in Cambodia: a local contract in Cambodia, a new professional opportunity, an internship, a university exchange or simply a vacation, remember to take out insurance.
What do you need to know about Cambodia's healthcare system?
Are you insured for Cambodia? Do you need travel insurance for Cambodia? Mondassur allows you to cover all your risks (health, repatriation, baggage…) by choosing a personalized international health insurance policy adapted to all your needs.
Student insurance Cambodia
Insurance to cover your studies in Cambodia.
From
27€
- Worldwide coverage
- Maximum age: 35
- Covers emergencies and accidents
- Covers hospitalization and routine medical care
- Up to €250,000 per year
- Standard dental and optical expenses up to €550
- Contraception coverage + vaccines
- Maternity care
- Covers pre-existing conditions
- Repatriation assistance
- Civil liability
- Individual protection
Expatriate insurance Cambodia
International health insurance to cover your expatriation to Cambodia.
From
93€
- Worldwide coverage
- Minimum age: 14
- Maximum age: 65
- Covers hospitalization and routine medical care
- Up to €1,500,000 per year
- Maternity coverage up to €4,000
- Coverage of assisted reproduction up to €1,500
- Covers pre-existing conditions
- Coverage of pharmaceutical expenses up to €370
- Optional dental and optical care
- Maternity plus option
- Prevention and well-being as an option
- Optional repatriation assistance
- Optional third-party liability
Travel insurance Cambodia
Health insurance to cover your trip to Cambodia.
From
30€
- Worldwide coverage
- Maximum age: 85
- Covers emergencies and accidents
- Up to €500,000 per trip
- Covers loss, theft or destruction of luggage
- Repatriation assistance
- Travel assistance
- Civil liability
Any questions? Need advice?
Information about health insurance in Cambodia
Political system: Constitutional Monarchy
Capital: Phnom Penh
Surface area: 181,035 km²
Population: 16.01 million
Languages spoken: Khmer
Currency: Riel
Cambodia's healthcare system
The Cambodian healthcare system has improved somewhat. However, a few years ago, we wouldn’t have advised you to seek treatment here. Now you can visit a GP or hospital for a diagnosis or medical consultation without fear.
However, it’s best to go to private establishments. The public health sector has developed much less than the private health sector, which performs much better. The country, economically ruined since the war, has recovered. Many diseases and infections circulate in the region, including malaria, tuberculosis and rabies. That’s why your vaccination schedule needs to be up to date if you want to go to Cambodia, for an expatriation or even a vacation.
In Cambodia, over 20% of the population lives below the poverty line, and over 65% has no health coverage.
Social security in Cambodia
Cambodia has a social security system called the National Social Security Fund (NSSF). Since 2017, accident and health insurance has been compulsory for all workers in companies with more than 1 employee. This law is mandatory for all companies or establishments and applies to both Khmer and foreign employees.
However, this social security should be taken with a grain of salt. Indeed, a large proportion of the population does not benefit from it, due to a lack of financial means and inadequate levels of coverage. In practice, the NSSF is not as functional as it looks on paper. This social protection system still has its flaws.
How do I consult a general practitioner or specialist in Cambodia?
If you want to consult a general practitioner or specialist in Cambodia who speaks English or your language, it’s best to go to a private clinic. You’ll find at least one English-speaking practitioner in every private facility, which will make it much easier to understand you and get the most appropriate care for your situation. The Cambodian government is cracking down on fake doctors. In 2015, the government counted more than 3,000 fake doctors practicing illegally in the country.
That’s why it’s so important for foreigners to seek treatment in private hospitals. Private-sector costs are higher, but it’s not a question of paying more for better care or contracting a serious illness like HIV.
So don’t forget to take out private health insurance to cover you for private health care and, above all, medical repatriation. For major operations or treatments, seek treatment in neighboring countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, China or Singapore, or even in your home country. The cost of a consultation with a private general practitioner averages $30 USD.
Hospitals in Cambodia
Although the quality of healthcare in Cambodia has improved in recent years, the public health sector remains well below international standards. Indeed, public hospitals do not guarantee quality care, equipment is obsolete and healthcare staff are not the most qualified. Avoid public health care as much as possible, as it may add complications rather than cure you.
Private clinics and hospitals are of much higher quality, and the doctors who take care of you are graduates of the best medical universities around the world, and will speak either English or a language you can easily understand. For all conventional treatments, you can visit private clinics. As a result, you’ll receive trouble-free care that comes as close as possible to the quality of European care.
However, for major operations or medical treatments, you may be transferred to foreign clinics, such as those in Singapore or Thailand. You can also be repatriated to your home country for surgery. In the major cities, you’ll find excellent private hospitals like the Royal Phnom Penh Hospital.
Emergency services in Cambodia
As soon as you arrive in Cambodia, it’s important to know where your embassy is located. In an emergency, you should contact your embassy as soon as possible. To contact an ambulance, dial 119. You will be medically repatriated to a hospital close to your position, and depending on your situation, you may be offered medical repatriation to a foreign country for treatment, such as Bangkok or Ho Chi Minh.
Pharmacies in Cambodia
There are pharmacy chains like Ucare Pharmacy in Cambodia’s most popular towns: Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, Kep, Kampot and Ta Khamau. These pharmacies are open from 8am to 10pm. In every pharmacy, you’ll find at least one pharmacist who can advise you and discuss any questions you may have.
You’ll also find numerous ranges of parapharmacy products, which are very fashionable in the kingdom. What’s more, you’ll find all the medicines sold in Europe in local pharmacies. But there are plenty of fakes out there, so make sure you visit a reputable pharmacy, such as U-Care or Pharmacie de la Gare.
Dental care in Cambodia
Dental care is of fairly good quality in the private sector, and less expensive than in Europe or North America. Medical tourism has developed in Cambodia around dental care, which is much more accessible than in Western countries. A simple teeth cleaning can cost you $20 USD. The average cost of a dental implant is less than $1000 USD.
Physiotherapy in Cambodia
Physiotherapy in Cambodia is still developing. Physiotherapists are fairly easy to find in Cambodia’s major cities. The Cambodian Physiotherapy Association is a member of the World Physiotherapy Association. You can consult a physiotherapist without necessarily going to a general practitioner. During a session with a physiotherapist, you can benefit from a number of methods that are also practiced in Western countries, such as :
- General physiotherapy ;
- Occupational therapy ;
- Speech therapy ;
- Manual therapy
- Acupuncture
In a private clinic, you’ll pay an average of $50 USD for the first session. Subsequent sessions will be less expensive at around $40 USD.
Ophthalmology and optics in Cambodia
Ophthalmologists and opticians are easy to find in major cities. However, they will be rarer in the countryside. We advise against visiting small opticians or ophthalmologists. They sometimes lack the necessary equipment to offer you a complete examination or a pair of glasses perfectly adapted to your eyesight. The cost of a pair of glasses is considerably lower than in Europe or North America. Count on an average of less than $50 USD for a pair of eyeglasses (excluding luxury brands, although glasses will still be less expensive than in Europe/North America). A good pair of sunglasses with a UV index that will really protect you from the sun will cost you around $100 USD.
Maternity in Cambodia
If you want to give birth in Cambodia, be careful. Cambodia has one of the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in Asia. You’ll benefit from the best obstetricians and medical equipment in the country.
It’s better not to take any risks, so take out private health insurance before you get pregnant, which will cover you against the higher medical costs of private insurance. In the public sector, not all midwives are trained in modern birthing techniques, and only perform traditional deliveries. However, these techniques do not work as well as the modern techniques used in European hospitals.
Another factor is the geographical distance you’ll be at when you’re about to give birth. Plan your itinerary in advance to avoid any unpleasant surprises on the big day. You may find yourself some ten kilometers from the hospital where you are to give birth, but access to the hospital could be extremely complicated.
Caesarean delivery is very common in Cambodia. If you wish to have a vaginal delivery, be sure to specify this to your obstetrician. In the private sector, in a small clinic or hospital, the cost could be around $600 USD. In a reputable private clinic or hospital, the cost could be $1500 USD or more.
Pediatrics in Cambodia
Pediatrics in Cambodia is underdeveloped on a national scale. That’s why there are so many international aid schemes operating in the country. There are, however, specialized children’s hospitals such as the Kantha Bopha IV Children’s Hospital in Phnom Penh. This hospital is free for Khmers, so waiting times are very long. You can have your child seen at a private clinic or hospital such as the Khema International Polyclinic, where your child will be cared for without you having to worry.
For more serious operations, we recommend that you repatriate to Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand or China for treatment in a better-equipped hospital.
What vaccinations should I get before moving to Cambodia?
Before you expatriate to Cambodia, it is imperative that your vaccination booklet be updated with the following vaccines:
- Hepatitis A ;
- Hepatitis B ;
- Rage;
- Typhoid ;
- Japanese encephalitis.
It’s important to point out that there are risks to malaria, mainly transmitted in rural, forested and coastal areas. Around Phnom Penh, Tonle Sap Lake. Protect yourself when you have sex in Cambodia, where the AIDS rate is the highest in Asia. Finally, remember to protect yourself against mosquito bites, by wearing loose-fitting clothing and applying mosquito repellent to exposed parts of your body.
Why purchase international health insurance in Cambodia?
Firstly, although the public health sector and the NSSF are developing rapidly in Cambodia, the quality of care is far from adequate. It’s imperative that you take out private health insurance so that you can receive treatment in the private sector without burning through all your savings.
Public hospitals in Cambodia are overcrowded, and because they are free or very inexpensive, the majority of the population goes to them. For lack of choice, Khmers have to cope with poor hygiene and extremely long waiting times for treatment.
Generally speaking, whether in the public or private sector, hospitals may be short of medical equipment for certain operations or heavy treatments. In some cases, this means repatriation to a neighboring country for treatment in a better-equipped hospital. However, these fairly frequent medical repatriations are very costly, so it’s essential that you take out expatriate health insurance that will also cover you for medical repatriation.
Which private international health insurance should I take out in Cambodia, and for whom?
Whatever your profile, taking out private health insurance will be to your advantage during your expatriation. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a tourist, an expatriate employee, a retiree, a digital nomad or a student, it’s essential to make your health your top priority in the Kingdom.
- If you’re visiting Cambodia as a tourist, we recommend that you take out Travel Pass travel insurance, which will cover you against medical expenses during your stay. Cambodia’s road accident rate is extremely high, and mosquito bites, wild animal bites, food poisoning and infections are commonplace in the Kingdom. Take out international health insurance to protect yourself against private-sector healthcare costs, so that you can be cared for in the best possible conditions should the slightest problem arise. What’s more, private coverage means you’ll be covered for the entire duration of your stay, and abroad at the same rates if you plan to visit other countries at the same time.
- Whether you’re an expatriate employee or an investor, take out private expatriate health insurance to protect yourself against the cost of private healthcare. What’s more, in the event of a serious situation, it’s very likely that you’ll be medically repatriated to a neighboring country for an operation under better conditions. Cambodia won’t offer you the best medical treatment in Southeast Asia, not to mention the presence of many fake doctors who should be avoided at all costs. These medical impostors can transmit serious illnesses to you during their consultations because of their lack of hygiene and rigor.
- As a digital nomad, private international insurance is a great advantage for your status. Whatever your travels abroad, you’ll be insured at the same high rates in every country, with no differentiation. With your Gold Nomad international private insurance policy, you’ll be able to make the most of your expatriation without any social security or mutual insurance problems.
