Malta, a country right off the coast of Sicily, has become a popular retirement destination because of its warm climate, English-speaking locals, and favorable tax incentives. Although seemingly secluded, this island has become one of the top international destinations in the world with a net migration of 2.02 for a population of 1,000 according to the CIA World Factbook (2009). This means that for every 1,000 people, roughly 2 people have immigrated to Malta in one year.

As it becomes increasingly common to retire abroad, more and more individuals are now calling Malta their new home. One of the many attractions is their high-quality health care system. Malta offers both public and private health care depending on your needs.

1. Public Health Care- If you receive treatment from a health centre or emergency treatment in a hospital, treatment is free of charge. It is important to note that you will only be able to receive treatment in your designated local health centre (determined by your residential area). Also, private hospital rooms are unavailable. The public health care option is funded by taxation and financed through the Ministry of Health.
2. Private Health Care- You also have the option to visit a private practitioner or hospital while in Malta. These providers will charge a fee for service rendered and are unaffiliated with the government health care system. All private care facilities, except General Practioners and specialist consulting offices, are licensed by the Public Health Authorities.

If you will be traveling to Malta for a short-term trip, you may want to look into whether there is a reciprocity agreement for free health care. In recent years, Malta has established a reciprocity agreement with the European Union and Australia allowing individuals to receive free medical and hospital care if their stay is less than one month. If you plan to stay longer, you may want to look into a Malta travel insurance plan like the single trip insurance.

If you are planning to stay for a year or longer, you may want to consider a Malta expatriate insurance plan that will cover you internationally including in Malta. In deciding between a local or international insurance plan, you may want to consider the following:

• If I get sick, would I want to receive treatment in Malta or do I want the option to choose which country I’d like to receive my treatment?
• Do I anticipate staying in Malta long-term? If not, would it be difficult to get insurance coverage if I decide to return to my home country?

In particular, the United States can be difficult to find affordable coverage should you later decide to return to the US. In many cases, you may need to show proof of insurance in order to receive coverage for any pre-existing conditions. Individuals have found Malta expatriate insurance plans better suited for them since they can continue with the same plan regardless of their country of residence. For example, the Global Citizen plan is designed specifically for US citizens and provides international coverage- even if you decide to return to the US. In addition, this is the only HIPAA compliant plan – meaning that should you decide to switch to a domestic plan, you’ll have a certificate of credible accepted by all US plans. If you’d like to find out more information about Malta expatriate insurance, please visit our website for further information.