Health insurance in Jordan: How to choose the right plan

If you’re planning to move to Jordan as an expat, there’s one fact you need to know about the country’s healthcare system. Public healthcare in the country is for Jordanian citizens only. In the vast majority of cases, expats and foreigners are explicitly barred from the system.

Therefore, private or international health insurance in Jordan is the only available option. In fact, you need it as a prerequisite of your visa/permit application. Without it, your visa can be rejected and your residency blocked.

So what are your options? Here, we explain how Jordan’s health system works and how expats can get comprehensive insurance.

Healthcare in Jordan

Jordan has a mixed healthcare system including both public and private healthcare options. Compared to many countries in the Middle East, they offer high-quality treatment. The country spends around 9.6% of GDP on healthcare, which is higher than many other countries in the same region. Overall, there are around 120 hospitals across the country, of which about 70 are private.

Because of this, Jordan is a notable hub for medical tourism, receiving a total of 225,000 patients from abroad in 2024.

While high-quality healthcare is available, it’s much less common outside the main cities. In Amman and Aqaba, healthcare is readily available and of good quality – but much less so elsewhere.

Jordan health insurance: What are your options?

There are three main options for healthcare and health insurance in Jordan. Here’s a quick overview of the different types:

Public health insurance

Like many countries, Jordan has a widespread public healthcare system. It offers subsidized healthcare costs to citizens.

However, Jordan is much stricter than most countries about where and when foreigners can access the public system. In the vast majority of cases, foreign nationals in Jordan are explicitly barred. Nonetheless, it’s helpful to briefly explain how this works.

Public healthcare in Jordan essentially operates on a social insurance model. This means citizens pay social security contributions (SSCs) from their payroll. This provides access to free/subsidized healthcare through the public system.

In reality, this isn’t a single system. Citizens pay into a mixture of different funds, including the Ministry of Health (MOH), the Royal Medical Services (RMS) (for military-linked populations), and semi-governmental insurance schemes. Generally, public hospitals belong to one of these schemes. This means most people can only visit hospitals or practices that are registered under their insurance scheme.

Because of this fragmented system, only around 80% of Jordan’s population is covered by a public insurance policy. Others either remain uninsured or rely on private health insurance.

Private health insurance in Jordan

Private health insurance is very common in Jordan, for both local citizens and expats. There are several popular insurers in the country, including the Jordan Insurance Company, Euro Arab Insurance, MedGulf, Arabia Insurance, and Al-Nisr Al-Arabi. These are all regulated by the Central Bank of Jordan and included in the country’s central Insurance Sector Directory.

These policies are generally designed for Jordanian citizens. While expats aren’t explicitly excluded, you may struggle if you don’t speak Arabic. Insurers may also exclude certain pre-existing conditions or refuse coverage for people over a certain age.

International health insurance

International health insurance is a type of private insurance that’s designed specifically for expats. First and foremost, it offers access to private healthcare in Jordan and meets any permit requirements you may have. It also offers English-speaking support and full repatriation coverage in case of death or emergency.

But the most important difference is right there in the name. International health insurance covers expats around the world, not just in Jordan. This is ideal if you’re moving in or out of the country, or if Jordan is one of many countries you’re traveling to.

Read more: International health insurance: Private health cover for your life abroad

Comparison: Health insurance options in Jordan

Here’s a quick overview of the main differences between the different health insurance options in Jordan:

* Based on Feather’s international health insurance policy
** Arabic certificate required

In practice, the right choice will change for expats in different situations. Here are some examples:

• Employed expat: You likely can’t access the public system, even if you’re paying SSCs. Private or international health insurance is therefore essential.
• Digital nomad/remote worker: International health insurance is generally the best option for digital nomads. It’s portable, meets visa requirements, and offers English-based claims and support.
• Investor/real estate/retiree: If you’re comfortably under 60-65 and plan to spend most of your time in Jordan, local private insurance could work for you. Otherwise, international health insurance is less likely to refuse you based on age, and also offers coverage abroad.
• Residency/visa applicant: Private insurance is mandatory for your visa/permit. International health insurance is accepted, but the documentation will need to be available in Arabic.
• Short-term visitor: If you’re not staying long, travel insurance is a viable option. If you’re traveling for more than three months, international health insurance is a better choice.

How to sign up for health insurance in Jordan

Here’s an overview of how to choose and sign up for health insurance:

• Confirm eligibility: Confirm you can’t rely on public coverage. If you’re an expat, you almost certainly can’t.
• Choose private or international: Choose whether you want coverage inside Jordan or globally. Consider how long you’re likely to stay in the country and how often you’ll travel abroad during this period.
• Check your permit requirements: If you’re on a residency permit, you’ll almost certainly require private health insurance in Jordan. Check the requirements to ensure your chosen provider meets them. You should also check that the policy publishes a certificate in Arabic.
• Apply online: Most private and international health insurance vendors offer fully digital claims and applications. If you’re buying Jordanian private insurance, check the vendor is on the Insurance Sector Directory.

Feather: International health insurance in Jordan

If you’re an expat, you probably need to get private health insurance. And as we’ve explained, international health insurance in Jordan is often the best option. As well as meeting your visa requirements, it also offers insurance in multiple countries during the transition. This is the best way to avoid an awkward coverage gap while you’re moving in or out of the country.

International insurance also offers English-speaking support and repatriation coverage. These policies are also more likely to insure older expats.

At Feather, we pride ourselves on making healthcare as straightforward as possible for expats in Jordan and around the world. Here’s how our international health insurance policies do just that:

• Worldwide coverage available
• Age limit of 75 – higher than most vendors
• Pre-existing conditions can be covered, and are assessed individually
• Policies start from €56.00 a month
• Full refund if your visa gets rejected
• Documentation available in just a few hours

Want to find out more? Get a quote.