Health insurance in Malta: How to choose the right plan

There are plenty of good reasons to consider moving to Malta. After all, it has a warm Mediterranean climate, and English is commonly spoken as a local language. Malta also encourages remote workers via the Nomad Residence Permit and retirees via the Malta Retirement Programme.

If you’re an expat who’s considering moving, you might be wondering how healthcare in the country works.

The basic situation is straightforward. Expats from the UK or EU/EEA countries can generally access free healthcare through the country’s public healthcare system. If you’re not from one of these countries, you will likely need comprehensive private health insurance as a prerequisite of your visa. This policy must have at least €100,000 cover.

In this piece, we explain everything you need to know about healthcare and health insurance in Malta.

How healthcare in Malta works

Malta has a mixed private and public healthcare system, similar to many other countries in Europe. In fact, it's often rated one of the continent’s best-performing systems. Life expectancy is 83.3, higher than the OECD average of 81.1 and one of the highest in Europe. Malta also has the third-lowest rate of preventable deaths in the EU.

Public healthcare forms the basis of the healthcare system. It is known locally as the Government Healthcare Service and is the default healthcare option for anybody who’s entitled to it. In practice, this applies to Maltese citizens, as well as anybody from the UK or an EU/EEA country.

Malta’s main public hospital is the Mater Dei Hospital, which provides tertiary-level care. It was opened in 2007 and has over 800 beds. There is also a smaller hospital on the island of Gozo, called the Gozo General Hospital.

If you’re entitled to public healthcare, it’s free at the point of delivery and is funded from general taxation. If not, you’ll likely need to rely on private insurance. This mostly applies to expats who aren’t from the UK or an EU/EEA country.

Malta’s largest private hospital is the Saint James Hospital. Many local Maltese residents choose to access this to get shorter waits and a wider choice of consultants.

Healthcare insurance in Malta: What are the main options?

In Malta, there are three main options for healthcare and health insurance:

Public healthcare (Government Healthcare Service)

This is the most common healthcare option in Malta. Most people rely on this, since it’s free and applies to most citizens and long-term residents.

The public system covers most essential and routine healthcare treatment, including GP and health center care, emergency treatment, maternity care, and trips to public facilities.

The system is funded through social security contributions (SSCs), which work like taxation. If you're employed by an organization in Malta or registered as self-employed in the country, you will be required to contribute by making regular payments.

By default, all Maltese citizens are entitled to public healthcare coverage. This is also extended to any short-term travelers from an EU/EEA country or the UK. In this case, access is granted through the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC).

Otherwise, public healthcare coverage is available to anybody making social security contributions (SSCs). If you’re working or registered as self-employed in Malta, this is compulsory. But generally this only applies once you’ve moved and settled in the country.

Malta also has a number of Reciprocal Healthcare Agreements (RHAs) with other countries, including EU countries and the UK. This means non-working expats can still get access to public healthcare, depending on the country you’re traveling from. However, you’ll generally need an S1 form to claim this, which you can get from the healthcare organization of your home country.

In most other circumstances, expats aren’t entitled to public healthcare. This principally applies to any non-working expats who aren’t from either an EU/EEA country or the UK. In this case, you will likely require private insurance for your visa to be accepted. You may be able to cancel this if you start making social security payments after moving into the country.

Malta’s public healthcare system is generally high quality. Nonetheless, wait times can be longer in the public system, compared with private facilities. Therefore, private health insurance is increasingly popular in Malta, even for those who can access the public system.

Private health insurance in Malta

There are two main groups of people who choose to take out private health insurance in Malta:

• Local residents/citizens: Even if you’re entitled to public healthcare, private insurance can offer more choice and shorter wait times.
• Non-EU/UK/EEA expats: If you’re not entitled to public healthcare, private health insurance is the default option. In this case, comprehensive health insurance is likely a requirement of your visa.

There are several well-known private health insurance companies in the country: Mapfre MSV Life, Atlas Insurance PCC (Atlas Healthcare), Laferla Insurance, and GasanMamo Insurance. These offer access to private healthcare facilities across Malta, including the Saint James Hospital, the country’s largest private hospital.

Private health insurance policies can also help you meet your visa requirements, if you have any. However, you’ll need to ensure the policy meets the €100,000 permit threshold.

That being said, private health insurance does come with certain drawbacks. It’s common for pre-existing conditions to be explicitly excluded, or you may need to pay higher premiums instead. Crucially, the policies only apply in Malta itself – meaning you’re not covered if you travel abroad.

Expat health insurance in Malta

This option is identical to private health insurance in many fundamental ways. It offers access to private healthcare facilities in Malta. It’s also a popular option for anybody who doesn’t already have access to the public healthcare system. If you’re required to get health insurance for your visa, this can also help to meet the requirements.

But there’s one major difference between expat and private insurance: Location. Expat health insurance also applies across the whole European Union. This is ideal for anybody who regularly travels outside of Malta. It’s also a smart solution for expats who are either moving in or out of the country. Having healthcare coverage in both countries makes the transition easier, since you won’t have to worry about the coverage gap while you move.

Expat health insurance in Malta is the best option for most expats coming from other European countries. But for some expats, international health insurance is the better option here. This applies specifically to people who need coverage for pre-existing conditions, who will live/travel outside Europe, or want a higher annual limit.

Check out our full guide on international health insurance to find out more.

Healthcare in Malta for expats: How to choose the best option

Here’s a quick overview of the main healthcare options in Malta and how they compare:

* Based on Feather’s expat health insurance policy

Generally, the best option for your situation will depend on where you’re traveling from and what public healthcare you’re already entitled to. Here are some examples of how the right answer might change in different situations:

• EU/EEA/UK, short-term: EU/EEA citizens are entitled to medically essential treatment during temporary stays (via the EHIC). British citizens get treatment under the same terms (via the GHIC). You might choose to get travel insurance instead, as this often includes extra coverage like trip cancellations.
• EU/EEA/UK, long-term: You’ll have to make social security payments to qualify for public healthcare, or get access via an S1 form. After that, you can access free healthcare just like Maltese citizens. Add international or private health insurance to get better coverage, faster treatment, and more choice.
• Non-EU/EEA/UK expats: You will likely need comprehensive private or international health insurance in Malta. Once you’ve moved into the country, you may be able to transition to public healthcare via social security payments.
• Non-working/retired expat: By default, retired and non-working expats aren’t entitled to public healthcare. If you’re from the EU or UK, you may be able to get access via an S1 form – but this depends on your permit. Generally, comprehensive private or expat health insurance is the best option here.

If you’re traveling in or out of Malta, it’s often wise to have comprehensive expat insurance. This gives you the confidence that you’re covered, whatever the terms of your residency permit/visa are. It also ensures you’re covered in both countries during the transition.

How to get insured in Malta

Here’s how to sign up for healthcare and health insurance as an expat in Malta:

• Identify your route: First, work out whether or not you’re entitled to public health insurance. If not, private or international insurance is the default setting.
• Check your permit/visa requirements: If you’re not from the EU/EEA/UK, you’ll likely require health insurance for your visa to be accepted. Check the terms, coverage amount, and how long the policy needs to last for.
• Compare options: Compare local Maltese private and expat health insurance to confirm if the policy meets these requirements.
• Apply online: Most private and expat health insurance vendors have fully digital applications. In this case, you can expect to get policy documentation within a few hours, if accepted.
• Get documentation: Retain the policy document, table of benefits, and payment receipt. These will act as proof of coverage when you apply for a visa/permit.

Feather: Health insurance for expats in Europe

We get it. As an expat, healthcare and health insurance are far more complicated than they need to be. At Feather, we’re expats as well – which is why we aim to make it as easy as possible for you.

To do that, we offer straightforward expat health insurance for expats in Malta and across Europe. Here’s what that includes:

• Coverage across all EU/Schengen area countries
• 75-year age limit, higher than most private/international healthcare policies
• Cancel anytime – perfect if you’re transitioning to public healthcare after arriving
• Full refund if your visa gets rejected
• No annual deductibles
• Plans start from €72 per month
• English-speaking support and claims documentation

Check out the policy to find out more today.