Navigating Bermuda's Healthcare System: What Expats Need To Know

Bermuda is a small British Overseas Territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. It is known for its solid tourism and financial industries. The warm year-round weather and favourable tax and business regulations have attracted many professionals, investors, and expats to this tiny island. 

Bermuda's benefits include its sound rule of law, political stability, proximity to the U.S., and high quality of life. However, Bermuda might not be a place for every expat, as the cost of living is high. Think of rents worth thousands of dollars, expensive meals outside, and other costly daily expenses like groceries. 

But what about healthcare? Bermuda is known for its tax-haven status, but little is said about its healthcare system, costs, and available services. In this article, we will examine Bermuda’s healthcare system in full detail, including infrastructure, hospitals, and price points. Read on to learn all the details.

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The country is safe and politically stable, providing peace of mind for residents and visitors. As a tax resident, you are not required to contribute to a public healthcare system; Bermuda offers its own health insurance plans

BERMUDA’S APPEAL FOR EXPATS

Bermuda is often associated with the Bermuda Triangle, where many shipwrecks have occurred. However, the island is also known for its many positive aspects, such as low taxes and business-friendly regulations. Moreover, although Bermuda’s official currency is the Bermudian Dollar, it is pegged with the U.S. Dollar, facilitating transactions for multiple expats. 

Regarding lifestyle, the island might not be ideal for everyone, but it can surely offer interesting tourism-related activities to visitors. You can come on a cruise, enjoy the beautiful beaches and crystal clear waters and even play lots of golf. The country is considerably safe and has political stability that grants peace of mind for both residents and visitors. 

OVERVIEW OF BERMUDA’S HEALTHCARE SYSTEM

Bermuda offers an almost private healthcare system regulated by certain government ministries, such as the Ministry of Health and Family Services and even the Ministry of Finance. Unlike other countries with universal public healthcare, Bermuda offers its own Health Insurance Plans. 

Tax residents are not forced to contribute to an inefficient government-run healthcare system but rather pay for every treatment they need. The insurance policy, as well as the patient, pays for visits and hospital fees in some cases. Your healthcare insurance in Bermuda covers multiple medical expenses, such as consultations, hospital stays, and specialist treatments. 

A small island with around 60,000 inhabitants, Bermuda doesn’t need many hospitals, but the few it has are known for their modern infrastructure, state-of-the-art equipment, and highly skilled medical staff

QUALITY OF HEALTHCARE

As a tiny island of around 60,000 residents, Bermuda does not need as many hospitals and clinics as most countries. The main healthcare facilities are the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute, and the Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre. The hospitals are known for their modern infrastructure, top-notch medical equipment, and highly trained medical personnel. 

Specialized medical services are readily available, with facilities offering advanced treatments in various medical fields. Whether it’s for routine check-ups, specialized surgeries, or long-term treatments, Bermuda’s healthcare system is equipped to handle a wide range of medical needs.

TOP HOSPITALS IN BERMUDA

The Bermuda Hospital Board serves the island’s residents and visitors and is committed to delivering high-quality, patient-centered care. Also, it is in charge of overseeing Bermuda’s medical facilities. Here’s some relevant information about the two main hospitals and the care centre:

The King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, with over 300 beds, provides acute and long-term care, including nuclear medicine and oncology, and handled 30,137 emergency visits and over 8,000 surgeries in one year

KING EDWARD VII MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

King Edward VII Memorial Hospital handles acute and long-term care, offering specializations like nuclear medicine, oncology and ultrasound, and emergency services. To illustrate this hospital’s capacity, from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023, it handled 30,137 emergency visits. In other words, it’s almost as if they treated half of the Bermudian population. The hospital has over 300 beds, and over 8,000 surgeries were performed in that same timeframe.

The Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute, Bermuda's only psychiatric hospital, focuses on mental health, including psychiatry and intellectual disability, while also treating diabetes and endocrinology

MID-ATLANTIC WELLNESS INSTITUTE 

On the other hand, the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute is more focused on mental health, such as psychiatry and intellectual disability, but it also treats diabetes and endocrinology. It is the only psychiatric hospital in Bermuda and offers patient-centred care and comprehensive service, as explained in its Inpatient Handbook. 

The Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre serves Bermuda's east side for minor emergencies, offering care in case the Causeway is impassable or an airport emergency occurs, and provides X-ray services on Sundays

LAMB FOGGO URGENT CARE CENTRE

Lastly, this medical facility was built to serve the community on the east side of Bermuda in case the Causeway were impassable, or an emergency happened at the international airport. The Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre oversees minor, unexpected illnesses, such as sprains, cuts, or bumps. There’s also an X-ray service on Sundays. 

Bermuda requires employers to provide health insurance for their employees, which covers a portion of medical expenses; however, the extent of this coverage can vary significantly between basic and comprehensive plans

COST OF HEALTHCARE

Healthcare in Bermuda is high-quality yet expensive, similar if not higher than medical costs in the U.S. For example, the cost of a spinal fusion in the U.S. is around $40,000 USD, roughly the same as in Bermuda. Another example is tracheotomies, which may range between $63,921 USD and $144,019 USD in the States, while in Bermuda, it is $120,000 USD for the most expensive treatment. Other tracheotomy treatments, depending on how complicated they get, may range between $16,994 and $78,073.

Prices are regulated by the Bermuda Hospitals Board. This section will explore the various fees and charges involved in Bermuda’s healthcare system:

HOSPITAL FEES 

Hospital fees in Bermuda are structured around a diagnosis-related group (DRG) system, where charges are based on the specific medical conditions and treatments provided. In-patient treatment charges can be hefty. For example, a major surgical procedure can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Here are some specific examples:

• ECMO or tracheostomy with major surgery: $124,341 USD

• Intracranial vascular procedures with major complications: $70,544 USD

• Spinal procedures with major complications: $39,216 USD

PHYSICIAN CHARGES

Physician charges also explain why healthcare costs are so high. In Bermuda's healthcare system, patients must cover the costs of both in-patient and out-patient treatments, with fees varying based on the complexity of the services. 

In the Bermuda Hospitals Board regulations, in the “Schedule 3” section, you can find all the physician charges divided by categories, such as anesthetist, cardiologist, and remote consultation. For example, remote consultation prices range from $102 USD to $418 USD. 

Note that non-residents must pay an extra 100% charge for all services.

HEALTH INSURANCE

Given the high costs of medical services, health insurance is key to saving on healthcare expenses. I strongly recommend that you work with Safety Wing, a solid option for expats and travellers.

Bermuda mandates employers to provide workers with health insurance, which covers some medical costs. However, the extent of coverage can vary significantly between basic and comprehensive plans:

• Basic Health Insurance: This covers essential services but may require significant out-of-pocket payments for more specialized or extensive treatments.

• Comprehensive private insurance: Provides broader coverage but comes with higher premiums.

Despite the high cost of living and healthcare, Bermuda remains an attractive destination for those seeking banking services and offshore entities, thanks to its low taxation and financial incentives

CONCLUSION

Bermuda offers a high-quality healthcare system regulated by the Bermuda Health Council and the Bermuda Hospitals Board. It provides excellent coverage for residents and expats. 

Expats who want to live in Bermuda may want to secure proper health insurance to ease the high cost of medical services. Note that some expenses need to be paid by the insured, as the insurance policies do not cover the full price of certain treatments like eye examinations.

Despite the exacerbated cost of living and healthcare, Bermuda is an enticing destination for expats looking for political stability, low taxation, and financial incentives. Perhaps it’s not the best place for full-time living, but it can be a good option for banking, offshore entities, and tax optimization – all while ensuring you are well taken care of in case of injury or disease.

All in all, in this article, you have discovered something that perhaps you didn’t know about Bermuda: its healthcare system. As a low-tax and business-friendly jurisdiction, Bermuda might be an excellent place for a Plan-B, offshore banking, and asset protection, but its medical services come with a hefty price tag.