The Lowdown on Healthcare & Health Insurance for Expats in Jakarta in 2026
Healthcare Briefing
Health Insurance Costs
Health Insurance Contacts
Hospitals
Tips and Information for Families
While Jakarta has the strongest healthcare infrastructure in Indonesia, healthcare quality across the city remains uneven. Indonesia operates a mixed public–private system, with just under 3,000 hospitals nationwide, and while the number of facilities has grown quickly, public hospitals remain under pressure. Unsurprisingly, for most expats, healthcare planning centres on private hospitals, backed by international health insurance to manage cost, access, and risk.
Average Health Insurance Costs in Popular Expat Countries
| Country |
Individual Annual Average Premium |
Family Annual Average Premium |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $15,296 | $34,152 |
| Hong Kong | $8,339 | $23,558 |
| Singapore | $6,855 | $19,879 |
| Dubai (UAE) | $5,896 | $17,760 |
| Switzerland | $5,532 | $15,359 |
| Mexico | $5,485 | $15,480 |
| South Korea | $5,226 | $14,660 |
| Costa Rica | $5,100 | $14,096 |
| Portugal | $4,638 | $12,828 |
| France | $4,213 | $11,587 |
| Netherlands | $4,071 | $11,196 |
| Poland | $3,900 | $10,710 |
| Thailand | $4,695 | $18,027 |
| Indonesia | $4,734 | $12,909 |
Figures represent indicative annual averages for comprehensive international health insurance plans. Actual premiums vary by age, coverage level, insurer, and geography.
Pondok Indah Hospital not far from The Independent School of Jakarta, malls, golf courses, and leafy neighbourhoods
The Practical Realities
Most expats rely on private hospitals and clinics for routine and specialist care, with these facilities offering comfortable facilities, cafes in lobbies, shorter waiting times, better diagnostics, and more predictable administration than public alternatives. However, even high-end private hospitals in Jakarta may not handle every complex condition locally. As a result, expats may plan for the possibility of treatment abroad, particularly in nearby Kuala Lumpur or Singapore.
Health Insurance Providers for Expats
William Russell
International health insurance with regional cover options and evacuation support.
william-russell.com
Sales: +44 1276 486 477
AXA Global Healthcare
International plans with virtual care services and evacuation components.
axaglobalhealthcare.com
24/7 Support: +44 (0)1892 503 856
Allianz Care
Global health insurance with broad network and claims support.
allianzcare.com
Contact: +353 1 514 8480
Cigna Global
Flexible international plans with modular outpatient and evacuation options.
Aetna International
Global health plans designed for expatriate populations.
aetnainternational.com
Contact: 1-800-231-7729
APRIL International
International policies with regional coverage options.
april-international.com
Asia contact: +62 3199 206854
Lifepal (Marketplace)
Indonesian marketplace comparing local and international plans.
lifepal.co.id
Support: +62 21 3076 2309
Provider names, contacts, and links were correct at publication. Verify directly before purchase.
Public healthcare and BPJS
Indonesia’s national health insurance system (BPJS / JKN) exists primarily for Indonesian citizens, with more wealthy locals opting into private care. Access for expats depends on visa status and employer arrangements, and even when access is possible, public facilities are often not well suited to foreign residents. Common issues include long queues, limited specialist availability, inconsistent clinical capacity, and a lack of English-speaking staff. For these reasons, public healthcare is rarely the first choice for expats in Jakarta.
Key Hospitals for Expats in Jakarta
Treatment outside Indonesia
For serious or highly specialised treatment, many expats choose to travel abroad. Singapore is often viewed as the regional benchmark for medical quality, but it is also one of the most expensive healthcare markets in the world. Malaysia, particularly Kuala Lumpur and Penang, is frequently chosen as a more cost-effective alternative with high clinical standards. Bangkok is another option, although pricing varies significantly by hospital. Insurance policies that fully include Singapore typically cost much more than those limited to Indonesia and Malaysia.
Medical evacuation
Medical evacuation is a core consideration for expats living in Indonesia. The country is an archipelago with thousands of inhabited islands, and emergency services are uneven. There is no fully integrated national ambulance system, and public ambulances are often poorly equipped. Good insurance policies cover air evacuation to Jakarta or to regional medical hubs such as Singapore or Malaysia, along with associated costs such as medical escorts and companion travel.
Health Insurance Options
For most the insurance decision is more about managing low-probability, high-impact events: hospital admission, major surgery, cancer treatment, or the need to leave Indonesia for care, rather than more minor outpatient care.
Local Indonesian health insurance is usually cheaper and can work for straightforward, Indonesia-based care. These policies are often tied to a fixed hospital network, apply relatively low annual or per-condition limits, and may require upfront payment outside approved providers. They rarely cover treatment outside Indonesia and often provide limited support in complex cases.
International health insurance premiums are higher, and the policies are designed to handle serious events rather than everyday medical costs. They typically offer higher benefit limits, clearer terms in English, regional or global treatment options, and medical evacuation if appropriate care is not available locally. For most, this is usually the decisive factor: not whether a GP visit is reimbursed, but whether a worst-case scenario is financially and logistically manageable.
Evaluating policy options
Inpatient hospital cover
Check the annual benefit limit and any per-condition or per-year caps.
Confirm that major private hospitals in Jakarta will accept the policy on a cashless or direct-billing basis.
Verify whether intensive care, surgery, and specialist fees are fully included or subject to sub-limits.
Care beyond Jakarta
Assess whether the policy covers medical evacuation when appropriate care is not available locally.
Review where treatment is permitted outside Indonesia (for example Malaysia, Thailand, or Singapore).
Understand the cost impact of including full treatment cover in Singapore, which significantly increases premiums but reduces uncertainty in serious cases.
Coverage structure and exclusions
Identify waiting periods for maternity, cancer treatment, and chronic conditions.
Review how pre-existing conditions are defined, excluded, or partially covered.
Check geographic coverage zones carefully, as they determine where the policy is valid and under what conditions.
Outpatient care and routine treatment
Decide whether outpatient care is included or better handled out-of-pocket.
If outpatient cover is included, confirm limits, co-payments, and whether direct billing is available.
Practical Usability
Check policy documentation and claims processes are clear and available in English.
Check claims timelines and whether reimbursement or pre-authorisation is required.
Confirm access to emergency assistance and support outside normal business hours.
A Few Extra Notes for Families
Once set up and settled in, healthcare is mostly straightforward. There are a few other things to be aware of. Probably top of the list is air quality, which can fluctuate, and children with asthma or allergies may notice this more than adults. Many families simply keep existing medication to hand and pay attention on days when pollution is heavier, much as they would in any large city.
As in most cities in Asia, tap water is not used for drinking or cooking. Bottled or filtered water is standard in homes and schools.
Of course the climate is warm and humid year-round, which changes how children pace themselves outdoors. Regular hydration, shaded play areas, and quieter periods during the hottest part of the day are normal features of school and family life.
Mosquito-borne illnesses, including dengue, are present, but exposure is generally managed through everyday measures such as repellents and covered skin in the evenings. Parents are usually advised to seek medical advice promptly if a child develops a persistent or unexplained fever.
Pharmacies are widespread and easy to use, although medication names often differ from those used elsewhere. Families with children on long-term prescriptions typically identify the generic equivalents early on and confirm how their insurance handles pharmacy costs, which avoids confusion later.
TDLR
As in other cities in Asia, the vast majority of expatriate families opt for international health insurance and rely on private hospitals located in Pondok Indah and other established, expat-friendly neighbourhoods. Within this context, access to care is generally straightforward. Appointments are easy to arrange, facilities are modern, and paediatric and family medicine services are well developed.
The overall healthcare experience is, for most, relatively convenient. English is widely spoken in major hospitals, billing processes are predictable when insurance is in place, and specialist care is readily available without prolonged waiting times.
Living in neighbourhoods close to recognised hospitals removes much of the uncertainty.
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