International health insurance for expats in the US Virgin Islands

The US Virgin Islands, particularly St Thomas and St Croix, attract many expats. However, moving there requires planning for a number of factors, including health cover.

Private international health insurance is generally the top choice for expats, as it offers cover valid worldwide and helps to cover the often high medical costs in the archipelago’s private healthcare sector.

If you’re considering moving to the US Virgin Islands, this guide helps you understand the local healthcare system and choose the right health insurance.

Understanding the healthcare system in the US Virgin Islands

As a reminder, the US Virgin Islands, officially known as the United States Virgin Islands, are an unincorporated territory of the United States. This means that residents are US citizens, but the territory enjoys a degree of autonomy.

As such, the healthcare system is based on a hybrid model, similar to that of the United States, which combines the public and private sectors. In theory, public healthcare is free or covered by a co-payment for both locals and expats. However, the public sector is underfunded, leading to inadequate infrastructure, ageing facilities and a shortage of qualified staff.

In practice, those who use the public system are often the most disadvantaged, whilst expatriates mostly turn to the private sector, which offers faster service and better medical care.

Where can you seek treatment?

There are only two hospitals on the archipelago, both of which are public:

• The Juan F. Louis Government Hospital on the island of St Croix
• The Roy Lester Schneider Hospital on the island of St Thomas

They provide adequate primary care, but may occasionally face shortages of supplies. In the case of complex conditions or treatments, evacuation to a US city or to Puerto Rico is often necessary. In this hybrid model, the level of care also depends on the health insurance scheme applicable in the destination country and the expatriate’s circumstances.

The private sector, meanwhile, consists of clinics and medical centres, mainly located on St Thomas and St Croix, which provide a degree of reassurance when organising healthcare abroad and offering prompt assistance in the event of a medical emergency or accident whilst travelling:

– On Saint-Thomas:

• CariCare Family Health Services
• Red Hook Family Practice

– On Sainte-Croix:

• Plessen Healthcare
• ProHealth VI
• Primary Care St. Croix

In the most sensitive cases, many expatriates turn to the private sector, as expat health insurance is often necessary to ensure access to healthcare.

This type of cover is primarily intended for people living permanently outside Europe (typically for more than 9 months) and provides support to ensure a better experience.

Medical treatment can cost up to 10 times more than in Europe, which highlights the value of international health insurance that covers costs from the very first euro.

The role of health insurance

Health insurance is not compulsory in the US Virgin Islands, but it’s strongly recommended, given the sometimes very high cost of healthcare. 

These rates are linked to the US healthcare system, as well as to import costs (medicines, medical equipment, electricity), which drive up prices – both for the treatment itself and for doctors’ fees.

Here are the average prices charged:

The figures shown are for guidance only.

What health cover should expats choose in the US Virgin Islands?

International private health insurance is not always compulsory, but it is strongly recommended because, depending on the destination, healthcare costs can quickly become very high for an expat living abroad. It covers medical expenses, provides worldwide cover and gives access to tailored services, such as medical evacuation to another country.

To choose a policy suited to your needs, pay attention to:

• The scope of cover
• The network of healthcare providers included
• The reimbursement limit
• Whether medical evacuation and/or repatriation are included

Depending on the length of your stay and your country, healthcare costs can vary significantly; medical treatment can be up to 10 times more expensive than in Europe.

Before making a decision, be sure to compare expat health insurance carefully with travel insurance, as the cover provided by a bank card or the European Health Insurance Card is rarely sufficient for a long-term move or an extended stay in your destination country.

Global Health: the leading provider of international health insurance for expats

Global Health was founded on a simple observation: people who choose an international lifestyle (expats, digital nomads and globetrotters) have specific health cover needs.

That’s why our team – made up of expats themselves – has developed personalised health plans to offer international cover tailored to your needs. With us, you benefit from:

• Five fully customisable plans
• Online consultations and a second medical opinion
• Cover valid in the US Virgin Islands, in your home country and worldwide
• Assistance available in several languages 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• A local centre of expertise to guide you towards the right healthcare professionals and facilities
• A repatriation option in the event of a medical emergency
• Wellbeing programmes, including fitness and mental health support, to help you better manage the pressures of living abroad

Useful contacts to keep to hand

In the event of an emergency, if you have any questions or require further information on a specific matter, here are some telephone numbers that may prove very useful:

• 911: in the event of an emergency (ambulance or police)
• 340 772 0357: assistance in St Croix
• 340 774 8784: assistance in St Thomas
• 340 776 6450: assistance in St John