Oman Health Insurance

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The Sultanate of Oman is the third largest country along the Arabian Peninsula after Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Oman occupies the Southeastern corner of the Arabian Peninsula overlooking the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and the Strait of Hormuz, which links the Gulf to the Indian Ocean. Oman has traditionally controlled the Strait of Hormuz where over 90% of the Persian Gulf's oil is shipped to the whole world. More than 15 tankers carrying 17 million barrels of crude oil passes through this narrow opening each day.

The earliest Stone Age settlement discovered in Oman dates back more than 10,000 years. Arabs migrated to Oman from the 9th century B.C. and the Omanis were one of the first people to convert to Islam voluntarily during the 7th century A.D. Historically Omanis were seafarers and traders who dominated regional commodity trading in the Indian Ocean, East Africa and the Arabian Gulf. You can visit museums in Oman that have replicas of various sail-ships that were used in the 3rd century B.C. there are several kinds of ships such as: the Boom which is for short distance travel, Baglah for long range, Ganjah, and the Bedan, used for long range sailing..

Throughout its history Oman was faced with internal conflicts. For a long time Arab ethnic Omanis controlled the mountainous interior while wealthy Omanis, with many foreign influences that had a modern outlook on life, controlled the coastal regions. This historical split between the coast and the interior continued until Sultan Said bin Taimur brought an end to the struggles. He united the country and brought peace, but the country became increasingly conservative and isolated. When Oman found oil with the help of the English, the new revenues started to enrich the country. However, when the country did not show any signs of improvement, despite the new source of money, there began to be some widespread dissatisfaction among the people of Oman. This spurred Sultan Qaboos bin Sa'id to assume power by directing a palace coup against his conservative and strict ruling father Sa'id bin Taymur in 1970.

The new sultan abolished many of his father’s restrictive rules and regulations. Sultan Qaboos bin Sa’id created a stable government that has maintained close ties to the United States and Europe (particularly England). Oman was one of only three Arab states not to break diplomatic relations with Cairo for recognizing Israel. Oman took no side in the Iran-Iraq War and participated in the UN liberation of Kuwait effort after Iraq invaded. Oman also granted the United States military access to land in Oman for refueling and supplies. Also in 2006, Oman and the U.S. signed a free-trade deal.

Oman started to improve its relations with its neighboring countries and has reached out to the world for information, trading, and for skilled workers. Sultan Qaboos has helped his country to become a relatively open society that is more open minded to outside influences than any other country located along the Persian Gulf.

Oman is distinctly Arab and will offer the visitor a glimpse of many unique old world wonders along side many modern buildings and hotel resorts. The country has managed to bring itself into the 21st century without obliterating its heritage, a perfect blend of old and new. Regardless of Oman's relatively small geographic size, this country will provide you an enjoyable, well rounded travel experience.

While traveling abroad can be equal parts exciting and aggravating, it is important for expatriates and travelers to know where quality medical treatment is available during your journeys. At Globalsurance we can offer you a variety of individualized international health insurance plans to you and your family in Oman. In many cases we at Globalsurance will be able to cater to your specific requirements. Plans that we offer in Oman will give the peace-of-mind you require while overseas. To speak to an advisor about our international health insurance in Oman policies that we can offer, or to receive a free quote, contact us today.

Modern Nation In an Ancient Land

Oman has been inhabited for an estimated 2,600 years and the original residents were primarily traders, herders, and nomads. Today however, Oman is home to approximately 3.09 million individuals, though the fact that over 577,000 of them are registered expatriate non-nationals (2012 estimate) living in the country for employment is telling of the country's wealth due to oil exports and its high average standard of living for citizens.

Oman is a country of contrasts. The majority of Oman is uninhabited desert and the natural water sources that supported it and made life possible for centuries past are now the pivotal hubs around which it's modern cities have flourished. A hundred years ago, buildings were entirely made by hand from materials available locally, but now glass and steel structures rise skyward and house luxury shopping malls, high-end hotels, and western-style restaurants.

This does not mean that Oman has forgotten its past or lost its soul however, since just a short trek outside of any urban center will reward you with vast rugged landscapes that are virtually devoid of inhabitants and almost endless stretches of empty beaches, and because Oman is one of the most stable and peaceful Arab nations, these types of experiences are hoped to draw increased tourism to the country.

Oman Health Insurance

Flexible Coverage For Every Need

Oman is an exceptional country to experience Arab culture and tradition and the Middle Eastern landscape, since it well-developed, safe, and welcoming and yet still maintains the feel of a country with a proud and distinct history, plus when compared to other developed nations in the region it is far less crowded and much more affordable on a daily basis.

Still, it is important to make sure that you are prepared when you travel to Oman, whether short-term for tourism or as a long-term expatriate relocating for work, since health issues can arise at unexpectedly at anytime. One of the best ways to do this is my protecting yourself with a comprehensive Oman medical insurance policy.

GlobalSurance covers travelers, tourists, expats, and residents of Oman and we offer hundreds of health insurance coverage plans with benefit options to make sure that you are able to get exactly the coverage you need. Some of our most popular coverage types are:

We offer plans to suit you. We can meet your needs for: your planned length of stay and requirements for multi-country or globally accepted coverage, and since we have so many Oman health insurance plans to choose from there is an option for any budget.

Who Is GlobalSurance?

GlobalSurance is not an insurance company. We want this point to be completely clear, we are much more than that. We are an insurance broker.

As a broker, we have the freedom to work with any insurance provider we choose, and presently we are able to offer coverage from over two dozen of the most well-known, trusted, and noteworthy insurers in the world.
Being a broker also means that GlobalSurance works for you, our customer. While we certainly enjoy excellent relationships with all of our insurer partners, it is your freedom to choose that makes brokerage so powerful because insurers are forced to compete with one another by offering low rates for high quality insurance coverage products.

GlobalSurance has the ability to offer you almost endless choices for coverage from any of our insurers and then let you decide what is the perfect Oman medical insurance policy for your needs and circumstances.

Because we represent such a large customer base we are given incredible discounts on the coverage that you can select from our insurers. These discounts are passed on to our customers, so you get exactly the same coverage, customer care, and policy benefits as you would by purchasing directly from the insurer of your choice, but at a substantial financial savings compared to buying your coverage from the insurer directly.

The advantages are clear: unparalleled selection, freedom of choice, exceptional coverage, and incredible savings.

Contact GlobalSurance

At GlobalSurance we want you to make the health insurance coverage decision that suits you best. To this end we have expert advisers on staff to answer your questions about Oman as a country, assist you with your health concerns, and even compare your insurance coverage options side-by-side between multiple insurers so you can select the plan that is perfect for your needs. Plus, our advisers are fluent in over 20 major languages so we can help you no matter what you prefer to speak.

Health insurance should not be difficult or stressful. We present the facts and let you decide. To get a free health insurance quote, or contact us to talk to an adviser directly or by email, and as always your information and correspondence will be kept completely private and confidential.

Oman Health Insurance - Healthcare News

Sultan Said bin Taimur inherited the powerful and wealthy Omani Empire in 1932. While suppressing frequent internal political and religious struggles in the Western desert regions, the sultan kept the country in a state similar to a medieval feudal society, actively shunning the development seen elsewhere in the twentieth century. Even after the discovery of oil reserves that brought vast amount of revenues into the country, the sultan refused to modernize and continued to rule the country erratically. This led Oman to become financially and politically isolated, while Oman's neighbors such as: Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait were establishing desirable welfare states with elaborate modern patterns needed for international trade. Oman continued to deteriorate until 1970, when Qaboos bin Sa'id, after spending years under house arrest due to his father’s paranoia, assumed power with the overthrow of his oppressive father Sultan Sa'id bin Taimur. The new sultan moved Oman from a poor underdeveloped country toward becoming not only a modern nation, but a thriving nation that is open and healthy.

Before 1970 when the Sultan Sa'id bin Taymur was in control the healthcare system throughout Oman was inadequate and in many regions almost nonexistent. There was no healthcare agency responsible for the general health of the country, and no organized healthcare infrastructure to provide access to services. Life expectancy for Omanis was extremely low at 48 years old. There was a high rate of morbidity due to communicable diseases throughout the country especially in the Dhofar region. Infant mortality rates were at 118 deaths per 1,000 live births, an incredibly high level. Childhood diseases were rampant such as Hookworm and Brucellosis. Acute infantile paralysis (Polio), Tetanus, Diphtheria, Measles (German measles), Mumps, Pertussis, Pulmonary Tuberculosis, and Malaria were prevalent throughout the country. There were not enough doctors and nurses in the country especially in outside of major cities. Most of the doctors and nurses were expatriates because there were no medical schools within Oman. Under Sa'id bin Taymur’s rule, the country had only one hospital with a total of 12 beds, which was run by the United States, and nine medical centers that were located only in the coastal region.

After 1970, once Sultan Qaboos bin Sa'id took over, Oman started to implement healthcare schemes which made incredible improvements to the healthcare system and to the general health of the population in a relatively short time. The sultan proclaimed that healthcare will be provided free of charge to every Omani citizen. At the time there was only 3km of asphalted roads which made camels and donkeys the only means of transportation across much of the country, so the sultan started to build roads in order to make access to healthcare easier throughout the country. Most of the country did not have electricity or running water. When Sultan Qaboos took over he oversaw the rollout of electricity, water and proper sanitation infrastructure in every region of the country.

The beginning of Oman's modern healthcare system was the establishment of the Ministry of Health (MOH). The Ministry of Health became the agency that was in charge for financing, coordinating, and managing all the hospitals and medical centers throughout Oman. In the 1970's there were hardly any healthcare professionals. Oman's healthcare system had only 13 physicians and a few nurses and these few were only in the major cities. The physician to population ratio was only two physicians per 100,000 people. Even in 1980, there were only 514 physicians and 1096 nurses (5.1 physicians per 10,000 people).

The goal of the Ministry of Health was to improve the healthcare system and provide the adequate treatment to the whole population by ensuring the easy access to quality medical treatment throughout Oman. But Oman at that moment did not have enough medical doctors, nurses, and staff necessary to operate or provide medical treatment to the entire country (there were less than 100 people working in the health sector with only 13 doctors). So Oman started to develop its educational infrastructure to produce the sufficient medical workforce needed in order to meet the healthcare demands. The country's educational infrastructure grew substantially within only a few years. In 1982, the Ministry of Health started an educational science institute to teach medicine and run a medical laboratory. The Ministry also set up new institutes for education in other related professions such as public health education, pharmacology and medical record technology. Regional nursing institutes were set up all over the country to ensure proportional opportunities for admission to students all across the country. An Institute of specialized nursing was built in Muscat to serve as the main center for nursing education. It also initiated specialized training in midwifery in Muscat and a few regional capitals. By 1986 there were 20 public tertiary education institutions in Oman, including technical colleges, teacher training colleges, and health institutes. There were also a total of three private universities and 20 private secondary institutions built. The private Oman Medical College (OMC) was established in 2001 that had the permission to work with some of the public regional hospitals for clinical instruction and practice.

With the focus on education and the building of medical schools the healthcare infrastructure has become an extensive government run healthcare system. The physician population ratio grew to 18 physicians per 10,000 people in 2007. There were over 3,459 physicians throughout the country. The nurse population grew even quicker with 38 nurses per 10,000 people and a total of 8,143 nurses working in the healthcare system. With the increased funding from the government into its healthcare system, the public sector has become the dominant health provider in Oman. Over 80% of the total healthcare expenditure is from government into the public sector. Close to 90% of the doctors and nurses are employed by the government. The government runs 93.1% of hospitals and 97.6% of hospital beds. The public sector consists of: hospitals, maternity facilities, medical clinics, pharmacies, and medical teaching universities. There are 49 public and 9 private hospitals in Oman. The private sector has been generally small and limited to only the major cities (Northeast region of the country). Physicians employed in the public sector do work as part time consultants in the private health sector during their off duty hours, with the approval of the Government.

Once the education centers, funding and the building of medical facilities were in place there were great strides forward in improving the health of the country's population. Over 90% of the population has access to healthcare. Infant mortality rates have fallen from 118 deaths per 1,000 live births during the 1970's to 16 deaths per 1,000 as of mid 2009. Mortality rates of children under 5 years of age have dropped from 181 deaths down to 11 deaths in 2009. Omanis are living longer, with a life expectancy nearly comparable to European countries. Overall life expectancy has risen from 49.3 years in the1970's to 74.16 years in 2009. The installation of proper sanitation and access to clean water throughout the country has improved the living conditions. This has prevented and controlled the rate of communicable diseases in Oman.

Oman has shown a remarkable success in reducing the rates of various vaccine preventable diseases to the extent that some have been eradicated (Polio and Diphtheria have not been reported in the country since 1990). Starting in 1976, there have been numerous immunization programs that were based on prevention rather then treatment. In 2002, the Omani healthcare system initiated an extensive child immunization program against: Polio, Diphtheria, Whooping Cough, Tetanus, Measles, Hepatitis, Mumps, and other diseases. Improvements to the health of Oman’s population have caused an epidemiological change in the diseases now being experienced in the country. Communicable diseases have declined to low levels and now non-communicable diseases constitute 54.5% of outpatient morbidity and 40.8% of inpatient morbidity. Cardiovascular diseases accounted for 63 per 10,000 people and are the main cause of hospital deaths. Cardiovascular diseases have accounted for 34.5% of all hospital deaths, followed by cancer with 13.2% of all hospital deaths (cancer cases among inpatients accounted for 9 out of every 10,000 patients). The prevalence of hypertension has increased among the population over the age of 20 and type 2 diabetes has risen to over 12% of the population since 2000, particularly among the major cities.

Although the healthcare system has greatly improved in Oman the infant mortality rate still remains high. This can be attributed to both the lack of access to the healthcare facilities in rural regions and to the local social custom of marrying close relatives that have caused many babies to be born with congenital abnormalities (24.1% of marriages were between first cousins and 11.8% of marriages were between second cousins. Another issue with the healthcare system is that the amount of money going into the system is insufficient and will be tested in the near future. In 2005, Oman spent 2.8% of its GDP on healthcare and USD$340 per capita which is far below that of other countries worldwide that have comparable national income levels. Over the next 25 years, the elderly population of Oman will increase and the rates of non-communicable diseases such as: Cardiovascular diseases, Cancer, Diabetes, High blood pressure and Obesity will be on the rise.

The healthcare in Oman has greatly improved since the 1970's and medical treatment is offered free to all its citizens. Expatriates and travelers working or visiting the country will not be offered free medical treatment and most likely will have to pay upfront before service is rendered. Most of the hospitals in Oman are publicly run and will not be to the standards of developed nations. Treatment in private hospitals and clinics is highly recommended for adequate medical treatment but will be quite expensive. Coverage in rural areas still remains limited and will typically only be able to provide immediate emergency services and will not be able to provide any long term care. It is therefore highly recommended to have a comprehensive insurance plan.

It is important to know that you and your family will be covered in the case of a medical emergency while you are in Oman. An expat health insurance policy can help ensure the continual protection of the health and finances of your loved ones. Whether you are traveling or an expat employee in Oman, appropriate health insurance can offer you some of the most extensive medical insurance coverage available. For more information about Oman, our health insurance policies, or to receive a free health insurance quote, please contact our dedicated advisors today.

Oman Health Insurance

Globalsurance is an independent international health insurance advisor. We offer free quotations and advice to clients in Oman. As Global Health Insurance brokers we have expert knowledge on the full range of medical plans available and can select and advise you on the best plan. We are experts on expatriate health insurance plans and can find the right plan for you.

Globalsurance focuses on delivering the right protection and professional customer service and claim support, we represent our client's interest.