Health Insurance For Expats In North Macedonia

The Best Health Insurance For Expatriates Living In North Macedonia

Posted by Greg Jones on January 24, 2020

If you've searched the web for private health insurance that covers expats in North Macedonia then you are most likely for looking for trusted UK based health insurance providers that can cover your medical expenses in North Macedonia.

Living as an expatriate in North Macedonia you want to avoid any nasty unexpected health care costs. In some countries these can amount to hundreds of thousands of pounds for very serious conditions.

Our advice when shopping around for private medical cover that covers expatriates living in North Macedonia is to speak to a insurance broker. Health insurance is incredibly complex and if you want absolute certainty that North Macedonia is covered by your policy you should talk with a health insurance broker who can explain which policy providers will cover medical costs for expatriates in North Macedonia and which will not.

There are many advantages to using a broker but the biggest by far is that you're using their industry experience at no cost. They are paid by the insurer (Aviva or Bupa etc) rather than by you so it costs you no extra to use their brokering services.

  • Do you live in many different postcodes? Some will give you a lower premium than offers. A broker will be able to advise whats best.
  • Do you have a hobby that may invalidate your insurance claim? A broker will know this critical information.
  • If you are a couple and one of you has claimed on your policy this year would it be cheaper to separate you both onto two different policies?
  • You've lean't you're at risk of developing a certain condition and want to know which policy provider offers the largest amount of cover for it. A broker will know this instantly saving you huge amounts of time and effort.

You can call around every health insurance provider you can find and ask if they provider cover for expats in North Macedonia, however this will be a very time consuming process. Each insurer will ask for your medical history because its not normally a simple yes or not if a medical condition is covered or not.

Its much quicker to speak to one health insurance broker which will know which policy providers on the market offer cover for expats in North Macedonia and under what conditions they do or don't cover it.

North Macedonia Information

North Macedonia experiences a regular increase of visitors. The number of domestic tourists in the period from January to March 2008 compared to the same period of the previous year, increased 23.5%. While the number of foreign tourists in March 2008 compared to March 2007 increased 44.7%. In 2007, Lake Ohrid had received about 250,000 domestic and foreign tourists.

The number of foreign tourists visiting Macedonia between the months of January and July increased by 25% in 2011 compared to the same period in 2010. The average number of nights spent in the country by these tourists also rose, by 33.2%.

The region receiving the most tourist arrivals in 2012 was the Southwest with 251,462, followed by the Skopje (164,077) and the Southeastern (106,978) regions. The Pelagonia region received 72,054 arrivals, while the remaining regions each received under 30,000.

Among foreign tourists in 2012, the most common country of origin was Turkey with 50,406 arrivals, followed by Greece with 43,976 and Serbia with 36,530. The most common non-Balkan country of origin was the Netherlands with over 27,000 tourist arrivals. In 2019, the most common country of origin was Turkey with 112,472 arrivals, followed by Serbia (59,568), Greece (57,578) and Bulgaria (55,862), the most common non-Balkan country of origin being Poland with 35,681 tourist arrivals.

Skopje, the capital and largest city, is situated in the northern part of the country on the Vardar River. Skopje has a long history that is evidenced by its many archaeological sites, such as Scupi and the Skopje Aqueduct, and the large number of Ottoman buildings and monuments, particularly in the Old Bazaar, such as Mustapha Pasha Mosque. Today, Skopje, with over 500,000 inhabitants, is becoming a modern city with museums and many cultural and sporting events.

Ohrid, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located in the southwestern part of the country on the eastern shore of Lake Ohrid. The town is perhaps the most popular tourist destination in the country, which is largely due to the beaches and atmosphere. However, Ohrid also has many historical monuments, such as Samuil's Fortress and the Antique Theatre, Church of St. Panteleimon, Church of St. Sophia, Church of St. John at Kaneo, Monastery of Saint Naum, Robevi family house & Plaošnik. There is also a number of beautiful fishing & mountain villages along the coastline which include Trpejca, Pestani, Elsani & Ljubanista.

Bitola, the country's second largest city with a population of about 100,000, is situated in the southern part of the country. Like many cities in the country, Bitola has also had a rich history. Heraclea Lyncestis, one of North Macedonia's largest archaeological sites, is located in Bitola. The long history of Bitola is also exemplified by the town's many neo-classical buildings, Ottoman buildings and monuments such as the Jeni Mosque, and old churches. The town is also a shopping destination; Širok Sokak, a pedestrian street, is filled with an endless number of stores and restaurants which go through to Magnolia Square. There is a small Ski resort about 12 km from the city centre situated on Baba Mountain which is also a great hiking mecca during the summer months between May & September.