Health Insurance in Iran, Asia

Information expatriation

Capital City: Tehran
Total area: 1,648,200 km2
Population: 71,208,000
Money: Currency Converter
Time Zone: List of time Zones by Country
Calling Code: +98 XXX

Practical In​formation:

Wikipedia Iran

Health Product: Travel Insurance and Health insurance
Health Insurance information and Sanitary Risk: World Health Map
BLOG: Expat Health insurance Information

Here is a brief description of the healthcare system in the country:

·      Iran has a universal healthcare network called medical services insurance organization that aims to provide coverage for all citizens.

·      It's a mixed public-private system where public services are available for free or low cost but underfunded and overburdened.

·      Primary care is provided through rural health houses, urban health centers and network family physicians.

·      Secondary and tertiary hospitals are operated by universities, social security organizations, private entities and charity foundations.

·      Around 60% use public system but quality concerns push many to pay out of pocket for private providers and hospitals.

·      Healthcare spending accounts for around 7% of GDP but allocation of funds is unequal between urban and rural centers.

·      Modern medical education and diagnostic technologies coexist with older infrastructure in many areas.

·      Iran faces challenges of healthcare access and quality disparities between socioeconomic groups and regions.

Here are some key health considerations for expatriates living in the country:

·      Purchase comprehensive international medical evacuation insurance before arrival. Do not solely rely on public system.

·      Major cities have private facilities meeting international standards preferred by expats over public options.

·      Ensure insurance has nationwide coverage as quality drops off severely outside largest urban centers.

·      Bring needed long-term medications rather than relying on local availability/quality.

·      Learn basic medical Persian phrases, but English ability varies - consider translator if traveling remotely.

·      Strictly follow food/water safety protocols given gastrointestinal illness risk.

·      Monitor air pollution advisories in major cities and road travel safety given infrastructure issues.

·      Have emergency evacuation plans in place through registered hospitals familiar with expat needs.

·      Certain elective procedures may require private facilities due to public system constraints.

·      Consider telemedicine/online mental health resources with limited local support options.