With a permanent population of about 55,000 people, it is not expected that the Cayman Islands will have great medical care, but you will be surprised at the medical services and facilities that are available.
Not only are there both public and private hospitals available, but there are also specialists medical doctors for a wide range of medical conditions that are able to assist people living on the Cayman Islands. In addition, there are also airlift facilities available for emergencies and other medical needs beyond what is available on the Cayman Islands, should the need arise.
Introduction to health care on the Cayman Islands
In addition to the general medical facilities, the Cayman Islands provides listing of doctors in almost every field of medical care and there are even dentists, orthodontists and alternative medicine professionals that can provide medical consultation and services.
In addition, the Cayman Islands has a listing of several pharmacies that are equipped to provide for all the medical needs of the island. All medical professionals are required to be registered by the Caymanian government and it is always possible to check their licenses before making an appointment. The Cayman Islands also has regular visiting specialists that provide their services to the different hospitals there.
Hospitals on the Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands have two government hospitals that are fully equipped with the necessary medical facilities. The government facility is known as the George Town Hospital and includes dental facilities as well. The primary health care provide on Grand Cayman is the 124-bed Cayman Island’s Hospital. On Cayman Brac there is the Faith Hospital and on Little Cayman, the Little Cayman Clinic. All these institutions provide up-to-date health care facilities.
There is also a 24-hour private hospital – the 18-bed Chrissie Tomlinson Memorial Hospital that has the best medical facilities on the islands.
Separately, there are also other related organization such as the Cayman Islands Red Cross as well as the Cayman Against Substance Abuse and Alcoholics Anonymous.
Health insurance
It is important to note however that medical care on the island can be expensive. If you do not already have medical insurance, it is advisable to get medical and hospitalization insurance before you call the island your home. It is also useful to remember that health insurance is a compulsory requirement on the Cayman Islands.
If you are an expatriate worker on the island, you will need to consult your employer about whether medical insurance is a part of your benefits package, and if your family is living with you, whether they are covered by the package as well. The general rule on the Cayman Islands is that the employer can deduct up to 50 percent of the cost of employee health insurance, and 100 percent of the cost of employee dependant health insurance from the wage package offered therefore the details of this are very important.
If you are planning to purchase your own medical and health insurance, do consider the scope of coverage that you are interested in. There are packages available that include dental and optical care as well as pharmaceuticals and this may be a viable solution, if you tend to get ill easily.
When purchasing health insurance, the insurers will review the premiums based on age, any pre-existing medical conditions as well as the specifics of what you want covered. Alternatively if you already have a health insurance package from your country of origin, you will want to explore whether this can be extended to the Cayman Islands or whether you can convert the package into a global one, that will cover your stay on the islands as well.
When you are seeking medical attention, it is always advisable to check with the medical professionals about the ballpark cost of the medical treatment required and to then check with your insurers whether this falls within the coverage.
Conclusion
The best advice that can be provided about ensuring the highest levels of health care on the islands is to make sure that your health insurance is current and that you have signed up for a comprehensive package of care, particularly if you are planning to live with your family on the Cayman Islands.