Belize insurance for nomads

Belize has a small public system anchored by Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) in Belize City, the main public referral hospital and the country's only trauma centre. Public care is basic and stretched, so nomads and expats almost always pay for private care instead. The two private hospitals to know, both in Belize City, are Belize Medical Associates and Belize Healthcare Partners; they are faster, better equipped, and where international patients are usually sent.

English is the official language, so it is rarely a barrier in a clinic or pharmacy. The emergency number is 911, though the line is police-run and can be slow or go unanswered, so it is worth saving direct numbers for a private ambulance such as BERT (the Belize Emergency Response Team, an NGO). Pharmacies are signed "farmacia" in towns, but Belize imports its medicines, so prices can be high and stock for specific drugs is not guaranteed. The reality nomads must plan for is evacuation: outside Belize City, and especially on islands like Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker, serious cases are first moved to Belize City and often flown onward to Miami, Houston or Mexico. The US State Department warns that serious injuries may require evacuation to another country, and an air ambulance to the US can cost around US$25,000, so evacuation cover is the single most important line in any policy here.

Tourists from the US, UK, Canada and Australia do not need a visa for short visits and are given a 30-day stamp on arrival. That can be extended in 30-day blocks at an immigration office, for a fee of about US$100 per month, up to six months. You need a passport valid for at least 30 days beyond your stay, proof of onward travel, and you must complete the online iDeclare form before arrival. Travel insurance is not required to enter Belize as a tourist, but given the evacuation reality it is strongly advisable.

To stay and work remotely for longer, Belize runs the "Work Where You Vacation" program, its version of a digital nomad visa, for people employed or earning outside Belize. The income threshold is US$75,000 a year for an individual or US$100,000 for a couple or family, and approval allows a stay of up to 180 days, renewable if you keep meeting the requirements. Unusually for the region, the official program names an insurance figure: applicants must carry a travel insurance policy with at least US$50,000 of coverage, alongside a notarised bank reference, a clean police record no older than six months, and an application fee (officially BZD$500 per adult). We break down the rules on the Belize digital nomad visa page.

• Evacuation, not just treatment. A serious accident on the cayes often means a flight to Belize City and then onward to the US or Mexico, so confirm your policy has high medical-evacuation and repatriation limits.
• Mosquito-borne disease. Dengue, Zika and chikungunya are all present and spread by day-biting Aedes mosquitoes; dengue activity ran high in 2025, so use repellent and screened rooms.
• Malaria in rural areas. The CDC notes malaria is a risk in some parts of Belize, mainly remote rural districts, so check whether prophylaxis applies to your itinerary.
• Crime in Belize City. Belize has one of the higher murder rates in the region; the south side of Belize City carries the most violent crime and is on every government's avoid list, while tourist areas like Placencia, Hopkins and the cayes are calmer.
• New World screwworm. This flesh-eating parasite re-emerged in Belize in late 2024, with the first human case confirmed in August 2025, so clean and cover any open wound promptly.