Expats in Bali Can Access Indonesian Social Healthcare

The National Health Insurance Service of the Health Welfare Agency (JKN BPJS) in Bali reminds expats that they are entitled to many free or subsidized public healthcare services, just like Indonesian citizens.

BPJS is not a service available to tourists or travelers, but that does not stop non-residents from accessing the province’s new world-class healthcare facilities.

Speaking to reporters, BPJS Singaraja Branch Manager Joyce Karman Nike Palupi confirmed that BPJS Kesehatan can provide services to foreigners in accordance with current laws and regulations. Foreigners are eligible to receive services provided they meet certain requirements.

Palupi told reporters: “You must have lived in Indonesia for at least the past 6 months, have an official residence permit, and be an employee or investor. There must be a legal entity that supervises or acts as the service provider.” Hundreds of expats and foreign workers in Buleleng are eligible for Indonesia’s BPJS social security system, with many of them actively signing up for Class 1 and Class 2 health insurance in a variety of industries including tourism and hospitality. As Palupi noted, the appeal of the BPJS program for foreigners is its relatively low premiums and easy access to specialist doctors. However, it is worth noting that access to certain BPJS services is only available to those residing in Bali on KITAP or KITAS visas.

However, for all visitors to the island, a significant new feature is access to modern, world-class medical facilities such as the Bali International Hospital in Sanur. Sanur, Bali's largest tourist resort, has undergone significant changes over the past five years and now officially operates as a Special Economic Zone focused on health, recreation and medical tourism, expanding the range of services available to both residents and visitors.

Wonderful Indonesia, the Indonesian Tourism Board, actively promotes the strategic importance of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) as areas with special rules designed to attract investment and promote economic growth. Among these, the Sanur SEZ is Indonesia’s first health and wellness zone, which uniquely combines world-class medical care with centuries-old Balinese healing traditions. Visitors to the zone will find themselves in a 4.9-hectare ethnobotanical garden, where secluded yoga areas, vast open spaces and sacred melukat ritual sites are harmoniously located in the heart of nature. This holistic approach promises not just restoration, but a journey of transformation. The centerpiece of the Sanur SEZ is the Bali International Hospital, which is now fully open and operational. Its arrival is set to establish Bali as a leading global medical tourism destination, offering patients a high-quality alternative to seeking medical care in traditional hubs such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong. Sanur, Bali is actively positioning itself as a leading medical tourism destination, offering patients access to cutting-edge healthcare in a resort-like setting. The newly opened hospital complex offers a wide range of specialist departments, including cardiology, oncology, neurology, gastroenterology, orthopaedics, stem cell therapy, aesthetic surgery, fertility treatment, ophthalmology and geriatrics. In the coming months, the Sanur Special Economic Zone will also expand to include dozens of private specialist clinics, covering everything from reproductive health to cosmetic procedures.

A key differentiator between Sanur and the Bali International Hospital from other global medical tourism hubs is the unique opportunity for patients to combine treatment with relaxation: tourists can recover, relax or prepare for treatment while staying in Sanur, just steps away from their hospital rooms. This concept is reinforced by the presence of a 5-star resort complex, featuring The Meru Sanur and the Bali Beach Hotel, the tallest hotel in Bali.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, at the opening of the Bali International Hospital, stressed that the special economic zone is the country's "first breakthrough" in creating world-class medical services, noting that the hospital, with its marble floors and ambience, is more like a hotel, demonstrating Indonesia's commitment to providing the best.