It is not a single step to go to Congo. It is normally two quite opposite possibilities. The first one is the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) where the capital is Kinshasa, and the distances between it and other regions are enormous, and the second one is the Republic of Congo where Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire are the most frequent destinations of internationalists.
In any case, the reasoning behind insurance is comparable. It is not where one gets a low priced student policy and just wishes everything will work out. It consists of creating a roadmap that will be able to accommodate constrained local capacity, advance payment conditions, and the quite possible fact that optimal care in the face of a serious condition will be out of the country.
This guide is specifically aimed at family cover of an international student intending to include a spouse and children as dependants. It stays practical. It also stays realistic.
Why Congo changes the rules of student health cover
Student health insurance is standardized in most study destinations. This is a typical case of Australia: Overseas Student Health cover (OSHC) has to be taken by international students throughout their stay.
Congo is not organized in such a way. You are normally motivated by your university or your scholarship sponsor or a host organization than by any single model of national student insurance. The first thing that you need to establish then is what documentation your institution desires (policy certificate, benefit schedule, evacuation wording, dependants listed, etc.). That is when you select the product that works in your place.Healthcare access is now the larger cause of Congo changing the rules.
The various travel warnings issued by the government repeatedly point out that there is a shortage in medical facilities and that in case of severe disease or injury, medical evacuation might be required. The Smartraveller in Australia says that all facilities in the Republic of Congo are limited and that outside of Kinshasa, facilities are very basic and evacuation may be necessary, specifically warning that there is a very limited response to emergency treatment.Australian travel advice on the Republic of Congo also factors in the fact that outside of Kinshasa facilities are limited, and that evacuation may be required, specifically warning that there is limited response to emergency-related treatment.
That is the foundation. And it results in a single strategy.You purchase evacuation ability first, and all the rest second in Congo.It sounds dramatic. It also is what expat and NGOs silently do.
Student plans vs expat plans: which one actually fits?
You’ll see two broad categories marketed to students with families:
Option A: International “student” plans
These are made to suit students who are not studying in their home country, and with some add-ons which are dependent. They may be superb to the extent that they coincide with your country of residence and your risk profile.
But here is the catch. Other student policies are designed primarily to encompass either North America or Europe, and will not necessarily admit DRC / Republic of Congo as the country of residence, or limit benefits, networks, or claims management in higher-risk destinations.
So you can not suppose that student plan suitable in Congo.You have to verify in writing country eligibility.
Option B: Expat-style international health insurance (often called IPMI)
These are long-stay international health plans designed for people living abroad for months or years. Many families in Congo end up here because these plans more consistently offer:
- higher inpatient limits
- stronger medical evacuation and repatriation
- broader provider networks (or at least clearer out-of-network rules)
- family policy structures that list spouse and children as dependants
Allianz, for example, describes its international healthcare plans as including cover across inpatient/day-care and maternity treatments, and specifically includes evacuations and repatriations (with optional add-ons like outpatient and dental).
In practice, if your student plan cannot treat Congo as the “country of residence,” an expat plan is usually the cleaner solution.
The coverage features that matter most in Congo
You can absolutely customize. But do not customize blindly.Below are the features that consistently make a difference for student families living in DRC or the Republic of Congo.
A) Emergency medical evacuation and repatriation
This is the non-negotiable.Medical evacuation insurance is meant to cover transportation to the nearest appropriate medical center when necessary treatment is not available locally, and it may involve air ambulance, commercial flights, or vehicles depending on medical need.Allianz also explains the basic principle clearly: if the required treatment is not available locally, evacuation and repatriation cover helps pay for the travel and transfer to a suitable facility.
What to check (actionable):
- Do you have a high or unlimited evacuation limit, or a realistic cap (not a token amount)?
- Is evacuation limited to “nearest center of medical excellence,” or can it be your home country?
- Does the insurer require pre-authorization except in extreme emergencies?
- Is newborn evacuation covered if a baby is added mid-term?
Brokers commonly warn that evacuation costs incurred without prior knowledge and written approval may be excluded under many policies. Translation: save the insurer’s emergency number in your phone and your partner’s phone, and call early.
B) Inpatient, surgery, ICU, and diagnostics
This is where large bills happen quickly. It is also where weak policies collapse.
Your inpatient limit should be high enough to support:
- emergency stabilization locally (private clinic or hospital)
- diagnostic workups
- surgery or ICU if required
- transfer to another country if needed
If you are choosing between “low inpatient + nice outpatient” versus “high inpatient + strong evacuation,” Congo usually favors the second choice.
C) Outpatient care and prescriptions
Outpatient sounds minor. It is not.
A child’s persistent fever, a partner’s chronic medication refill, or repeated clinic visits can turn into constant friction if outpatient is not covered or if reimbursement is slow.
Look for:
- GP and specialist visits
- labs and imaging
- prescription coverage (even with reasonable caps)
- direct billing partnerships where possible, so you are not constantly paying cash and chasing reimbursements
D) Maternity and newborn care (only if relevant)
Maternity is often expensive and heavily restricted.
Common realities:
- waiting periods (often close to a year or more)
- higher premiums
- limited coverage tiers that include maternity
So your decision is not “should we have maternity.” It is:
“Are we planning pregnancy during the policy term, and do we accept the waiting period and cost?”
If you plan to deliver outside Congo, confirm whether the plan covers childbirth abroad and under what network rules.
E) Pre-existing and chronic conditions
If anyone in the family has asthma, diabetes, hypertension, or a mental health history, you must read the underwriting rules carefully.
Many budget student policies exclude pre-existing conditions. Some higher-tier products may cover them after medical underwriting, or after a continuous coverage period, depending on the plan structure.
F) Mental health support and telemedicine
In countries with limited specialist access, telehealth becomes practical, not trendy.
Some global insurers position virtual care as part of the value of international cover, helping families access medical guidance even when local options are limited.
Providers you’ll see when insuring a student family in Congo
Below is a grounded overview of the providers and pathways you listed, with a reality check where it matters.
Indigo Expat (Junior & standard)
Indigo Expat Junior is marketed for young expatriates aged 18 to 30.Indigo also presents its expatriate plans as bundled packages “dedicated to expatriates and their family.
But eligibility is not universal. Indigo’s own Junior page notes eligibility tied to EU residency categories, and a related benefits document states availability for individuals expatriated from the EU (and notes some country exclusions).
Actionable takeaway: If you are not in the eligible category, do not build your insurance plan around Indigo without written confirmation from the provider or broker.
Allianz Care (international health plans)
Allianz Care’s international health plans explicitly include evacuations and repatriations, with modular add-ons. They also publish detailed evacuation benefit descriptions that help you understand what “medical evacuation” means in policy language.
Actionable takeaway: Ask for the benefit schedule that applies to your region, and confirm evacuation wording plus the assistance provider used for medevac logistics.
IMG (International Medical Group)
IMG markets international student insurance options that can extend to dependents and highlights emergency medical evacuation and travel assistance.
Actionable takeaway: Confirm that the specific IMG product you are considering recognizes Congo as your residence and that dependants are included under the same policy certificate.
Cigna Global
Cigna positions international health insurance for families as long-term medical cover for families living, working, or studying abroad.They also describe international medical evacuation as transport to a suitable center when treatment is not available locally.
Actionable takeaway: Ask how “area of cover” options price Congo (Africa-only vs worldwide excluding USA), and check whether your preferred evacuation destinations are treated as covered locations.
Bupa Global
Bupa frames its family-oriented plans around growing family needs (including maternity/newborn pathways), which matters if you are planning pregnancy.They also promote access to virtual care in some plan structures, which can be useful when local specialist access is limited.
Actionable takeaway: Use Bupa if you value premium service and broader access pathways, but verify pricing carefully because high-end plans can escalate quickly.
AXA Global Healthcare
AXA provides international health insurance structures where “family members” can include spouse/partner and children under a shared principal country of residence, as shown in their family addition documentation.
Actionable takeaway: Confirm dependants’ eligibility rules (age limits, student status definitions) and whether outpatient and maternity are optional modules or tied to tiers.
Now Health International
Now Health markets family health insurance plans for living abroad and publishes dependent definitions (spouse/partner, and children up to certain age rules, including extensions for full-time education in some cases).
Actionable takeaway: Treat “from” pricing you see online as marketing. Congo risk-rating, area of cover, and benefit tier will determine your real premium.
APRIL International
APRIL positions long-term international health insurance as suitable for expatriates and families and notes that pricing depends on factors like area of cover, age, and how many people you want to cover (yourself only vs spouse/children). APRIL also explicitly highlights that medical evacuation is essential for expats in DRC and encourages ensuring your plan includes it.
Actionable takeaway: APRIL is often practical for Africa because it speaks directly to expat realities. Still, confirm evacuation limits and claims processes in your specific city.
Broker platforms (example: BrokerFish)
Country-focused broker guides can be valuable in high-complexity locations because they help you compare multiple underwriters and filter for evacuation, inpatient/outpatient, and geographic area of cover. BrokerFish’s DRC guide explicitly frames expat medical insurance choices around evacuation and inpatient/outpatient configurations.
Actionable takeaway: A broker is not just for price shopping in Congo. A good broker is for eligibility checking, wording confirmation, and claims support when things go wrong.
What you should budget (and why premiums can feel high)
You provided a useful ballpark: roughly USD 150–300/month for basic inpatient + evacuation for a student couple with one child (excluding USA), and USD 300–600+/month for broader cover including outpatient and maternity.
Treat these numbers as planning ranges, not quotes.
Your premium is mainly driven by:
- area of cover (Africa-only vs worldwide excluding USA vs worldwide including USA)
- inpatient limit and whether it is annual or lifetime
- evacuation limit and how evacuation is defined
- outpatient add-ons (these can increase cost a lot)
- maternity inclusion (often a major jump)
- ages of adults, and number/ages of children
- deductibles (the amount you agree to pay first)
A simple lever that often helps student families: keep inpatient + evacuation strong, then use a higher deductible or capped outpatient benefit to control costs.
That protects you from the catastrophic risk without paying top-tier pricing for every routine visit.
A simple decision framework that works
Here is a clean way to decide, without getting lost in brochures.
Step 1: Decide your “must-not-fail” scenario
In Congo, the must-not-fail scenario is usually:
“One family member has a serious illness or injury and needs stabilization plus evacuation to a better-equipped country.”
If your policy cannot handle that smoothly, it is not the right policy.
Step 2: Choose your core build
Core build for Congo (recommended for most student families):
- high inpatient (hospital + surgery + ICU)
- strong evacuation and repatriation
- basic outpatient (enough to keep life manageable)
- telehealth access if offered
Step 3: Add only what matches your real plan
Add maternity only if it matches a real timeline and you accept waiting periods. Add dental/vision only if it prevents predictable costs.
A quick comparison table you can actually use
How to use the plan well once you arrive
Good insurance can still fail if you use it poorly. So set up a simple operating system.
Before travel
- Save the insurer’s emergency assistance number in every adult’s phone.
- Keep digital copies of passports, visas, enrollment letters, and policy documents.
- If any family member has a condition history, store summaries and medications in a single folder.
On arrival
- Identify one reputable private clinic in your city for first contact.
- Ask the insurer/broker for a local direct-billing list if available.
- Learn what the insurer considers an “emergency” for immediate evacuation activation.
In a serious event
- Call the assistance line as early as possible.
- Ask for a case number and keep it.
- If evacuation is recommended, do not self-organize flights unless instructed—many policies rely on the assistance provider to approve and coordinate evacuation.
Pro Tips:
Congo does not offer family medical insurance as a checkbox on a visa file. It belongs to the process of maintaining your studying plans when the life becomes unpredictable.
Prioritize evacuation. Then put inpatient care first. Keep outpatient practical.Construct the program based on what Congo reality requires not what a glossy brochure recommends.
References used:
- Allianz Care. (n.d.). International health insurance plans. Allianz Care. https://www.allianzcare.com/en/personal-international-health-insurance/products-and-services/international-healthcare-plans.html
- Allianz Care. (n.d.). Medical evacuation and repatriation insurance cover. Allianz Care. https://www.allianzcare.com/en/about-us/blog/medical-evacuation-and-repatriation-insurance-cover.html
- Allianz Care. (2018). Medical evacuation and repatriation [PDF]. Allianz Care. https://www.allianzcare.com/content/dam/onemarketing/azcare/allianzcare/en/docs/DOC-EVAC-REPAT-EN-18.pdf
- Australian Government, Department of Home Affairs. (n.d.). Subclass 500 Student visa. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/student-500
- Australian Government, Smartraveller. (2025, December 17). Democratic Republic of the Congo. https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/africa/democratic-republic-congo
- Cigna Global. (n.d.). International health insurance for families moving abroad. https://www.cignaglobal.com/families
- Indigo Expat. (2025, February 26). International medical insurance policy: Indigo Expat Junior. https://indigo-expat.com/en/expatriates/international-medical-insurance-policy-indigo-expat-junior/
- Now Health International. (2022). WorldCare application form: Add a dependant [PDF]. https://www.now-health.com/media/1870/sg-worldcare-add-dependant.pdf
- APRIL International. (n.d.). Health insurance in Democratic Republic of Congo. https://www.april-international.com/en/destinations/africa/health-insurance-in-democratic-republic-of-congo
- APRIL International. (n.d.). Long-term international health insurance. https://www.april-international.com/en/long-term-international-health-insurance
- BrokerFish. (n.d.). Health insurance for expats in DRC (Congo). https://brokerfish.com/medical-insurance/country-guides/democratic-republic-of-the-congo
- Study Australia. (n.d.). Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). https://www.studyaustralia.gov.au/en/plan-your-move/overseas-student-health-cover-oshc
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. (n.d.). Health: Democratic Republic of the Congo travel advice. GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/democratic-republic-of-the-congo/health
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. (n.d.). Health: Congo travel advice. GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/congo/health
- U.S. Department of State. (n.d.). Republic of the Congo international travel information. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/RepublicoftheCongo.html
