An international education is a major decision for any individual, and when that education is located in Mali – a country rich in historical heritage, yet struggling with infrastructure – the burden of providing for the health of your loved ones increases exponentially. The likelihood is high that if you move to Mali as a student with a spouse or children, the “Student Health Fee” (typical of U.S./European university campuses) does not exist in the same form as in your home country.

In place of a university-based plan, students from around the world who are studying in Mali must purchase global expatriate insurance in order to have a “safety net.” This is not simply a matter of paperwork; this is your family’s health and well-being, and a potential emergency response plan, in a part of the world where medical emergencies often exceed the capacity of local healthcare.

The Reality of Healthcare in Mali

The RAMU (Regime d’Assurance Maladie Universelle) is Mali’s “universal health insurance” program. This is a good move in terms of public policy for West Africa; but the reality of how it functions for an international student with a family is very complicated. In addition to the obvious limitations of public facilities (with little access to the necessary medical supplies or specialists), even the best quality facilities in the capital city often require out-of-pocket cash payment at the time of service which can be cost-prohibitive for most students.

An international student or expatriate cannot depend solely on their home country’s public health system for medical care. They need some form of private coverage for local emergencies, and they need emergency evacuation coverage when things go terribly wrong.

The Critical Role of International Plans

What drives one to prefer a global provider instead of a domestic Malian insurance company? It is based on mobility. International plans are developed by those who have a life that will span across different countries. Therefore, they provide the ability to receive the best care from any of Bamako’s top hospitals (Clinique Pasteur, or Polyclinique du Parc) with the assurance that should a family member require a medical treatment that cannot be received locally, an international private medical air ambulance to Europe or North Africa will also be fully covered.

Top Family-Friendly International Insurers

Since Mali does not have “Student Family Plans” in the way we think of them in the U.S., you will generally seek out Expat Medical Insurance or Global Student Health Insurance options that include dependents. Below are some of the most consistent providers to consider when living in West Africa (Mali): 

1. Cigna Global 

Cigna has an enormous presence in the global insurance marketplace. Their “Global Health Options” are extremely flexible and modular. For example, if you want to create a basic inpatient-only plan, you can add outpatient or dental/vision coverage as your budget permits. Cigna is also uniquely knowledgeable about the African marketplace. 

2. Allianz Care 

Allianz Care is known for its smooth digital claims process. Allianz offers various international student health insurance plans. The “Care Pro” and “Care Plus” levels of their plans provide a great option for families seeking to pay for a brand name recognized by many of Bamako’s private hospitals.

3. Bupa Global 

If you have the budget to afford a premium experience, Bupa is the gold standard in the global insurance industry. Bupa’s focus is on providing an elite level of care; therefore, they set higher limits and have world-class evacuation policies.

4. IMG (International Medical Group) 

Most flexible for students with the option of having “add-on” family members (spouse & dependent children) added to one health insurance policy. Student Health Advantage has fewer forms and less hassle with adding spouses and children to the same policy.

5. Specialized Brokers (Pacific Prime & ExpatFinancial)

Using an intermediary like a broker will make it easier to shop for Africa-rated medical insurance for Mali. The two mentioned have no interest in selling any insurance products; instead they work on behalf of the buyer by comparing multiple options for the specific country being targeted and helping you determine what product/coverage provides the greatest benefit at the least cost.

Estimating the Investment: Average Cost of Mali Student Health Insurance 

Students who are studying abroad will have a high cost associated with obtaining medical insurance. Costs vary depending upon the age of the individual insured, the amount of “lifestyle” coverage desired (e.g. dental), and the deductible chosen.

How To Lower The Premiums

Deductible – Higher deductibles will lower premium costs. A young family that is in good health could save up to 25 percent per month on their premium with a $1,000 deductible.

Ensure Worldwide excluding U.S.A. option – Do not choose worldwide with U.S.A. as this adds a significant increase to the premium price. 

Insurance Benefits That Are Not Negotiable

Not all international insurance benefit options are the same. There are some benefits that you would want, but there are also some that would be life altering to your family. 

Medical Evacuation and Repatriation: This is the number one most important benefit in your international insurance policy. When in a medical emergency requiring special treatment such as surgery or a baby born premature, you will likely require a private medical flight to either Dakar, Casablanca, or Paris. A private medical flight to either of those cities can run over $50,000. Your policy should have limitless or have a very high limit for evacuation coverage. 

Inpatient and Surgery Your policy should provide full coverage of hospital stays including the hospital bed, surgeon fees, diagnostic testing and other charges related to being hospitalized. Choose an international insurance policy with a minimum of $1 million annual limit for hospitalization and surgery to protect your family from a potential catastrophic event.

Maternity Coverage:  If you are thinking of expanding your family while studying abroad, please note that nearly all international insurance policies have a 10-12 month waiting period for maternity coverage. You will not be able to purchase a new policy today and have a baby covered under the new policy in two months. Also, most international insurance companies do not offer maternity coverage unless it is part of a “Gold” or “Select” level policy.

 Direct Billing Network: When there is a crisis, the last thing you need is to be in an argument with a hospital administrator over a credit card limit. A direct billing network is one in which the insurer pays the hospital directly. Request from your provider a listing of “Network Providers” in Bamako. 

Actionable Step-by-Step Process: Selecting the Best Coverage 

This process can be very time-consuming, as well as confusing. To help alleviate the confusion, follow these three easy-to-follow-steps to insure that your family has true protection: 

Step 1: Ensure the Policy Covers Your “Home Country” 

Many insurance companies have “Countries of Restricted Access” (due to war, political unrest, poor infrastructure) and/or “Regions of Restricted Access.” Be specific when completing the quote form and state that Mali is your primary home country. Also confirm that the policy will remain valid and in force regardless of any changes in the level of security in the region (regardless of whether you are evacuated). 

Step 2: Determine the Insurer’s Primary Evacuation Route 

Where will they evacuate you to? Find out from the insurer where their primary evacuation location for the western African region is. If you have family in France or Morocco, having the ability to repatriate to either of those locations may be beneficial to you under a policy that provides “Repatriation to Country of Choice” instead of just “Evacuation to Nearest Center of Excellence”. 

Step 3: Utilize a Specialty Broker 

Your time as a student is valuable. There are specialty brokers, such as ExpatFinancial, that understand the unique requirements of individuals living in Mali. Many times, a specialty broker can obtain the same rate as you would obtain on your own; however, they also provide additional support during the claims filing process.

Student Service Providers 

While Mali is full of warmth and potential as a study abroad destination, safety will need to be approached in a practical way. Insurance may be one of those things required by your university (like “Proof of Insurance”) so while you could get cheap insurance to just check that box, for families, insurance is a financial comfort, not an expense. In addition, when you choose a global provider that has an evacuation program in place, you are free to focus on your academic pursuits and your family’s welfare instead of worrying about what local resources cannot provide.

References:

• Aetna International. (n.d.). International medical insurance for you and your family. https://www.aetnainternational.com/content/dam/aetna/pdfs/aetna-international/apac/VN-UltraCare-Brochure.pdf
• Allianz Care Australia. (2025). Overseas student health cover (OSHC). https://meridansc.eq.edu.au/SupportAndResources/FormsAndDocuments/Documents/International/allianz-care-oshc.pdf
• APRIL International. (2025, November 12). How does international health insurance work? https://www.april-international.com/en/long-term-international-health-insurance/guide/how-does-international-health-insurance-work
• AXA Global Healthcare. (2025). Expat health insurance: Global healthcare. https://www.axaglobalhealthcare.com/en/expat-health-insurance/
• Bupa. (n.d.). Worldwide health options: Sales guide. https://www.bupa.com.au/-/media/Dotcom/Files/pdfs/aus-bwho-sales-guide.pdf
• Cigna Global. (n.d.). International health plans: Flexibility, choice and portability. https://www.cignaglobal.com/international-health-plans
• Expat Financial. (n.d.). International insurance solutions for expats. https://expatfinancial.com/
• IMG Global. (2025). International students: You have insurance options! https://www.imglobal.com/tips/international-student-health-insurance-options
• International Citizens Insurance. (2022). Aetna global medical plans. https://www.internationalinsurance.com/aetna/
• Pacific Prime. (2025). International health insurance plans in Africa. https://www.pacificprime.com/country/africa/