Relocating to Senegal for higher education can be a very big deal and a life changing experience, in whatever city (Dakar, Saint-Louis) you will have a rich experience both culturally and academically. But for those moving to Senegal as a family with a spouse and/or children, the excitement of relocating can quickly turn into a major logistical challenge: finding good health care.
The Senegalese health care system is a complex mix of government run health centers, private hospitals of every price point and different insurance systems, including domestic ones. As an international student, it’s already difficult to navigate on your own through this system but it is even more complicated when you do so as a family. In order to protect your family while abroad you will need something more than just a basic insurance plan. You will need a global plan which helps to bridge the gaps between what is available locally and the standards of the world.
Why Local Insurance Isn’t Always Enough
In Senegal, a large portion of the country’s residents rely on Institutions de Prévoyance Maladie (IPM), or mutual health programs, which serve as an essential part of their daily lives. However, for many international students attending school in Senegal, these IPMs fall short in providing the needed support. Many of these plans only offer 50-80% of medical expenses. Additionally, many of these plans do not cover expensive treatments such as MRIs, managing chronic illnesses, or high-end dental care.
Moreover, as an international student you will likely have to wait a certain amount of time before you can take advantage of these benefits. With a family, this creates a potential financial burden when considering the cost of medical treatment. One emergency visit or extensive diagnosis process could quickly exceed the budget of an international student. Therefore, most professionals advise against using anything less than a “first euro” international plan that provides full coverage starting at the first day.
Top 10 International Plans for Families in Senegal
The objective when selecting an insurance provider is to determine a price point that balances what the individual student requires and what the entire family may require. Below is a list of the top providers servicing the West Africa Region.
1. Mondassur – Gold Student Range
Mondassur has developed a tiered system that is very popular in Francophone Africa. Mondassur’s Student Backup plan costs approximately 27€/month, however for families looking to expand their coverage beyond basic student protection, Mondassur recommends the Student Global plan.
- Family Edge: If your needs extend beyond those covered by basic student protection, Mondassur can convert your policy into an expatriate policy. This will allow you to increase your coverage limits and include maternity protection as part of your overall coverage.
2. April International – MyHealth International
April is a major player in the African insurance industry. The My Health product line at April allows customers to select which features they want to use when purchasing their health insurance.
- The family edge at April includes the ability to add your spouse and dependents onto one policy. Additionally, all of the upper-tier plans offered by April have excellent newborn protection. Newborn protection is often limited or non-existent within traditional student insurance plans.
3. Indigo Expat (Junior & Standard)
The Indigo Expat Junior is a new product that was created for the 18-30 year old demographic. It has a modern, digital look and provides numerous benefits to international students that are typically needed.
- The family edge at Indigo Expat is that for families, the standard Indigo Expat plan has better outpatient coverage and maternity care than the junior plan.
4. IMG Global – International Student Insurance
IMG is known globally for its OPT style products. As such, they have placed an emphasis on providing emergency medical services and evacuations.
- The family edge at IMG is that it clearly outlines how to obtain dependent coverage. As such, the process to add a spouse or child to your policy will be less complicated as compared to other companies.
5. Cigna Global
Cigna is the best fit for those that prefer to have an insurance “build your own”. The user starts with a core inpatient plan and then adds to the plan based on their needs.
- Family Edge: Deductibles can be adjusted as needed to help control the cost of the monthly premium. This flexibility is excellent for students who will require expensive coverage, however, they also have a cap on how much money they can spend each month.
6. Allianz Partners
Allianz has one of the largest medical networks in Africa, and their support team is one of the best in terms of providing assistance.
- Family Edge: Their evacuation and repatriation service is very fast and effective. In Africa, there are often instances where patients may need to fly to another hub for specialist treatment. Having the assurance of knowing that evacuation and repatriation services will be efficient and effective provides significant peace of mind.
7. AXA Global Healthcare
AXA provides tiered levels of coverage, including basic hospitalization, and comprehensive wellness.
- Family Edge: Plans provided by AXA are developed with families in mind. Users may elect to provide coverage to their families throughout the world, or simply in Africa to reduce the expense.
8. Bupa Global
If you have the budget to afford high-quality healthcare Bupa will provide you with access to the world’s finest hospitals.
- Family Advantage: The “Worldwide Health Options” that Bupa offers are extremely comprehensive, including modules for dental and eye care which are typically far more generous than those available through many student insurance plans.
9. Aetna International – Pioneer
If you or someone in your family suffers from an ongoing medical condition such as asthma or diabetes Aetna’s Pioneer plans offer the best possible options for managing these conditions.
- Family Advantage: These plans are specifically designed for extended periods of time abroad; thus they would be ideal for families whose graduate studies extend beyond one year.
10. Local Private Insurer (as a supplement)
While we highly recommend against using local private insurers (IPM) as a primary insurance option they may be useful as a secondary layer of coverage for individuals who work part-time in Senegal while also having a full-time scholarship overseas; however, they should never be used in lieu of a global plan that includes evacuation options.
Understanding the Financial Commitment
Insurance is an investment in your family’s safety. While prices fluctuate based on age and health history, we can look at three general budget bands for a family of three (student, spouse, and one child).
| Plan Type | Estimated Monthly Cost | Best For |
| Budget Student Plan | 80 € – 150 € | Emergency focus; healthy, young families. |
| Mid-Range Family Plan | 150 € – 300 € | Routine care + Evacuation; the “sweet spot.” |
| High-End Global Plan | 300 € – 600 €+ | Maternity, Dental, and total peace of mind. |
Non-Negotiable Features for Your Policy
When you are evaluating different insurance quote options, it is necessary to compare more than the price. Senegal offers a number of unique environmental and medical challenges. In selecting an international health insurance policy, make sure to evaluate the five key components below:
1. Medical Evacuation and Repatriation
The primary consideration is the ability to evacuate you or a family member from Senegal if you become ill or injured. Although Dakar offers many high-quality private hospitals such as Hôpital Principal or Clinique de la Madeleine, there will occasionally be the necessity to travel to a larger city in Europe (Paris) or back to your home country for specialized surgery or treatment. Therefore, your international health insurance policy should cover 100% of all expenses related to the evacuation.
2. Hospitalization and Direct Billing
In case of a serious illness or injury, you would prefer not to spend thousands of dollars upfront before you can get reimbursement. Therefore, when looking for an international health insurance provider, select one that allows for direct billing with large clinics in Dakar. By doing so, you will avoid having to pay thousands of dollars upfront and allow the international health insurance company to pay the hospital directly. In this way, you will only have to worry about caring for your family during their time of need.
3. Pediatric and Routine Care
Children need vaccinations and routine checkups. Budget student policies often view these as elective and therefore do not provide coverage for these services. If you wish to obtain an international health insurance policy that is suitable for families, ensure that your policy provides a reasonable level of coverage for outpatient visits and routine care of children including vaccinations.
4. Protection Against Local Disease Issues
West African Malaria is a very real concern and so ensure that your travel insurance policy includes coverage of the diagnosis and treatment of the most common tropical diseases including malaria and respiratory issues. Be sure to avoid emergency-only travel insurance policies which may consider a high fever a routine doctor’s appointment and do nothing until it is too late.
5. Third Party Liability
Student life is more than just reading books, its also about being part of a community. Third party liability protection (available with travel insurance products such as Mondassur Gold Student), will protect you and your family members against unforeseen legal and financial consequences of accidentally damaging a rental property, or if you were to be involved in a small car accident.
Practical Steps to Securing Your Coverage
To make this transition as seamless as possible, use the checklist below before you board your flight to Dakar.
- Finalize Before Traveling: The insurance certificate is required for the study visa application process; Many times Senegalese authorities request proof of insurance as part of the “study visa” file.
- Establish Your Family’s Top Priority: Will you be pregnant at some time during your stay? If so, you need to arrange for maternity coverage ASAP since most plans have a 10-to-12 month waiting period.
- Equilibrium Between Deductibles: If you’re on a tight budget, select a larger deductible (what you have to pay out-of-pocket when you file a claim) to reduce your monthly premium yet protect yourself from financial ruin should you incur a major medical bill.
- List of Partners: Have the insurance provider provide you with an inventory of “partner providers” in Senegal. If they do not have a partner clinic in Dakar you could possibly have to go through lengthy paperwork in order to get reimbursed.
Conclusion
Securing healthcare for your family in Senegal is much easier than you may think. When you take the time to choose an international plan with evacuation options and pediatric care included, you’re not just checking off a requirement for your visa you’re creating a safety net that will allow you to concentrate on your education and your family’s future.
