Mauritian education is fun to study. The beaches are awesome, the universities are expanding, and there is a great cultural mix. Healthcare, however, requires a plan. Private clinics are good, but costly, and evacuation to another country may be required in a serious emergency. That’s why international grade insurance is not a nice to have – it’s core risk management for your time on the island. This is also supported by official travel advice from Australia and the UK: private care is often subject to upfront payment; and the patient should have insurance to cover treatment and medical evacuation if necessary.
Public hospitals within the area are meant for the people residing there, but non-residents can be restricted and charged. Many expats and students still use private clinics for faster service and English-speaking staff, and they budget for out-of-pocket care if they are not insured. In short, you’ll want a policy that includes private care, evacuation and direct billing as much as possible.
This guide to health insurance in Mauritius will take you through the best plans for international students in Mauritius, what to look for before you purchase, and how to compare plans without getting lost in the fine print. Let’s keep it practical. We’ll keep the language plain. And we’re gonna go right into the meaty details.
What “good” looks like in Mauritius
Start with the local reality. Private clinics are also very well regarded and quick, but they can be expensive. Sometimes the safest course of action for complex care is evacuation-by air ambulance to the closest appropriately staffed hospital. Choose a policy which pays providers directly where feasible, includes evacuation and repatriation, and settles claims 24 hours a day.
Next, think paperwork. Some universities will require evidence of coverage, which can include evacuation and a personal liability. Requirements vary by school and scholarship, so ask the international office to document any minimums in writing and keep the document for enrollment purposes. Then double check that the insurer will provide an instant certificate – this will often simplify registration and visa administration.
Finally, relate benefits to your weekly lifestyle. You’ll need outpatient GP appointments, prescriptions and phone-line access to a doctor after hours. Telemedicine helps. So too a multilingual support line for hospital pre-authorizations and guarantees of payment. Many insurers internationally have these as standard.
The 10 top-rated choices for students in Mauritius
Below are some of the best globally recognised insurers and student-specific plans with a good reputation and relevant benefits: I have provided why each can work in Mauritius as well as giving you reference to primary resources cited here.
1) Mondassur – Student tiers (Backup, Budget, Global)
Mondassur sells special student policies and even has a page dedicated to Mauritius. The student editions, Budget and Global editions, have a well-defined, published opening price in Mondassur’s own brochure: €27 / €37 / €45 per month, respectively. Selected benefits include 100% reimbursement for medical expenses, hospitalization and repatriation. If you have seen GoldStudent used in other places on their site, note that Mondassur’s student range uses those names in a few pages as well; refer to the brochure table for accurate pricing and names.
Why it’s a good fit for Mauritius: easy student-tier pricing, good emergency and repatriation cover, quick delivery of a certificate Good if your students share courses between European campuses, since some students split time between campus.
2) APRIL International – Student Insurance
APRIL is a French major insurer with global products for students, online application, and instant certificates. Amongst these, they claim to cover more than 500,000 students and have flexible modules. If easy to purchase and easy to document is your goal, APRIL is often the way to go.
Why it works for Mauritius: no application fee; wide acceptance by schools that are familiar with APRIL; useful if you need to get covered when the application deadline is tight (proof of cover can be issued the same day).
3) APRIL MyHealth International – COMFORT tier
The good news is, if you would prefer a “full” IPMI-style structure instead of a lighter weight student policy, APRIL’s MyHealth International (COMFORT) tier offers strong inpatient/outpatient with private sector reimbursements. Some may find this excessive, but perfect if you want richer limits with long-term stability.
Why it suits Mauritius: more aligned with students who anticipate frequent outpatient usage at private clinics and seek steady reimbursement structures
4) International Student Insurance (ISI)
ISI is a worldwide specialist distributor of student plans (Student Secure with four tiers – Smart, Budget, Select, Elite and the Student Health Advantage family). Telemedicine, mental health, sports coverage and maternity are available on select tiers. They also release straightforward plan documents and visa compliance guidance.
Why it is ideal for Mauritius: wide tiering allows benefits to be increased or decreased depending on the needs of the university and the budget. Documentation and live chat from ISI are beneficial when you have deadlines to juggle.
5) IMG (International Medical Group) – Student Health Advantage & Patriot Exchange
IMG has been an international brand with student lines like Student Health Advantage (Standard/Platinum) and Patriot Exchange for many years. Their student products clearly feature emergency evacuation, mental health, sports coverage, and in Platinum, maternity; they also define waiting periods for pre-existing conditions.
Why it is the right choice for Mauritius: Deep student orientation, 24/7 services, clear brochures that help you make a comparison. If you will be traveling around the region, IMG’s evacuation and global networks are a great benefit.
6) AXA Global Healthcare
AXA Global’s international health plans include Virtual Doctor and Mind Health services to support you with your mental wellbeing, as well as a wide hospital network. This e-layer is great for late-night questions or prescription follow-ups.
Why it works in Mauritius: it’s easy to access clinicians remotely and it’s a brand people know around the world. Their country page for Mauritius, also describes local private care benefits in layman’s terms.
7) Cigna Global
Cigna has modular international plans with large networks and direct billing to many facilities. They have excellent student messaging and global presence and their modules can be customized for outpatient, dental, etc.
Why this model suits Mauritius: Flexible modules and an existing global network integrate well with a private-clinic system where fast access is important.
8) Allianz Care
Allianz is a name that is synonymous with international cover. Their plans are student-friendly and include global support, evacuation and digital resources. Allianz documents are recognised by universities throughout Africa and Europe, facilitating administration
Why it works for Mauritius: well accepted internationally and good evacuation/assistance. Good if you expect field trips and/or regional travel.
9) Swan (Mauritius) – local medical insurance
Swan is the leading Mauritian insurer providing cashless health insurance in local networks. While not a student-specific brand, they are worth checking out if you are looking for a local policy or to supplement an international plan. Do review policy language for eligibility for non-residents as well as waiting periods.
Why it works for Mauritius: local presence, local service. Helpful if you are planning a stay of longer than a semester and would like a domestic underwriter to accompany, or replace, overseas cover.
10) Heymondo
Heymondo offers travel and study-abroad insurance with a robust mobile app, 24/7 customer service, and the option to pay directly through the app so you often don’t even have to front the bill. Many students enjoy the ease of use and baggage/device cover options. It’s a non-IPMI program, but it’s a decent, app-based option for shorter programs.
Why it works in Mauritius: slick digital experience, rapid certificates, and other features outside of medical (e.g., electronics and baggage) for day-to-day accidents.
Also helpful: Some education agents (e.g. Expert Education) arrange OSHC/OVHC scholarships for students coming to Australia for study. If you are transferring to or from an Australian program while you’re studying, their OSHC partners are useful – but these are Australian policies, not Mauritanian ones.
Quick comparison (at a glance)
| Plan / Provider | Why students pick it | Digital support | Starter price* |
| Mondassur Student Backup | Low-cost core medical + repatriation | Online sign-up & docs | €27/mo mondassur.com |
| Mondassur Student Budget | Better limits, still affordable | Online sign-up & docs | €37/mo mondassur.com |
| Mondassur Student Global | Most complete student tier | Online sign-up & docs | €45/mo mondassur.com |
| APRIL Student | Instant certificate; widely known | 100% online | Varies by age/zone assets.april.fr |
| APRIL MyHealth – COMFORT | IPMI-style, richer outpatient | App + online portal | Varies (IPMI) assets.april.fr |
| ISI (Student Secure / SHA) | Four tiers; sports/mental; visa help | Good web tools | Varies by tier International Student |
| IMG (SHA / Patriot Exchange) | Student-specific; maternity on Platinum | 24/7 assistance | Varies by tier imglobal.com |
| AXA Global | Virtual Doctor + Mind Health | App + telehealth | Varies by zone |
| Cigna Global | Modular; large billing networks | App + e-claims | Varies by modules Cigna Global |
| Swan (Local) | Local network; cashless options | Local portals | Varies by plan AXA – Global Healthcare |
*Prices, eligibility, and benefits depend on age, nationality, and coverage zone. Always check the current policy schedule before purchasing.
How to choose—fast
Use this 10-point checklist to compare policies in under an hour:
- University acceptance: Ask the international office for a written list of minimums (e.g., evacuation, liability, excess caps). Then confirm the insurer can issue a certificate that states these items explicitly.
- Evacuation & repatriation: Look for clear limits and 24/7 coordination. Mauritius is an island; evacuation raises stakes and costs.
- Direct billing: Prefer plans that can guarantee payment or bill directly to clinics, so you’re not advancing large sums. Heymondo and many IPMI-style plans support direct payment pathways.
- Outpatient care: GP visits, specialists, and prescriptions are daily needs. Telemedicine is a bonus for nights or weekends. AXA’s Virtual Doctor is a good example.
- Mental health: Check session counts, tele-psych options, and referral rules. Many student plans include this now (e.g., IMG and ISI tiers).
- Sports & labs: If you’ll play club sports or need frequent bloodwork, check that sports injuries and routine diagnostics are covered at student-friendly limits.
- Pre-existing conditions: Understand waiting periods and how “pre-existing” is defined. Student Health Advantage, for instance, explains a 12-month period in its documentation.
- Claims & support: You want 24/7 assistance and multilingual help. IMG, Cigna, Allianz, AXA, and APRIL publish these features clearly.
- Proof of funds vs. insurance: Official travel advisories warn that private clinics can ask for upfront payment if your insurer cannot guarantee payment. Choose a plan—and provider—that will talk to the hospital before you arrive.
- Digital logistics: Instant certificates, app-based claims, and e-ID cards save time. This matters when enrollment windows are short. APRIL and Mondassur highlight quick documentation; Heymondo’s app is a plus for urgent coordination.
Practical steps once you land
Save emergency numbers. Ambulance (SAMU) number in Mauritius is 114, Police 112/999 and Fire is 115. Put them on your phone and on a wallet card. Many private hospitals also release ambulance hotlines.
Contact the assistance team of your insurer. Save the 24/7 number to your contacts, copy your certificate to your cloud drive and learn how to get the guarantee of payment. A few plans such as AXA Global, Cigna, Allianz and IMG have described help desk workflows on their sites and in their plans.
Know your nearest clinics. Select two private facilities close to your campus and housing If your insurance provider has a preferred network, make a note of those names to expedite pre-authorization. The costs of private care are highlighted in both FCDO and Smartraveller, as well as the benefits of pre-arranged cover.
Save receipts and physician notes If you pay self you must have itemized invoices and stamped medical reports for reimbursement. Insurers describe these requirements in their claims manuals.
When a travel plan is enough—and when you need IPMI
Short duration, low risk, mostly on campus? A student medical insurance policy on a travel plan could be an option, in particular one that allows direct payment and high emergency benefits (e.g. Atlas/WorldTrips or Heymondo for short-duration coverage; IMG Student Health Advantage for long-duration coverage). For longer programs, clinical placements, dependents, or chronic care, IPMI-style plans (Cigna Global, APRIL MyHealth, etc.) are recommended for their continuous outpatient use and wider reimbursement.
Frequently asked questions (fast answers)
Is it mandatory for all learners in Mauritius to have health insurance?
Government visa pages are about the medical certificates and financial means, and universities have their own requirements. Nonetheless, good advice cautions you to get private insurance with evacuation due to the expense of privatized care and the potential for air-lift. The safe answer is yes: buy it, and check any university minimums.
What’s the danger if I don’t have an evacuation cover?
If you require a specialist service but your community doesn’t offer one, the cost of an air ambulance could be in the five figures. Evacuation is a key element in advisories. Don’t leave it out.
Are local policies enough?
Local plans such as Swan are suitable for longer-term stays or as a top-up but do consider non-resident eligibility and whether you will have to evacuate to a regional centre. Most students find a global student plan to be the most predictable way to receive international aid, as well as to bill directly.
Is telemedicine available?
Yes. Quick consults are a snap with AXA Global’s Virtual Doctor and similar services that can be accessed from campus or from home.
Bottom line: a clear, safe shortlist
If you are looking for simple and quick with published pricing and clear student tiers, Mondassur Student (Backup/Budget/Global) is hard to beat. The three-tiered pricing system is transparent (presented on the brochure as euro 27/37/45) and certificates are delivered quickly.
If you are looking for one-stop online purchase and a brand schools can trust, APRIL Student is the right online resource for you; step up to MyHealth COMFORT for IPMI-level depth.
If you need student specialists with many plan shapes, ISI and IMG provide telehealth, mental health, evacuation and clear visa-compliance documentation.
Cigna Global, AXA Global and Allianz Care can be a great choice for global giants who have deep networks and digital tools. Swan is also a good choice for local support. If you’re looking for easier to use app-based convenience for the short-term, then Heymondo is appealing.
Choose any from that list and you’ll be faced with the inherent hazards of studying in Mauritius: private medical expenses, emergency travel, and paperwork proofs. That’s the basis of a safe and productive year abroad. And that’s one less thing to worry about while you’re focusing on classes, fieldwork and everything that made you come here in the first place.
Sources :
- Australia Smartraveller – Mauritius health: Private clinics can be expensive; upfront payment often required; evacuation may be needed; get insurance that covers evacuation. Smartraveller
- UK FCDO – Mauritius health: Adequate insurance including medical evacuation is essential. GOV.UK
- Mondassur student brochure & Mauritius page: Student Backup/Budget/Global tiers with published pricing; student-focused coverage including 100% medical and hospitalization. mondassur.com+1
- APRIL International – Student: 100% online enrollment, certificates; >500,000 students covered. assets.april.fr+1
- ISI (International Student Insurance) – Student Secure tiers and student plan features. International Student
- IMG – Student Health Advantage and Patriot Exchange plan benefits for students (evacuation, maternity on Platinum, mental health, sports). imglobal.com
- AXA Global Healthcare – Virtual Doctor and Mind Health services.
- Cigna Global – Student/international health plan structure and global provider networks. Cigna Global
- Swan (Mauritius) – Local health insurance offerings and features. AXA – Global Healthcare+1
- Heymondo – App, 24/7 assistance, and direct payments guidance. Jonny Melonhelpdesk.heymondo.com
- Emergency numbers – SAMU ambulance 114 (plus police and fire). Expat.com
