Montenegro law requires valid health insurance to any foreigner who is seeking to be granted temporary residence permit, including students. Practically, it implies that you need to provide an active medical insurance policy (self-insured or covered by any spouse or children) of the whole stay. The policy should extend to outpatient care as well as inpatient care, emergency treatment, hospitalization and in most cases repatriation costs. Notably, the insurer should be licensed in Montenegro; no EU/European Health Insurance Card (EHIC/GHIC) should be relied on in this case. In brief, any international student (and his or her dependents) must have a full-fledged Montenegrin-approved health plan to affix their visa or residence permit.
The plan must be able to satisfy the requirements of residency application among international students. The official information states that students require insurance during the whole time of their residing. Likewise, according to Montenegrin officials, a temporary residence permit to study is not possible without evidence of valid health cover. In brief, do not overlook this step, otherwise you will not start your studies on time, when you are at the university and in the immigration office, the plan will not be accepted.
Top 10 Family Health Insurance Options
Here are ten common options for covering students and their families in Montenegro. All these plans are generally accepted for student visas and residence permits; be sure to double-check specifics with each provider.
- Allianz Care (International Health Insurance): Allianz Care offers global family plans widely accepted by Montenegrin authorities. Coverage typically includes emergency treatment, hospital stays (inpatient care), outpatient care, emergency dental, medical evacuations and repatriation. (Their site explicitly notes that Care plans cover maternity, evacuations and repatriations as standard.) Costs vary by region and family size, but a typical family plan might run roughly €500–€1,500 per year, depending on level of cover.
- Cigna Global (International Health Insurance): Cigna’s family plans are modular and flexible, allowing you to choose coverage zones (Europe-only or Worldwide) and add-ons. They emphasize comprehensive family cover, with routine care (including pediatric check-ups and immunizations) and full emergency coverage. Cigna notes that their plans give “private healthcare services when living, studying or working abroad,” with choices of doctor and facility. They also offer 24/7 multilingual support and optional add-ons (like evacuation/crisis assistance, dental, and maternity). Typical premiums for a family might be on the order of €600–€2,000 per year, depending on cover and extras.
- Bupa Global (International Health Insurance): Bupa’s expat plans provide very high benefit limits and access to private hospitals worldwide. Plans include in-hospital private rooms, the ability to see specialists without referrals, and 24/7 virtual doctor access. Importantly, Bupa covers global medical evacuation in case of emergencies. They also include mental health and dental (on higher plans) and, at top tiers, maternity. Family plans can cost roughly €700–€2,200 per year (again depending on option), offering truly worldwide coverage.
- Local Private Insurers (e.g. Dunav, Generali, etc.): Montenegro has local insurers offering voluntary (private) health plans. These are usually much cheaper but limit coverage to Montenegro only. For example, Dunav Osiguranje and Generali Montenegro market “voluntary health insurance” for families (often called dobrovoljno zdravstveno osiguranje). Monthly premiums might be as low as €50–€200 per person depending on plan. Typical cover includes outpatient treatment, hospital stays, prescription drugs, preventive check-ups and even dental or alternative medicine. Plans often emphasize faster service and choice of private clinics (which means shorter wait times than the public system).
- Montenegro Statutory Health Insurance (for Employed Students): If a student gets a job and pays into the Montenegrin public system, they and their dependents (usually spouse and children) are covered by statutory health insurance. Contributions are about 12.3% of gross salary (8.5% employer, 3.8% employee). In return, basic care is free or heavily subsidized – doctor visits, hospitalization, standard treatments and partially-subsidized meds. Dependent children (and often a spouse) can usually register under the main insured without extra premium. The downside: statutory cover often has longer wait times and covers only basic services. Dental and specialty care are limited, so many employed expats still top up with private cover.
- William Russell (International Health Insurance): William Russell is a UK-based expat insurer offering family plans. Their Silver/Gold plans cover emergency care, hospitalization, outpatient treatment, telehealth, mental health and repatriation. William Russell notes that Montenegro requires insurance for residency, so their plans can be tailored to meet visa needs. (We lacked a quick citation for specifics, but in practice they function similarly to Allianz or Cigna in coverage.)
- IMG Global (International Health Insurance): IMG provides student and family plans that meet study-visa requirements. Their U.S.-based “Student Health Advantage” plan (also used for other countries) covers doctor visits, hospitalization, and includes emergency medical evacuation and repatriation. It also offers 24/7 multilingual assistance and mental health support. Though IMG’s quoting system is complex, family plans are roughly in the same range (maybe €400–€1,600/year depending on ages and coverage). They explicitly mention dependent coverage for spouses and children.
- AXA Global Healthcare (International Health Insurance): AXA Global offers five tiers of international plans for expats. Their family policies cover inpatient and outpatient care, routine screenings, dental (on top plans) and repatriation. Like the others, they include evacuation in serious cases. Premiums for a family plan might run €600–€1,800 per year. (AXA doesn’t easily show specific details without a quote, but it is widely available to expats in Montenegro and meets visa requirements.)
- Montenegro Voluntary Health Insurance (Supplemental Private): Beyond basic statutory cover, Montenegrin residents can purchase voluntary top-up plans. These pay for faster, private-sector care. Typical voluntary plans cost about €50–€200 per person per month and cover additional services: quicker outpatient visits, preferred access to clinics, extra dental, and even alternative medicine. In essence, this is a local private insurer supplement (often sold by companies like Dunav or Generali) that works on top of the public plan to improve access and coverage.
- Local Health Insurance Funds (Family Registration): Finally, the Montenegrin health fund allows a resident with insurance to register dependents at no extra charge. In practical terms, if the main student or worker is on either the public or a group plan, their spouse and children (typically under 18, or under 26 if students) can be added without separate premiums. Those dependents then get the basic public-health benefits (doctor visits, hospitalization). This only covers basic public care, not private or repatriation, but it means families don’t pay a second “premium” for primary coverage.
Tips for Choosing Insurance
- Check visa/residence requirements carefully. Always confirm that the policy you choose is formally accepted by Montenegrin authorities and your university. The insurer should be licensed in Montenegro. Don’t just assume an EU/EHIC will do – Montenegrins don’t accept it. It’s wise to get written confirmation from your student office or embassy that the plan meets the “covering entire stay” rule.
- Balance local vs international coverage. Local Montenegrin plans (public or private) are much cheaper but limited in scope. For example, public insurance (via work) costs you only salary contributions, and private Montenegrin plans can run as low as €50–€200/month, but they usually cover only services in Montenegro and often exclude repatriation or wide dental benefits. International plans cost more but offer global coverage (which is handy if you travel home during breaks) and often higher benefit limits. As a rule of thumb: the less you pay in premiums, the more you’ll rely on the local health system and pay out-of-pocket for extras.
- Consider combining plans for best value. Many expats in Montenegro use a hybrid approach. For instance, if you work and pay into the public system, you could use that for everyday care (doctor visits, hospital) and buy a smaller international plan just for emergencies and repatriation. This “supplement” strategy leverages free/local care with peace-of-mind cover for big events. On the other hand, some families prefer one big international plan to simplify claims. Think about how often you’ll use foreign care, and whether you’ll keep using your home country’s clinics (for example, during summer visits).
- Watch out for waiting periods and exclusions. All plans have conditions. Be clear on waiting periods for maternity or dental, and on coverage for any pre-existing conditions. Some cheaper plans explicitly exclude pregnancy, for example. Also, check how quickly claims are paid and whether your provider has a wide network of hospitals (preferably in Montenegro or nearby).
- Combine with travel or evacuation insurance if needed. If you go with a local Montenegrin plan that lacks repatriation, you can supplement it with a global emergency plan. For example, many families buy an inexpensive local policy for routine care and a separate travel/evacuation policy that covers only major emergencies abroad. This can be cheaper than a full international health plan.
- Tailor it to your family. Costs rise with age and more dependents. Before buying, list everyone’s ages and health needs. If you have young children, check pediatric coverage and vaccinations. If you plan a baby, look at maternity cover. If someone has a chronic condition, see if pre-existing care is offered. Shopping around (through expat forums or broker sites) can save money – quotes can vary widely.
In summary, start early: compare the big international insurers (Allianz, Cigna, Bupa, William Russell, IMG, AXA) and local options (Dunav, Generali, public fund). Verify the plans are accepted for your student visa and cover what you and your family really need. With the right plan, you’ll meet Montenegro’s legal requirements and keep your family safe and healthy abroad.
Sources: Official Montenegro residence rules and insurance guidesgov.mevisitukraine.todayvisitukraine.todayimmo-monte.me; expat resources (Porto Montenegro, Pacific Prime)portomontenegro.comportomontenegro.compacificprime.com; major international insurer sitesallianzcare.combupaglobal.comcignaglobal.comcignaglobal.comimglobal.com. (We did not find specific figures for all costs and advise verifying quotes.)
