Healthcare in Egypt for expats
How Egypt’s system treats a foreign resident: whether you can use public care, how you enroll after you land, the standard of care, and what private cover costs.
Official sourcemohp.gov.eg
Public + private mix
Uneven
Varies a lot by region
$50–150/mo
Healthy adult aged 30–45. A starting band, not a quote.
Can a foreign resident use public healthcare in Egypt?
The Universal Health Insurance System is rolling out governorate by governorate and is built around Egyptian families; foreign residents sit outside it, so cover comes through an employer plan or a private policy, with the private hospitals of Cairo and Alexandria the practical network.
Source: mohp.gov.eg →How do you enroll in healthcare after moving to Egypt?
Public healthcare is free but very limited; the universal health insurance rollout is proceeding governorate by governorate and does not yet cover the whole country. Foreign residents use private hospitals in Cairo and Alexandria (As-Salam, Cleopatra, Dar Al Fouad), which are inexpensive relative to Europe, with international cover for serious cases.
Fromthe Egypt arrival checklist· checked September 2026
How much does private health insurance cost in Egypt?
About $50–150 a month for a healthy adult aged 30 to 45 — a directional band for private cover, not a quote, and premiums climb with age and pre-existing conditions. A comprehensive international plan that follows you across borders is priced separately and often starts around $150 a month.
Compare international health insurance →What works well in Egypt, and what to watch out for
What works well
Private care is inexpensive in dollar terms and Cairo has real specialist depth (As-Salam International, Cleopatra, Dar Al Fouad), with a large medical workforce trained in English.
Watch out for
The universal scheme is not open to you and will not be for years, public facilities are overcrowded, and currency devaluation has pushed private hospitals to quote and reprice frequently — confirm what your policy actually pays in Egyptian pounds.
Care-standard labels are a general, directional summary of a system's reputation — not a judgment that any country is safe or suitable for your specific health needs. This is information, not medical or insurance advice: confirm your own eligibility with the official source and get a private quote for your situation.
Systems and eligibility change and vary by residency status, region, and age — this is directional information current as of 2026, not medical or insurance advice. Confirm your own public-access eligibility with the official source, and get a private quote for your situation, before relying on either.
Healthcare elsewhere in Middle East
- IsraelUniversal public · World-class careUniversal publicWorld-class$80–200/mo
- OmanMostly private · Strong careMostly privateStrong$80–200/mo
- QatarMostly private · Strong careMostly privateStrong$100–250/mo
- Saudi ArabiaMostly private · Strong careMostly privateStrong$100–280/mo
- TurkeyPublic + private mix · Good carePublic + private mixGood$50–150/mo
- United Arab EmiratesMostly private · Strong careMostly privateStrong$100–250/mo
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Information only, not legal advice — we never file anything with any government. Requirements change; verify with the official source or a licensed immigration advisor before you apply.