Healthcare in Malta for American Retirees
Healthcare in Malta
How healthcare works in Malta for a foreign resident: what the public system will and will not do for you, what private cover costs, and where the system is weak.
Malta has a good public health system centred on Mater Dei Hospital, a large modern general hospital, with a smaller general hospital on Gozo. Care is free at the point of use for those in the system and English is used throughout. A private sector operates alongside it.
Access to the public system
Access depends on your status. Programme participants are generally required to hold private health insurance covering the whole European Union rather than relying on the public system.
What private care costs
A private specialist consultation typically costs 50 to 100 euros. Private insurance for an older couple runs 200 to 500 euros a month.
What the visa requires
Health insurance covering all of the European Union is a condition of the residence programmes.
Where it is strong
Everything happens in English, which for healthcare is a significant practical advantage over the rest of southern Europe. Mater Dei is modern and well equipped, and mainland Europe is a short flight away for anything specialised.
Where it is weak
A small system on a small island means limited specialist depth. Gozo residents travel to the main island for most serious care.
Medicare
Medicare does not cover you in Malta.
Healthcare in Malta: common questions
Will Medicare cover me in Malta?
No. Original Medicare does not pay for care outside the United States except in a few narrow situations. Most retirees keep premium-free Part A, make a deliberate decision on Part B based on how often they will return to the U.S. for care, and buy local or international cover.
Can I use the public system in Malta?
Access depends on your status. Programme participants are generally required to hold private health insurance covering the whole European Union rather than relying on the public system.
What will insurance cost?
A private specialist consultation typically costs 50 to 100 euros. Private insurance for an older couple runs 200 to 500 euros a month. Health insurance covering all of the European Union is a condition of the residence programmes.
Verified Sep 7, 2026 Primary sources: residencymalta.gov.mt, cfr.gov.mt, identita.gov.mt
This resource is provided free by Federal Apostille as an educational tool. It is not legal, tax, immigration or financial advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by using it. Immigration rules, income thresholds, fees and processing times change frequently and often without notice, and consulates apply them differently. Always confirm current requirements with the official government source and the specific consulate that has jurisdiction over your U.S. state of residence before you act. Every figure on this site carries the date we last verified it and a link to the primary source.
