Jakarta Expats Tips: Health Insurance for Household Staff

What’s the best way to cover healthcare costs for our nanny and her family? How can I easily pay for it? How much does it cost? Those are questions we often hear from our expat clients.

Many simply reimburse their staff’s medical expenses upon presentation of receipts. This is a manageable solution for minor medical treatments but can very quickly add up in the event of a hospitalization.

Instead, we recommend contributing to the National Health Insurance System (BPJS). Members are often met with lengthy waits, but it has its advantages: it is very affordable, can be paid online and most importantly provides wide coverage without excluding preexisting conditions.

Moreover, individual participation is mandatory for all Indonesian residents. This included non-formal workers such as domestic workers even if only a minority of them contribute regularly.

What does it cover?

BPJS’s coverage includes:

• health improvement services and disease prevention (ex: health screening, immunization, family planning and chronic disease management programs)
• medical treatment services by general practitioners and dentists
• advanced health referral services for outpatients and hospitalizations.

Unlike private insurance, there are no exclusions due to preexisting conditions or age.

Some treatments are not covered by BPJS including advanced medical treatments (such as heart surgery, advanced dental procedures), infertility treatments, alternative/experimental medicine, healthcare obtained outside the BPJS procedure, healthcare obtained at facilities not participating with BPJS… To expand coverage, BPJS members may also contact private healthcare insurance companies.

How does it work?

BPJS members must first seek care from an authorized primary care facility (FasKes 1 are located all over the city, a complete list can be found here) which will recommend a more specialized care facility if needed. Members shall bring BPJS/KIS card, copies KTP, KK, and referral letters from FasKes 1 if they have been referred to a specialized care facility.

How much does it cost?

One household is given one BPJS number which will cover both spouses and up to 4 dependent children. Dependent children are unmarried children up to 21 years old, or 25 years old if attending university. (Children beyond the first 4 may be added at a different cost)

The monthly premium amount for BPJS Healthcare depends on the number of members and the selected class.

In Indonesia, hospitals have different levels of room comfort. They range from wards with 10 or more beds, to private luxury rooms the size of small apartments. The medical service itself is supposed to be equal regardless of room comfort. Therefore, classes in BPJS refer to the comfort of the room only:

Class changes can be done once every 12 months.

How can I contribute for my employee?

Employers can easily pay online using the GoJek App or Tokopedia website (see tutorial for both herebelow). All that’s needed is the BPJS number. 

BPJS Healthcare members must pay their premium at the latest by the 10th day of a calendar month. Any delay in payment will cause member status to be temporarily frozen until all the late payments are paid.

My employee is not registered yet, how can he/she register?

Registration may be done in person (via BPJS office branches) or online (new members will need to go to the local BPJS office to pick up the card).

The following documents will be required:

• KK (kartu keluarga)
• KTP (kartu tanda penduduk)
• NPWP
• Photo 3×4 cm (2)
• Email
• Phone number
• Bank account number to pay premium from.

The complete registration process may take 1-2 months.

Contibue reading our complete Expat Family Guide to Hiring and Managing Household Staff.

The information contained in this article has been compiled from here and here.