Before you start

A passport, and for employees a KITAS plus an employer who handles statutory enrolment
An international or travel health policy that explicitly includes emergency medical evacuation and repatriation
A funded payment method (card or cash) for upfront hospital deposits, since insurer guarantees aren't always accepted
A plan for two-wheeler cover if you ride a scooter, as many basic policies exclude or limit motorbike accidents

Step-by-step

1
Buy international health insurance with medical evacuation before you need it
Take out a policy that names emergency evacuation and repatriation, not just outpatient care. Nomad-friendly options include SafetyWing, Cigna Global and IMG Global; confirm the scooter clause matches the engine size you actually ride (some base plans only cover up to 50cc). Evacuation matters because even Bali's best hospitals refer complex cases out to Singapore, Bangkok or Jakarta.
OnlineWho: Individual (or employer for group cover)Same day to a few daysRoughly USD 45-90+ per month for nomad plans; comprehensive expat plans run higher
2
Pick your go-to private hospital and clinic, and pre-register if you can
Identify the nearest expat-grade private hospital. BIMC (Siloam group; Nusa Dua, Kuta and Ubud) is the most expat-familiar, with Siloam, Kasih Ibu and Prima Medika as alternatives. Use a trusted day clinic for routine illness, Bali belly and minor injuries. Hospitals can liaise with insurers, but only some guarantees are accepted, so know your hospital's billing process in advance.
In personWho: IndividualSet up in your first weeksPrivate GP consult roughly IDR 300,000-800,000 (~USD 20-50)
3
Let your employer enrol you in BPJS Kesehatan (KITAS holders, 6+ months)
Foreigners formally employed in Indonesia for six months or longer must join BPJS Kesehatan; the legal duty sits with the employer, who registers you and splits the contribution. Keeping BPJS active is increasingly tied to KITAS extensions. Treat it as a low-cost safety net and compliance item, not your primary cover — it's a referral-based public system, and most expats still pay privately for speed and quality.
Via employerWho: Employer registers; employee co-pays via payrollWithin first months of employmentAbout 5% of salary (4% employer, 1% employee) on a capped base
4
Get pre-exposure rabies shots and know the emergency routine
Rabies is endemic in Bali via stray dogs and monkeys and is nearly 100% fatal once symptomatic. Long-stayers should strongly consider the pre-exposure vaccine series, which simplifies treatment after any bite or scratch. Save your hospital's number and the emergency lines: 112 is the unified national emergency number, and 118 or 119 reach an ambulance. After any animal bite, wash the wound and get to a clinic that stocks rabies immunoglobulin the same day.
In personWho: IndividualPre-exposure: short series; post-bite: start within 24 hoursPre-exposure from low hundreds USD; a full post-bite course can reach ~USD 2,000

Documents you’ll need

Passport and KITAS/visa (for hospital admission and BPJS enrolment)
International/travel insurance policy number and 24/7 assistance hotline
Payment method for upfront hospital deposits (card and backup cash)
Vaccination records (rabies pre-exposure, plus routine and dengue if taken)

Things most newcomers don’t know

The single most important line in your policy is medical evacuation, not the outpatient limit.

Bali's hospitals stabilise but refer serious cardiac, trauma, stroke and cancer cases offshore. A self-funded air evacuation to Singapore runs roughly USD 25,000-100,000+, so evacuation cover — not day-to-day claims — is what protects you from catastrophe.

Source: Pacific Prime / Cigna Global Indonesia

Assume you pay first and claim later: arrange a guarantee of payment or expect an upfront deposit.

Bali hospitals often won't accept an insurer's guarantee letter unless that insurer has a local representative office, so patients frequently settle on discharge and seek reimbursement later. A funded card or cash buffer prevents treatment delays.

Source: Australian Government Bali consulate / Pacific Prime

Get the rabies pre-exposure vaccine before you need it, because immunoglobulin can be scarce when you do.

Bali recorded tens of thousands of animal bites in 2024 (dogs ~90%). Rabies immunoglobulin for the unvaccinated can run short at public and rural facilities; pre-exposure vaccination removes the need for it and simplifies post-bite care to a couple of follow-up shots.

Source: lovebali.baliprov.go.id / Hydro Medical Bali

Use BPJS for compliance and the floor, but keep private insurance for anything you actually care about.

BPJS is mandatory for employed KITAS holders and ties into visa renewal, but it's a referral-gated public system with queues. The standard expat setup is BPJS plus private international cover for speed, English-speaking care and overseas treatment.

Source: Bali Visas BPJS guide

Common mistakes to avoid

Buying a cheap travel policy with no evacuation clause, then facing a five- to six-figure air-ambulance bill for a serious case.
Assuming your insurer's guarantee letter will be accepted at the hospital, when many require upfront payment and reimburse later.
Riding a 125cc+ scooter on a plan that only covers small engines or excludes motorbike accidents — voiding the most likely claim in Bali.
Skipping pre-exposure rabies shots and discovering after a bite that immunoglobulin is unavailable nearby and the clock is running.