Bali Expats Healthcare
Expats In Bali Can Access Indonesian Social Security Healthcare
The National Health Insurance Service of the Health Social Security Agency (JKN BPJS) in Bali is reminding expats that they are entitled to many free or subsidised public health services in the same way that Indonesian nationals are.
The BPJS is not a service that tourists or travelers are eligible for, but that does not stop non-residents from accessing new world-class healthcare facilities in the province.
Speaking to reporters, the Head of the Singaraja Health BPJS Office, Joys Karman Nike Palupi, confirmed that in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations.
BPJS Kesehatan is able to provide services to foreigners. Foreigners are eligible, provided they meet specific requirements.
Palupi told reporters, “At least have lived in Indonesia for the last 6 months, have an official residence permit, and be a worker or investor. There must be a business entity that oversees or acts as a business provider.”
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She noted that in Buleleng, there are hundreds of expats and foreign workers who are eligible for BPJS services. Palupi added that these individuals work in a range of industries, including those who have opened businesses in the tourism sector or have invested in the accommodation sector in Buleleng Regency. She confirmed that many take class 1 and class 2 health insurance.
Palupi told reporters, “Many foreigners join because, according to the information from those we have met, the reason for joining is that the premium paid is relatively cheap. Other than that, here they say it’s easy to find a specialist doctor.”
While only those who are residing in Bali on a KITAP or KITAS will be able to access specific BPJS services, all tourists traveling to Bali will have access to new world-class medical tourism facilities at the Bali International Hospital in Sanur.
Sanur, which is Bali’s OG tourism resort, has undergone a serious transformation over the last five years and is now officially operating as the Sanur Special Economic Zone for Health, Wellness, and Medical Tourism.
The Indonesian Tourism Board, Wonderful Indonesia, shared, “Special Economic Zones are areas with special rules to attract investment and are meant to grow the economy. Sanur SEZ is the first Indonesian health and wellness zone, blending world-class medical care with Balinese healing traditions.”
Adding “In Sanur SEZ, step into 4.9 hectares of ethnobotanical garden where yoga spaces, open-air spaces, and sacred melukat rituals are situated peacefully in the heart of the garden. It’s not just recovery, it’s a transformative journey.”
The Bali International Hospital, which is now fully open and operational, is poised to help establish Bali as a world-leading medical tourism destination, offering patients an alternative to seeking medical care in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Hong Kong.
The brand new hospital facility offers patients access to Cardiology, Oncology, Neurology, Gastroenterology, Orthopedics, Stem Cell Therapy, Aesthetic Surgery, Fertility Treatments, Eye Specialists, and Geriatrics.
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In the coming months, the Sanur Special Economic Zone will also welcome the opening of dozens of private specialist clinics offering everything from reproductive healthcare services and aesthetic and cosmetic treatments.
What sets Sanur and the Bali International Hospital apart from other medical tourism destinations around the world is that, steps away from the wards, tourists can rest, recover, or even prepare for treatment with a stay at The Sanur.
The 5-star dual hotel resort area is home to The Meru Sanur and Bali Beach Hotel, which is the tallest hotel in Bali, featuring 10 floors and 274 rooms.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Bali International Hospital, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto told the media, “I think (the Sanur Special Economic Zone) is a breakthrough for the first time in our republic, we are planning, or creating a special economic zone for world-class, international-class health services.”
He added, “I saw that Bali International Hospital was also extraordinary. When I entered, I thought it was a hotel. Indeed, the hospital has a hotel feel. The floors are marble. What I mean is, Indonesia is a big country, a developed country, dynamic, so we must also have the best facilities.”
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New Bali – Java Fast Boat Route
ENew Java – Bali Route launches for Adventoures Tourists
The long-awaited new Bali-East Java tourist fast boat service has officially launched.
The new public transportation route has been months in the making, and the first journey took place on Wednesday, 23rd July 2025, with 75 tourists traveling from Banyuwangi to Serangan in Bali.
Speaking to reporters following the safe and successful first journey of the Banyuwangi-Denpasar fast boat service, I Ketut Sriawan, Head of the Denpasar Transportation Office, said that the new route had received a positive response from passengers.
Now, passengers aboard the Express Bahari fast boat from Banyuwangi can travel from Banyuwangi to Denpasar in just 3 hours. Previously, this trip would have required a short crossing over the Bali Strait, followed by a minimum four-hour drive to central Denpasar; often longer considering traffic congestion on the Gilimanuk-Denpasar Highway.
Sriawan told reporters, “In terms of the ship, I saw earlier that the ship was also quite good, there were VIP, executive, and economy rooms. This safety standard has also been checked by Syahbandar, and we see the condition above on the ship is also quite good.”
He added, “During peak seasons such as Eid and Nataru, the operation of fast boats can reduce the accumulation [of vehicles] in Gilimanuk. Likewise, from the East Java side, it can reduce the density in Ketapang. This becomes a means of transportation that helps the land sector.”
Sirawan noted that the launch of the operation of the new fast boat service will also help spread the concentration of tourism more broadly across the province.
He shared, “Who knows, with this transportation, they can also visit tourism areas in Serangan, Denpasar, and Bali in general. Those from here [Denpasar] can also visit Mount Ijen. So, this is integrated to develop the tourism area.”
One domestic traveler, Budiono, shared his experience aboard the Express Bahari fast boat with reporters. He regularly travels between East Java and Central Bali, as his family is based in Banyuwangi, but he works in Bali’s Sanur.
He noted, “I usually go from Banyuwangi to Denpasar by land with a travel time of five to six hours. But, with this fast boat, the travel time is shorter.”
Officials have confirmed that the Banyuwangi-Denpasar route will currently be operated exclusively on the Express Bahari fast boat. The service will operate 6 days a week, except on Tuesdays. The Banyuwangi-Denpasar route is scheduled to depart at 9:00 a.m. local time. The Denpasar-Banyuwangi route departs at 2 pm local time.
Traveling by fast boat is one of the most affordable and convenient ways to navigate around Bali. Due to rising issues with traffic congestion, political leaders and businesses in Bali are seeking to better utilize the ocean for sea taxi services and increased fast boat operations.
It is already the case that dozens of fast boat departures leave Sanur Port every day, connecting tourists to must-visit destinations around Bali Province, including Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nusa Ceningan.
It is also possible to explore further afield from a Snaur Port, with multiple daily departures to Lombok and the Gili Islands.
Tourists also have the option of traveling to Bali’s outlying islands and Lombok from Serangan Port in Denpasar and Padangbai Harbor in East Bali.
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Tourists who wish to avoid traffic congestion entirely and take the more scenic route between Canggu and Uluwatu can access the GoBoat sea taxi transfer on a daily basis. Sea shuttle services with GoBoat are also available from Jimbaran.
Tourists and travelers setting out to travel by boat anywhere in Indonesia are advised to check weather conditions and wave forecasts prior to departure.
The Australian Tourism Advice Bureau, Smartraveler, has recently issued updated warnings for tourists traveling by boat in Bali, urging them to choose reputable providers.
Smartraveler explains, “Travel by boat or ferry can be dangerous. Commercial and private boat and ferry operators may not comply with international safety and maintenance standards. Australians have been seriously injured or have died in marine transport incidents.”
Bali Bingin Beach Demolition
Bali Leaders Reveal Vision For Bingin Beach After Demolitions At Tourist Hotspot
Leaders in Bali’s Uluwatu have revealed plans for what will happen to Bingin Beach after the demolition of 48 buildings in the area has been completed.
The demolition of illegal buildings reported to be violating spatial planning laws and encroaching onto state-owned land began on Monday, 21st July 2025.
Speaking to reporters as demolition work was underway, the Regent of Badung Wayan Adi Arnawa emphasized that the Badung Regency Government is committed to taking action against violations.
He confirmed that the government is now taking suitable action against the violations found in the investigation carried out, but the Satpol PP, who are the civil police.
He shared, “What is clear is that we at the Badung Regency Government will remain consistent, especially in enforcing regional regulations (Perda). We have now conducted identification and monitoring, including not only the Badung Regency Government, but I see the Bali Provincial Government as well, working in parallel.”
Many of the Bingin Beach community have been left devastated and in shock that the demolitions have gone ahead, especially while legal appeals are underway. Many local community member have shared their frustration with Regent Arnawa since he is from Pecatu Village, within which the tourism hotspots of Uluwatu can be found.
While many have been left devastated and have lost their jobs overnight, other observers note that the government is now enforcing laws that have been in place for many years.
Investor advice platform Bali Expert wrote in a social media post, “The choice to demolish rather than legalize says a lot. They could’ve issued permits, set rental fees, and kept things running. But they didn’t — because that would set a dangerous precedent: build wherever you want, and expect the law to catch up.”
Regent Arnawa told reporters, “I’ve explained everything, and hopefully, the steps taken yesterday will also educate the public, both investors and the general public, that any violations will be dealt with.” He noted that after the demolition process, he will invite the community to discuss the future of the land. He also emphasized that there have been no attempts to marginalize workers at Bingin Beach.
Regent Arnawa added, “After this process is complete, we’ll clean it up, sit together, and this is a place we must protect together. If this place has the potential to generate profits or even improve the community’s well-being, why not? But with practices that don’t violate regulations.”
He concluded, “After the demolition, we will work with the team to assess what we can do there. Bingin Beach is a prime beach. I’m sure that once it’s renovated, it will become an attraction, whether it attracts surfers or something else. At the very least, tourists will want to come, and it will contribute to the well-being of the local community.”
On Tuesday, 22nd July, the Chief of the Badung Satpol PP, Gusti Agung Ketut Suryanegara, told reporters that the initial demolition strategy is to ‘disable’ the business premises before large-scale demolition can occur. He shared, “By disabling vital facilities, this will certainly impact operations. Only then can everything be leveled.”
Although on Monday, 21st July, Suryanegara told reporters that there would be no use of heavy machinery at this point, updated statements on Tuesday afternoon suggest that the use of heavy machinery is on the cards in the near future.
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He noted that he aims to complete the demolition work within a month. Therefore, efforts are being made to expedite the demolition by bringing in heavy equipment. The business buildings on Bingin Beach are situated on a cliff face with limited access, and he acknowledged that the use of heavy equipment is still a viable option.
He noted, “This also depends on the operator’s courage to execute the project in the field. We are still exploring the possibility of borrowing land to allow access for this heavy equipment.”
He told reporters that he would personally be onsite to supervise any demolition work by heavy machinery contractors.
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All articles are provided by “The Bali Sun“
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