Health insurance in Panama: What you need to know about it

Day 172 Thursday (Jueves) - Pedasi

Always an important topic when living or just traveling to other countries. I actually use BUPA Latin America for our Health Insurance needs. It is a catastrophic plan that covers the big stuff (heart attacks, cancer, liver, etc..) yet is only costing both of us $120/month) so in essence we are self-insured for the day to day stuff, but come on when blood work costs you 8-10 dollars, Mammograms are under 30???

You decide what is best for you, your age, and your health. Don't let the government, any government decide for you.


By Pricilla McLeod Sosa

Health insurance in Panama is essential, unless you are a gambler. But what's available? What's it cost? What, if any, are the restrictions? And what's medical care like in Panama? All questions for which people considering a move to Panama need answers.

Let me deal with the last question first, and then I'll get to the others.

Panama is a modern country and has excellent doctors in all the different specialties. The quality of the hospital care is not only excellent, it is drastically less expensive than it is in the U.S. This has a positive impact on the cost of the health insurance in Panama.

First class private hospitals

There are both public and private hospitals in Panama. Most ex-pats attend the first class private hospitals which, in Panama City alone, include:

• Johns Hopkins Hospitals (Punta Paitilla)
• Clinica Hospital San Fernando (operating since 1948)
• Hospital Paitilla
• Hospital Nacional
• Hospital Santa Fe, and
• Hospital Bella Vista.

An extension of the Johns Hopkins Hospital has been completed since 2006. And there are two private hospitals in David, close to popular Boquete and Volcan, Hospital Chiriqui & Hospital Mae Lewis. Most doctors are bilingual, and I think you will be pleasantly surprised with doctors and hospitals here.

Most doctors are bilingual, and I think you will be pleasantly surprised with doctors and hospitals here.

Health insurance in Panama has been an important industry for about 100 years. The first company here was Pan American Life Insurance Company (Palic) & afterwards, Cia. Internacional de Seguros, S.A. Perhaps a more familiar name to ex-pats, Mutual of Omaha has been well established here for many years. They provided health insurance in Panama for Canal employees for a long time, but now its portfolio of clients was acquired by Aseguradora Mundial de Panama.

Familiar names.
Gradually, more companies- both Panamanian and international started to provide health insurance in Panama. They include: Palic Alico (part of the AIG group, which offers only group coverage) International Health Insurance Denmark a/s (Danish) Sagicor and World Wide Medical Assurance (mavor medical coverage only) (Dominican Republic)

Among leading Panamanian companies: ASSA
Compañia Internacional de Seguros, S. A.
Aseguradora Mundial de Panama, S. A. (who bought the Mutual's portfolio), and
Aseguradora Ancon.