Colombia expat health insurance / colombia general healthcare news

Colombia is an emerging country in South America, with a growing tourist industry and a developing business hub. This is generating a growing expatriate community. The threat from rebel and paramilitary groups has fallen, allowing security to stabilize and for the county to develop its economy.

In the 1990's Colombia established a social security system to improve the lives of the citizens of the country. With implementation of a social security system came the overhaul of the healthcare sector in Colombia; the aim being for all Colombians to have entitlement to universal healthcare coverage. This would be achieved through contributory and subsidized health schemes using both the public and private sectors. By 2004 over 30 million Colombians were covered by contributory or subsidized healthcare schemes. As in other countries government funding for health care raises serious financial issues with a high dependency on state provision.

The healthcare for Colombians has improved greatly since the 1993 reform. The re-structured healthcare funding has required employees to make regular payments into a health plan, with the employer also making contributions. This has certainly benefited a large proportion of Colombian citizens as the social security system has increased the coverage of healthcare for many Colombians. Even though the financial strain of the healthcare system is impacting the government now, it is important to note that the healthcare system has vastly improved since the 1980's, giving the people of Colombia a better standard of living.

Expatriates or visitors to Colombia who have pre-existing medical conditions that require medication should ensure they have ample supplies of medicine with them when they are in Colombia; this is due to Pharmaceuticals being expensive. Most major brands of pharmaceuticals are readily available in Colombia, but have a high mark-up price. If you are traveling with a pre-existing medical condition, it is advised you have a doctors note and the generic name of the medication you are currently using, to assure you are given the correct medication if required.

It is important to consultant a doctor prior to your visit to Colombia; this is to check what vaccinations are required and any preventative measures that can be taken to avoid disease when visiting Colombia. By taking these steps to protect yourself should decrease the risk that you may require medical treatment for a serious illness. The diseases that are affecting Colombia are; diarrhea, malaria, yellow fever, dengue fever and leptospirosis. It is necessary to take out medical cover in the unfortunate event that you may require medical treatment and even hospitalization.

If you are a tourist or expatriate receiving medical treatment in Colombia, you will find the standard of care good, but expensive. You need to remember it is only Colombian residents who receive government support for healthcare and foreigners will be liable for all payment of medical treatment received. In the event you are taken ill and require hospitalization, it is important to safeguard yourself with a comprehensive medical insurance policy covering all eventualities - including emergency evacuation. This will ensure that if you do need to be transferred to a center of medical excellence, the financial burden will be covered.

It is worth noting that the healthcare in the cities and larger towns is excellent. However in the rural areas it is limited and, in some regions, medical care is virtually non-existent. Some areas are remote and, in addition to the security issues, diseases such as malaria, dengue and yellow fever can be prevalent. Consequently, it is essential you have comprehensive medical insurance cover in place to protect you against any financial burden that may arise if you are unfortunate enough be taken seriously ill or if involved in an accident. It is important you ensure your policy includes emergency evacuation cover as this can be a significant financial cost that can amount to thousands of dollars.

If you are looking for peace-of-mind knowing that medical costs will be covered in case of an accident or illness, to yourself and your family, while traveling to or residing in Colombia, an expat health insurance plans will be the ideal solution. Policies can be tailor-made to ensure all your needs are met while in Colombia. Should you require further information on the Colombian expat health insurance, or to receive a free consultation, please do not call one of our expert advisers now.

Colombia expat health insurance

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