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Uruguay International Health Insurance / Healthcare System |
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Uruguay is located in South America, between the two regional powerhouses of Argentina and Brazil. It has a population just short of 3.5 million people.
Uruguay was one the first Latin American countries to adopt a welfare system. It has a well educated population and is one of the more affluent countries in the region. However, in recent years, Uruguay's economy has been affected by the 2001-2002 economic downturn impacting South American nations - particularly Argentina and Brazil. This contributed to an increase in the level of poverty in Uruguay, raising the rate from 15.3% in 2001 to 32.1% in 2004. Nevertheless, Uruguay managed to avoid a recession in 2008-2009 following the worldwide financial troubles, keeping positive growth rates mainly through higher public expenditure and investment.
The Uruguayan healthcare system consists of both private and public healthcare providers. The overall standard of healthcare is good. Foreign nationals in Uruguay are required to pay for all health services received in Uruguay, with the majority of healthcare providers requiring cash payment; credit cards may be accepted in some public healthcare facilities, but there is likely be a surcharge of 5%-10% levied. Visitors to Uruguay are urged to take out comprehensive Uruguayan health insurance to ensure they can meet the financial costs of any healthcare services used while they are in the country.
While healthcare facilities in Uruguay are generally good they are limited in some specialized medical fields, with some hospitals inadequately equipped to undertake major procedures. In the case of a medical emergency, a patient will probably need to be airlifted to a country with a medical center of excellence. It is therefore important to ensure international health insurance for Uruguay has cover for air ambulance facilities and possible repatriation.
The Ministry of Public Health (MPH) in Uruguay is responsible for setting standards and regulating the country's healthcare provision. The MPH administers assistance programs and develops preventative health programs. Under the Uruguayan constitution, the state is mandated to provide all health and public hygiene related services and preventative care services free of changed to the indigent element of the population.
The MPH will provide healthcare services through the State Health Services Administration (ASSE), which is an autonomous agency. There are approximately 65 healthcare facilities in Uruguay, with the ASSE being responsible for delivering satisfactory standards of healthcare to Uruguayan citizens. The ASSE role is primarily deliverance of health services to Uruguayan citizens, ensuring patient welfare is maintain. Working closing with the MPH who set the standards for the ASSE to work to, and provide the budget for the national healthcare system.
The Uruguayan private healthcare sector is dominated by collective healthcare institutions (CHCIs), which are private non-profit making organizations, set up as part of Uruguayan law, to focus on healthcare coverage for Uruguayan citizens. There are roughly 48 CHCI's in Uruguay, providing medical care to approximately 50 percent of the population. This is achieved through pre-paid comprehensive Uruguayan health insurance schemes. Services are administered through three sub-groups: a mutual assistance association, a professional cooperative and a quasi-government entity. The State exercises some legal and technical control over the CHCIs, although they have a high degree of autonomy.
There are also private sanatoriums, which offer private medical care to the high-income groups in Uruguay.
Employees of private companies in Uruguay contribute to a compulsory healthcare plan affiliated with their preferred sector of the CHCI. This provides total health coverage for the employee, but not for their dependents, with coverage continuing for a six month period in the event of employment being discontinued.
Healthcare cover for the indigenous population of Uruguay is comprised of the ASSE serving 33.7% of the population, the CHCI's serving 46.6%, the Armed Forces health services 4.2%, the Police Health Service 1.8% and other Uruguayan institutions 1.2%. It is estimated that more than 10% of the Uruguayan populationhave no form of health cover.
Following the installation of a new government in Uruguay in 2005, proposals were implemented to reform the Uruguayan healthcare system. The aim being to provide universal healthcare coverage, with equality of access on a more decentralized basis. The reform is focused on creating an integrated national healthcare system, with the transfer of MPH provided health services to autonomous healthcare agencies and the development of a national health fund. The reform of the healthcare system is under continuous progress, with steps being implemented gradually.
Uruguay is faced with a number of health issues and cost pressures stemming from an aging population (in 2005 approximately 3.2% of the total population was aged 80 or older, with the figure expected to increase) and the increase in chronic non-communicable diseases - heart disease, cancer, asthma, diabetes. Lifestyle diseases are now is estimated to account for 70% of deaths among Uruguayan citizens and for 60% of Uruguay's total healthcare expenditure. In a 2006 health survey of Uruguayan citizens aged between 25 and 64 - 60% were considered obese, 34% had high blood pressure, 33% had high cholesterol, 31% were smokers and 7% were diabetics. These findings highlight the emerging pressures on the healthcare services.
As part of the Uruguayan healthcare reforms, it is intended to improve funding of the system through the creation of a National Health Insurance program. This will facilitate Uruguayan families contributing to the government run scheme depending on their incomes, with additional contributions from public and private sector employers. This is intended to provide a wider and fairer healthcare coverage for all Uruguayan citizens.
The British Hospital is a well known healthcare facility in the capital Montevideo. The British Hospital provides patients with a range of health services including in-patient and out-patients facilities. It includes provision for 24 hour emergency treatment, intensive care units, diagnostic services and dental treatment. Medical professionals working in the hospital are either trained in the UK, USA, Western Europe, Japan or Latin America. The British Hospital is fully capable of meeting the medical needs of international patients, with staff who can communicate in English. The health services in the British Hospital also provide some of the finest VIP services in the country.
The American Hospital (Sanatorio Americano) is a healthcare provider with more than 100 patient beds. It has operating rooms, delivery rooms, intensive care units and cardiac treatment facilities. The American Hospital is able to provide comprehensive healthcare services to patients, although the hospital specializes in cardiac surgery and heart transplants for children and adults; being one the leading hospitals in Uruguay in this medical field.
As a foreign national in Uruguay, you will find the healthcare facilities adequate, but likely to be very expensive. The healthcare system is well developed across the country, with the better quality healthcare provision being available in the capital Montevideo and other large cities. Privately run healthcare providers primarily cater for foreign visitors. In these circumstances, it is recommended that international health insurance for Uruguay is obtained, in order to give you full medical coverage while you are in this country.
Dengue fever is endemic to the Latin American region, and Uruguay has been impacted with outbreaks across the country. There is no vaccination to combat dengue fever, as it is spread by infected mosquitoes; therefore taking precautionary steps to safeguard against mosquito bites is highly recommended.
In the past, there have been outbreaks of hepatitis A in Uruguay. Consequently, it is advised that all visitors to the country should ensure that immunization against hepatitis A is carried out. It is also recommended that you should seek a doctor’s advice prior to your trip to Uruguay, for any up-date information on any health issues affecting the country.
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Uruguay International Health Insurance |
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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 Uruguay, a international health insurance plan will be the ideal solution. Policies can be tailor-made to ensure all your needs are met while in Uruguay. Should you require further information on Uruguay and international medical insurance, or to receive a free quotation, please do not hesitate to call one of our expert advisers now. |
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