Medical Insurance for over 75's

[STAN MYERS]

I am 77 and we are thinking of locating in Panama. We are Canadians but plan to live year round in Panama therefore would lose our Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). I have a pacemaker but am in good health. What options are available to me in Panama?

[COUNTRY EXPERT- JESSICA RAMESCH]

Dear Stan,

Yes, it can be a bit harder once you’re over 74. There is some information on this in your Panama Insider website (please see https://internationalliving.com/country_clubs/panama/health-care/)

You can also contact brokers directly, see the Rolodex section of this website.

Please let me know if you have additional questions.

Regards,

[STAN MYERS]

Hi Jessica,
I have spoken to a couple of brokers on the rolodex and they have both stated that I wouldn’t be able to get private insurance from a company but said that I might try a hospital program such as the hospital in Coronado. Do you have any info on their program?
Do you have their address as I would like to write them to obtain info. The other option I was told about was the government insurance. Would I qualify for that and of what quality is it? If you could help me with these two questions I would appreciate it.

[LONNIE MCGUIRE]

Hi Stan,

I’m glad you opened this discussion. I am 76 and my wife is 73 and we are planning to move to Panama and would have already if we could get the health insurance worked out. The options so far aren’t very promising. There has to be some people out there who have found an acceptable solution even though it may not be ideal but is better than nothing at all. I will be watching and hoping.

[COUNTRY EXPERT- JESSICA RAMESCH]

In the Chiriqui region, most expats choose to buy a hospital membership plan run by MS Panama/Palig. This is likely the same outfit running the hospital program you inquired about in Coronado. I’d try the region’s PlayaCommunity.com website for information/posts RE how expats feel about the service, and/or contact the hospital directly for info about the facility and services offered (http://www.facebook.com/SanFernandoCoronado) and/or MS Panama: (for information on current membership plans being offered http://www.ms-panama.com/).

NOTE that hospital membership plans are not insurances and are not regulated by the insurance superintendency. So they can change rates etc. at will. That said, the track record seems to be acceptable to the expats that continue to use and opt for the service.

If you’re between the ages of 65 and 74, another option is international insurances available in Panama; the most common seems to be Bupa International. (Persons 74 and over might also be able to obtain coverage but acceptance rates are low; each application is evaluated on a case-by-case basis.) There are other companies such as AIG and World Wide Medical, which may offer over-74 policies (for WWM info contact Magda Crespo, mentioned in your Rolodex section of this website).

[COUNTRY EXPERT- JESSICA RAMESCH]

P.S. Remember, there are insurance professionals listed in your Rolodex section of this website…make use of their knowledge and expertise as you’re considering these important matters!

Best of luck to you…

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