William G. Says:
What are my healthcare options in Panama? Will the nursing staff take care of the patient’s needs if a family member is not with them in the hospital?
IL Panama Editor Jessica Ramesch Says:
Excellent healthcare—it’s one reason why Panama consistently ranks at the top of IL’s annual Global Retirement Index. It’s also one of the reasons I choose to live here.
There are two options for medical care in Panama: public and private. The public system is a great option for blue-collar workers, though others (like you) can use it, too… and at extremely low, subsidized prices. That said, most North American expats in Panama prefer to use the private system, not the public one.
If you were to move here, your choices would be to buy medical insurance (and pay a monthly or yearly premium), or to embrace the concept of pay-as-you-go medical care. I know many expats who do the former, and many who do the latter (sometimes because their age or pre-existing conditions prevent them from obtaining a new insurance plan). Both are viable and affordable options compared to what you’d pay for similar plans or care in the U.S.
If you can get in on an affordable insurance plan that covers you in Panama, I say go for it. (Even in Panama, long-term hospitalization in an upscale private facility can run into the thousands.) The earlier you obtain legal residence and start applying for locally viable insurance, the better. But you may be able to get one of these plans even if you are already between the ages of 65 and 70.
I’d start by checking with PALIG, historically one of Panama’s most popular and accessible options for insurance. At times they have even taken on new customers with pre-existing conditions.
To answer your final question: At private hospitals in Panama you would be attended to by nursing staff, and you would not necessarily need to have a family member there to help take care of you. (In public hospitals in Panama, I have found it helps to have a family member with you, though the care my family has received has been fantastic.)
You can find more information on the healthcare system here in Panama on the dedicated page of the IL website.
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