Insurance - can a 65 yr old get medical insurance? What cost?

IESS (Ecuador's Social Security System). $72.00 per month, additional $10.00 for spouse. These are last years numbers, you would have to check the current price, but it should be very close to the above. Even private insurance Ecuador should be cheaper that anything available in the US.

symo

Thanks very much for your response,i am planning to visit this Winter to get a feel for Ecuador and its culture but I was concerned about the insurance and what it might cost since I am above seventy. I don't want to be a burden to the country I just want to be covered and I am willing to pay my way.
Thanks again
Antonio

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What does the IESS system at $72.00 cover?

rsymington wrote:

IESS (Ecuador's Social Security System). $72.00 per month, additional $10.00 for spouse. These are last years numbers, you would have to check the current price, but it should be very close to the above. Even private insurance Ecuador should be cheaper that anything available in the US.

symo

Symo is correct, as usual.    

Some differences between IESS coverage and private insurance:

1. IESS does not have age limits or requirements for pre-coverage medical testing for seniors.

2. IESS does not charge deductibles at this time.

3.  There are currently no pre-existing coverage exclusions with IESS.

4.  Longer waits and lack of choice in doctors are reported with IESS.

In response to the other poster's question, virtually all medical conditions, dental and medicines when available are covered under IESS.

cccmedia in Quito

New arrivals to Ecuador should not expect to receive IESS medical care right away.  It could easily take 6 to 8 months....

1.  Up to three months to obtain permanent visa and national ID. 

2.  Three monthly payments into the IESS system before being allowed to schedule a routine doctor's appointment.

3.  Weeks or longer of waiting time to get in and see a doctor .. possibly followed by more weeks of waiting time after a referral to see a specialist.

cccmedia in Quito

Thank you for the response.  It certainly helps.  I have Ecuadorian friends that have additional insurance and the price is not cheap at $500 a month with limitations and deductibles.

I am 64 and I pay 106 per month and it's working for me. After 65  its almost impossible to get insurance.

After 65, Expats can still sign up for IESS government health care, recently $73 for an individual, slightly more for a couple.

Who is your plan with, mskalsky in Cuenca?

cccmedia

My wife and I have Saludsa insurance. The cost for us both is 175.00    100 for me as I am almost 64. I think they will not insure you over 65, so do it fast if you want a private insurance. If you have heart problems they will probably not insure you. They will make you have medical exams and test at your cost, but that's not much money here.

I had Salud insurance for a while upon moving to Quito, then changed over to IESS government health care after the government relaxed the rules for Expats in early 2014.

Salud was charging me more, $240 a month for an under-65 individual, including dental, probably due to pre-existing condition(s).

Like most Expats in EC, I have my own private doctor .. and would use the IESS coverage only for expensive/emergency care.

Salud was worthless for obtaining medicina for pre-existing need(s).  The only benefit I got was coverage, with $10 co-pay, for doctor checkups.  I went to a specialist who normally charged $50.  I paid just the ten.

By avoiding IESS doctors, I can schedule my preferred doctor at a time convenient to me .. and thus have continuity of care.  Some doctors have private practice but also see some IESS patients.

The IESS is a cumbersome program with delays commonly reported in scheduling doctors and specialists.  Quality of care seems to vary from city to city, with positive reports coming in from Cuenca in particular.  Guayaquil had a major scandal last year at the biggest IESS hospital there, Maldonado.  Quito reports are yet to come into this forum.

cccmedia

Good 'stuff' CC.
Lonecowboy