Menu
Expat.com

medical insurance

Post new topic

russelleaton

Can somebody very kindly tell me what medical insurance scheme I could consider for Ecuador.  I am moving to Quito (from London, England)and plan to be based in Ecuador.  Is there any Ecuadorian medical insurance scheme available for medical emergencies or serious illness?
Thanks for any comments

Yud

Welcome on board russelleaton ;)

You can try our recommended partner who are experts in Expatriate health insurance! Hope this can help you!

Regards

Barrett

We have a Free Reprot on the medical community and insurance in Ecuador.

Barrett

ECUADOR MEDICAL TOURISM ASSOCIATION
       Edef. Acropolis 302  Av. Jose Peralta 4-38Y Av. 12 de Abril   Cuenca-Ecuador
                  USA 970-812-4363    EC Off (593)07410-307  EC cell 593-080831267


Ecuador The Land Of Excitement and Health

You may have heard of other medical destination, but if you haven’t check out what Cuenca, Ecuador has to offer in medical and dental procedures, then you may be missing out on the best medical attention facilities, best trained doctors and one of the newest most modern medical hospital and dental facility in all of Central and South America.

EMT is here to make your trip, procedure and stay one of the most memorable you have ever had.

     Why be on a waiting list?
     Why pay bank busting amounts for medical help?.
     Why drain your bank account to get the help you need?
     Why be infuriated because of the other persons accident insurance won’t cover the pro

When in just one days travel you can be in beautiful Cuenca Ecuador a the most    modern hospital in all of Ecuador  to perform your procedures at 20% of the cost in North America.

The answer to your dilemma is Cuenca, Ecuador the land of enchantment and beauty.

Where the doctors, dentist and medical facilities of Hospital Del Rio are some of the best in the world.

World renown heart specialist, plastic surgeons, Orthopedic surgeons, and dental for 15% of the cost you would pay in North America.

This story tells it all;

“On Easter Sunday 2007, my car was rear ended by a young lady going 65 miles an hour. The impact was so great that it tore my seat from the floor.  Within days my back pain was unbearable and when I tried to walk my legs would go numb to the point I couldn’t feel them.

My specialist said we can fix your back but it will cost $80,000, the problem the lady only had $25,000 in insurance coverage. Had I known of EMT and what its partners in the Ecuadorian medical community had to offer my life would have been a different story. It took me three years of suffering before I found out about EMT and Hospital Del Rio.
 

Not only could I have gotten  my back fixed, but I would have the vacation of a dream. Four star hotels, beautiful Hosteria Resort with hot baths heated from a volcanic spring to help me during my recovery time and eucalyptus  steam baths to enjoy. Food that was so exotic and gourmet and yet so nutritious, without all the added chemicals.
 

When it was all said and done I would have still had $4,000 of the insurance money to spend.

Well, I now live in Cuenca and have visited that hospital and the doctors and saw for myself Modern GE hospital equipment MRI the latest in all medical equipment a beautiful room with fresh flowers daily and hospital food that , well just wasn’t supposed to be hospital food because it was so good.
 
I didn’t have to fear about not understanding the language because not only did EMT have a English speaking staff,  but the hospital always had a patient service representative there to help me with all my needs.
 


The EMT Staff representative met me in Quito and escorted me to a five star hotel where I could res the night from my travel. The next morning I had a wonderful breakfast and them the EMT rep took  me to the airport for my 45 minute flight to Cuenca. Upon my arrival I was met by another EMT Representative and escorted to my hotel. Later EMT rep took me to met my doctor for my first examine. That night I had one of the most exquisite gourmet Ecuador meals one that I will never forget. Everything was arranged the next day and I was taken to the hospital no long hours of paper work that had already be done for me by EMT. After the operation I went to the Hotel Durian Resort for my convalescent time. Everything you would dream of in a resort. Then when my finally visit to the doctor was completed, EMT repeated the same excellent service to make my departure as easy as my arrival.

Cost you ask, well the lady only had $25,000 in insurance but with my fight food, hotels and hospital stay I still will put $4,000 in the bank.”  RP


Just one of the stories of EMT and Hospital Del Rio. You answer to affordable medical and dental care.

•    Ecuador Medical Tourism Association has partners with the best doctors, dentist and hospital as well as hotels and resorts in all of South America.
•    Ecuador Medical Tourism Association handle all your travel and hotel needs.
•    EMT has a trained English speaking  service staff too insure your comfort.
•    Ecuador has direct flight from Miami, Atlanta, Houston , New York, Los Angels and San Francisco. (Use your Mileage points and save on airline part of the package)
•    EMT partner with four and five Star hotels for your comfort and pleasure
•    EMT has flight and hospitalization insurance.
•    Any additional medicine is at 50% of the cost of the North American Pharmacy’s.
•    Once you have recovered from your procedure EMT can arrange any day or week trips to see the Glaopagos, Amazon, the Vilcabamba in the Valley of longevity or just enjoys the beautiful site and sound or Colonial Cuenca Ecuador. All at discount prices.
•    A staff to met your need on duty 24/7 and EMT provides you with a cell phone with preprogrammed numbers to met your every need.

International Living has named Cuenca Ecuador as one of the top ten vacation destination in the world. So has Time and MSNBS done articles and stories on the hottest vacation spot in the all of South America.

Barrett

Why haven’t I heard about all of this?
By Charles Barrett

One of the problems facing US expats is the huge amount of misinformation about obtaining the Ecuadorian Residency visa.  You may be asking, “What is the best visa to have?” or “Why do I have this travel restriction stating that I can’t be out of the Ecuador for more that 90 days in the first eighteen months?” or “ What is the least expensive way of obtaining a visa?”  These are the questions expats, or soon to be expats, ask themselves, only to later find that they were not given the true facts and all the pertinent information.

In fact, accurate facts are a hard thing to come by in Ecuador. Getting the right facts can be compared to the challenge of getting the truth from a politician.  It is very hard to get straight answers or the true facts from many of those in the political arena.  And the facts in Ecuador depend on who is doing the asking, as well as who is doing the answering.  It is a moving target and one that has left many US expats frustrated to say the least.  In this discussion I am going to give you my best shot at what is fact and truthful, based on all the discrepancies I have encountered during my Ecuador experience.

Most US citizens who are moving to Ecuador to retire are obtaining the immigrant retirement visa.  (There are 2 types of visa – immigrant and non-immigrant). There can be issues concerning this visa. For example, you may have heard that you cannot be out of Ecuador for more than 90 days total in the first 18 months, from the time you initially entered the country. Lawyers usually take up to five months to obtain the visa for you when it should be done in 45 to 60 days, tops. It takes a lot of paper work and verification of birth certificate, marriage license and a guarantee of by the source of your retirement. I won´t go into the cost because it can vary from lawyer to lawyer. The lawyer´s fees can run from $2,300 to $2,800.

The Investment Visa looks easy.  Just put $25,000 in the bank for the primary person and the $1,000 for each dependant. So you now have $26,000 or more tied up indefinitely. Lawyers can take up to five months to get the visa for you. It takes almost as much paper work as the retirement visa. Oh, you say, I’ll just buy an apartment; the real estate agent and the builder tell you there´s no problem getting your deed, for without the deed you can’t get an Investor visa. So, for up to two years after, you are still waiting for your deed. This is more common than most expats are told when they go this route. Or, maybe you bought a house or land only to find out there is a problem with the deed. So, once again your Investor’s visa is in jeopardy and you´re now running out of time for being in Ecuador legally.

Another potential problem: You are worried because the Ecuadorian customs tells you that you only have six months from the time you entered the country for your shipment of household goods to arrive, in order to be duty free.  It’s four and a half months now and your lawyer is telling you that you are almost finished. However, when you ask how long, you can´t get a straight answer. You are now looking for antacid pills and you don’t know what you are going to do.

One of the best kept secrets is THE CORPORATION work visa.  This visa is the easiest and fastest to get.  It usually takes about 30 to 45 days. The cost is $1,400 for a visa for you and your spouse or significant other. There are no travel restrictions. (a non-immigrant visa)  It doesn’t require as much documentation. You form a corporation where you own 99% and an Ecuadorian owns 1 Your accountant or your Ecuadorian law firm files the required monthly reports, zeroed, tax form for around $30 per month. You pay minimum wage to your manager and your spouse and pay the $49 a month minimum Social Security fee, to the government. This fee entitles you to free dental, health care and medicine. This visa is renewable yearly for $200.  .

You may be saying, “Come on Charles it can’t be that easy.”  Yes, it is, and foreign companies have been sending employees to Ecuador for over 50 years using this method, which also allows you to bring your used household goods and office equipment, duty free.

So now you have a visa. You can go back and pack your things, wait for your apartment to be finished and get your deed, without worries.

If need be, you can then wait for your retirement benefits to kick in, apply for your retirement visa and then sell your corporation to the next Expat that needs one, just as you did.  By getting this visa, you will be able to get your Retirement visa with only a passport and apostilled proof of income (from EC consulate in the US). 

So why haven’t you heard of this before now? Why didn’t your lawyer tell you about it? Maybe because it is the easiest and cheapest way to get a residency visa and the best kept secret in Ecuadorian visas!

Julien

Hi Barrett,

could you please avoid copy'n'paste messages on the forum ? Next time we'll moderate

Thanks

lili85

hi i would like to help you...im ecuadorian ..if you are looking for health care optionss you can try with a private company of health security..they are ok ..i have Salud and Ecuasanitas..and both are good...the payment is not bad also ..and the medical asistance is really good!!!! good luck and wellcome to my country!!

quito0819

You should know that there are age restrictions on private health insurance here.  Some expats just keep a credit card for that sort of thing as doctors and hospitals are way less expensive than in the States.  Have zero idea of private hospitals in Great Britain.  But we (USA) are getting to be wotld famous for our medical costs.  Ecuador is a welcome change.

3lckr

You should know that insurance here works different. You buy an insurance for a particular hospital or chain of hospitals, say: Hospital Metropolitano in Quito. Your insurance works like in US, meaning you are not paying anything extra, only at this hospital. Should you visit a doctor outside of the hospital, you must pay him/her the fees in cash (credit card or check), take the invoice and get the reimbursment later at the insurance company. If you are generally healthy, maybe it is a better idea not to buy the insurance. After a year of paying $50 per month and havn't used the insurance once, I decided rather keep a little fund for accidents.

Barrett

Sulud  is one of the largest and cover all Ecuador , we have a medical and Insurance Report.

President@ecuador-medical-tourium-association.com

Robert

3lckr

They all "cover" all Ecuador. You just pay cash on the spot and they reimburse you later.

Articles to help you in your expat project in Ecuador

  • Healthcare in Ecuador
    Healthcare in Ecuador

    Ecuador, as a fast-developing nation, has laws that are constantly evolving, but one thing is certain: the ongoing ...

  • Food in Ecuador
    Food in Ecuador

    What kind of food will you find in restaurants, cafes, and private homes in Ecuador? Many restaurants in Ecuador ...

  • Work in Ecuador
    Work in Ecuador

    Ecuador is famous as a retirement haven. But you might not want to wait until retirement age to move there and ...

  • Opening a bank account in Ecuador
    Opening a bank account in Ecuador

    A few years back, an expat would just breeze into an Ecuadorian bank, flash their passport and a bank account ...

  • Family and children in Ecuador
    Family and children in Ecuador

    Family is everything to an Ecuadorian. The extended family unit is the most important aspect of life in Ecuador, ...

  • The Working Holiday Visa for Ecuador
    The Working Holiday Visa for Ecuador

    Ecuador is truly a paradise for adventure and nature lovers, and thanks to the Working Holiday Visa program, they ...

  • Permanent Residency in Ecuador
    Permanent Residency in Ecuador

    Ecuador is calling and you are ready to go and experience all that this gorgeous country has to offer. However, ...

  • Work in Cuenca
    Work in Cuenca

    There is no doubt that the Spanish colonial city of Cuenca is a wonderful place to call home, as demonstrated by ...

All of Ecuador's guide articles