HEALTH CARE

@bsivell23 … Yes. Cost will be more the older you are (not because of pre-existing condition)

In order o get a Visa, you are required to get EPS. After you get your visa and cedula they don't usually check.

As a side note, it is getting harder and more bureaucratic to get a visa all the time

- @nico peligro

11) Pension – New Health Insurance Requirements, Criminal Background Check,  and Mental Health Certifications for Veterans.

New residents must have travelers insurance for duration of visa. Existing residents must have Colombian Health Insurance

What Is EPS? EPS Colombia forms the public health system of this country and is mandatory for all residents. Having a monthly premium of 12.5% ​​of your gross monthly income.

However, once you have your visa, you can abandon your EPS account...no one is watching..and keep Medicina Prepagada..or travel insurance..or nothing..

With a good Medicina prepagada no need for the hassle, bureaucracy and expense of an EPS

Anyone residing in Colombia with a cédula want to comment on the accuracy of the following statement?

What Is EPS? EPS Colombia forms the public health system of this country and is mandatory for all residents. Having a monthly premium of 12.5% ​​of your gross monthly income.

- @N.Barley

The monthly premium is calculated as 12.5 percent of the 40 percent of monthly gross income that you declare to the EPS.

Calculating EPS Insurance costs You may use an insurance agent, or an accountant to help you out with calculations, however the amount you must pay is based on your MONTHLY INCOME. Take your monthly income in pesos and then multiply by .05 (5%). The Colombian law says top pay into EPS by calculating 12.5% from 40% of your income, which is a complicated way of saying muliply by 5%.  * remember other types of premium colombian insurance to not qualify or replace EPS requirements for visa renewals.

Liona

JUNE 23, 2017 AT 8:48 AM

If you register yourself as an independent at the EPS, you can quote yourself on the minimum wage of colombia regardless of the foreign income you get, then your monthly contribution is only the minimum which is 92400 pesos or like 33 dollar in 2017

Suzann OCTOBER 20, 2018 AT 7:52 PM                                                                                              I have been researching EPS as that is the only option for me. I am 70 yrs old with new pensionado M-11 visa. I notice that everyone says “12.5% of of the monthly gross income that you declare to the EPS”. This sort of implies that not everyone declares their full total monthly gross income? You are not asked for proof when you apply? And the EPS system has no ability to cross check or verify to Visa income declaration?

If so, and since the minimum retirement visa income is currently around $781 USD/month (based on 3*Colombian min monthly), then I could perhaps declare $800/mo income or $850 and not be questioned?

I am happy to pay, but I prefer to not pay more than I am currently paying in USA Medicare. Was hoping to be able to drop Medicare and pay to Colombian EPS as more or less even swap.

@N.Barley what Coomeva medicina prepagada told me is thier limit for sign up.for new programs is 58 yo

@N.Barley what Coomeva medicina prepagada told me is thier limit for sign up.for new programs is 58 yo

- @nico peligro

The monthly premium is calculated as 12.5 percent of the 40 percent of monthly gross income that you declare to the EPS.

El trabajador independiente debe pagar mensualmente la totalidad de la cotización, la cual corresponde al 12.5 % del ingreso base de cotización al Sistema General de Seguridad Social en Salud y al 16 % en materia pensional. Los independientes vinculados por contrato de prestación de servicios ,deben cotizar tanto a salud como a pensión sobre el 40 % del valor mensual bruto del contrato, sin que el salario base de cotización sea inferior a un Salario Mínimo Legal Mensual Vigente.

Example 4: Pensioners.

TAKE IN MIND: There is no clear law that determines the exact IBC for those who have a retirement income from abroad; However, currently according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Colombia the IBC  must correspond to 40% of the total monthly income received by the foreigner.

Edward is a foreigner and is retired by the Social Security Administration in his home country. The pension he receives monthly is equivalent to USD 3000. He is currently living in Colombia and has a Cédula de Extranjería, but he is not affiliated with the SGSS.

Does he have the obligation to contribute to health care in Colombia?

Yes, since he is a resident in Colombia and earns more than 1SMLMV from a pension abroad.

How should he contribute?

Total income for the month: $3000 USD ($11,400,000 approximately).

Minimum contribution base: 40%

Health rate: 12.5%

IBC: (total income) x minimum contribution base.

IBC: ($11,400, 000) x 40%=$4,560,000

IBC: $4,560,000

Contribution to health: $4,560,000 x 12.5% = $570,000 (pesos). 

You are now required to be enrolled in an EPS to renew your  visa and cedula.

Also suppsedly your monthly EPS payments depend on your income, but nobody keeps tabs on that, and anyone can get an EPS account at the lowest rate of 94 mil a month, regardless of income.

Agents who sell EPS will tell you all types of BS..you can get a plan witout a cedula..Just Shop around.Same with bank accounts.

- @nico peligro

 

Resolution 5477 which makes some changes to visa laws and is suppose to go into effect Oct. 22, 2022 apparently requires a medical certificate for certain applicants including pensioners which can be performed in home country or Colombia.   Having read the pertinent paragraph in Spanish, the stated reason for the exam is to judge the aptitude "psicofisica" of the applicant. In English psicofisica translates to psychophysics. According to wikipedia, Psychophysics has been described as "the scientific study of the relation between stimulus and sensation".  I have no idea what that means, but some potential expats are interpreting that to mean are screening war veterans who suffer from PTSD. 

All I know is that before Resolution 5477 was passed in July 2022, an online visa entity called Expat Group had an article date April 2022 on their website titled "visas-denial-cases-for-u-s-war-veterans/".  You can Google it, but a couple of excerpts:

What is happening is that the Ministry makes a deep and detailed analysis of each case. First, they seek to review the background of the foreigner and their state of physical and mental health. So depending on this, the government decides if granting the visa to the foreign war veteran represents a national inconvenience and then finally they give the visas denial for U.S War Veterans.

What are the aggravating circumstances that cause the denials?

Disability is more significant than 60%.

The handling of weapons during wars and combat in the army.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Medical diagnoses reveal psychological disorders associated with anger, depression, anxiety, irritability, and difficulty socializing.

To me this law makes a lot of sense if it is meant to keep people with PTSD problems out of the country.  It seems that Colombia actually has a first world immigrations system while the U.S. has none.

@N.Barley they always ask for 6 months bank statements, but i never heard of them telling anyone their EPS monthly payment was too low.

Sure didnt happen to me.

Anyway, latest rumour ( and rumour only) is Petro is going to can the EPS system.

But who knows what will happen.

@N.Barley what Coomeva medicina prepagada told me is thier limit for sign up.for new programs is 58 yo

- @nico peligro

Does prepagada require you to file claims to get reimbursed for your medical bills? The name "pregada" sounds like my cellphone plan "prepago", which is why I ask.

-@N.Barley

Nope..you just show your carnet but pay a "copago" which varies from12 mil for a GP,  to 38 mil for a specialist to 50 mil for an emergency visit,and other varying small charges for tests and procedures. .