Health Care Quality and Cost in Latin America

First and foremost, just about every single country north and south of the United States has universal health care. The few that do not (Belize, Costa Rica) provide free emergency health care, by law to all human beings. Below you can see the list of best healthcare in the world that ranks 167 countries with the following factors: quality of care, efficiency, patient outcomes, access to care and cost of care.

Best Healthcare in The America’s

with their overall rank on the world stage:

Health Insurance – Yes or No?

Personally, I did not carry any type of international health insurance policy for travel in LATAM. When I went on the scuba diving trip to Galapagos, I did take out a DAN scuba insurance policy. Other than that, USA and Mexico would be the only places with large out of pocket expenses. Most countries south of Mexico, emergency care is free to all human beings as well as private options available at affordable rates.

Travel | Medical Insurance Recommendation

If you need health insurance while traveling, the only company I can confidently recommend is Patriot IMG. In the past, I used an IMG health insurance policy to satisfy a one-year visa for France. If you know anything about the French government, you already know to satisfy the French government speaks volumes.

They offer three tiers: travel insurance, travel medical insurance and international health insurance. There is no click to buy option, you must contact them to obtain a policy. This way an agent will ensure you are getting the policy that meets all your needs. Top notch, highly recommend Patriot IMG.

Medication Management

The absolute best pharmacy experience was in Nicaragua. Specifically, this pharmacy had the most medication for the best price and no limit as to how much you can purchase. Here I was able to buy a one-year supply of all Porter’s medications. Inside this pharmacy they have a doc in a box that can write you a new prescription.

If you’re traveling and require medication, always keep a copy of your latest prescription with you. Would highly recommend seeing a physician ASAP in Mexico to obtain new prescriptions in Spanish. This is not required, but I found it to be much easier in each country when everything was in Spanish.

Controlled Substances and Narcotics

Despite the age-old rumors of being able to buy anything at any time, this is a lie. If you’re prescribed a controlled substance or narcotic Mexico and Colombia will be the absolute hardest to obtain a prescription and fill said prescriptions. The rest are easier, purchase with a prescription at the pharmacy.

Porter (my dog) was on phenobarbital which is a controlled substance. Needless to say, I had the fun experience of learning this firsthand. For MX and COL, only certain doctors are allowed to write these types of prescriptions, and the physical handwritten prescription has to be on special paper. Which is one expensive, requires a stamp, signature and must be filled out correctly. There is so much stress about these scripts’ physicians are nervous to fill them out, they don’t want to make a single error as each sheet of the paper is so valuable.

One time in Mexico, a major pharmacy refused to fill the medication for Porter’s phenobarbital because it did not list his date of birth … for a dog. My friend Talit was helping me, we had to return to the vet to have the DOB added and then back to the pharmacy. The difference between Mexico and Colombia is that any pharmacy can fill the prescription. Whereas in Colombia, even in Bogota, the capital, basically New York City only certain pharmacies are able to fill controlled substances or narcotics. It is so beyond frustrating. When I tell you I spent eight bloody hours driving around Bogota, in a truck and camper trying to get the medication filled. I don’t wish that for anyone.

Vaccination – Yellow Fever for Free

If you are planning on visiting parts of the amazon, you’ll be happy to know that the yellow fever vaccination is free in Colombia. Right at the Bogota airport with Cruz Roja Colombiana – Red Cross

Mandatory Stop (IMO) Bogota, Colombia

Once you get into Colombia, ready to take on South America, I highly, highly, HIGHLY suggest stopping in Bogota for two main reasons:

1. Complete Bumper to Bumper Vehicle Check
   • Any and all maintenance, repairs and upgrades
   • Need parts? Ship them to the shop while shipping the Darien Gap
     • I could write a thesis on shipping. I’m sure by now, you know there is no door-to-door postal service and shipping to places like Costa Rica can cost $14 per pound plus 30-100% duty. Colombia is easy to ship parts to. Always ship to a legitimate business as they use a private shipper in Miami, FL. Price is about $4 per pound, and Bogota is a mega hub = fast shipping.
   • Need one new tire? Replace all four plus a spare.
2. Complete All Human Check-ups:
   • Medical
   • Dental
   • Vision
   • Parasite Testing (personal recommendation)

Best Way to Establish Care in Colombia

Even though I highly recommend Bogota, I’m biased, it’s one of my favorite cities to live. The best place for most people to start, is in Medellin, Colombia. For a few reasons, more English speakers available, international medical resources and US veteran insurance accepted.

Hospital: El Hospital con Alma, Hospital with soul, Pablo Tobón Uribe, is located in Medellin, Colombia. This hospital has an international department with a team dedicated to connecting international patients with the proper medical team. Whether you’re looking for a primary care provider or major health concern such as surgery, transplant, or oncology the international team will be able to connect you with the appropriate health care providers. Per usual, the best way to communicate is via WhatsApp. I love that a simple text message is all you need to start the path for great health care.

For veterans: Most of you already know that Medellin, Colombia is the place to go. For those who don’t know: A large population of US and Colombian born US military veterans live in Colombia so, they accept Tricare. During my time on the pan-am, Bogota became my home base. I spent almost 9 months living here and met so many Colombian US veterans and also met many US vets who live in the United States but fly back and forth to Colombia for their regular and specialized health care.

My Personal Medical Experience

During my multi-year Pan-American highway adventure I was under care for Invisalign, went to the ER a few times in Panama, including a 45-minute ambulance ride. Got sick again in Colombia and even though I have finished the pan-am, I still maintain my medical and dental care in Bogota, Colombia.

Public Care in Panama

In Panama, I was in a remote location and went to a small emergency clinic. This clinic was awful. 0/10 maybe 1/10 because the facility physically exists and can call an ambulance to transport you to Las Tablas for a higher level of care. The 45-minute transport unbeknownst to me was free, I was terrified it would be thousands of dollars and almost refused. Thankfully, the paramedics provided better care then the emergency clinic in Pedasi.

Emergency Room in Las Tablas: 10/10 care. Door to doctor time was immediate. On arrival doctors, nurses and techs were waiting in the ambulance bay. Labs and images were completed within 15 minutes of arrival. Results and medications administered in the first hour. Not only was I assigned a primary ER MD, but there was also a second ER doctor who checked on me. I did not ask for this, I assume it is standard practice for this hospital. In addition to the two ER MDs, I also had a surgical consult with a general surgeon. After completing all my medications, follow up imaging was complete and the surgeon cleared me to go home.

They also arranged private transportation to drive me 45 back to the Airbnb I rented. The taxi driver was fantastic and went out of his was to take me to a pharmacy he knew was open late with good prices. Also thankful for my Airbnb host. He took me to the local clinic, helped translate, check on my entire stay, he had the neighbors sit with Porter, take him outside and make sure he had food and water while I was in the ER.

Private Care in Panama

Unfortunately for me, when I arrived in Panama City to start the process of shipping my truck and camper to Colombia, the nausea, pain, vomiting and diarrhea I previously endured had returned. I was worried being ill would negatively impact the shipping process, so I opted to go to a private ER to save time. Friends from Belgium who at the time cycled North and Central America generously came to my Airbnb to sit with Porter so I could go to the ER.

Private ER in Panama City was 10/10. Wait time was less than 10 minutes. Imaging, labs, results, physician consult and prescriptions filled all in less than 90 minutes.

Health Care Quality in Colombia

If you’ve read this far you have picked up on my love for healthcare in Colombia. At this point, I just want to share a quick take away from my first medical appointment: I scheduled via text (WhatsApp) and was seen 3 days later.

From my first appointment to current day, I continue to observe major differences in the culture of medicine in Colombia. The doctors do this weird thing where they listen to their patients, without interruption and without blaming body parts, gender or weight. It was the first time in my life I went to the doctor and left with confidence I would soon feel better.

From CLAM, I was sent to a specialized lab and the minute my lab results final, the doctor himself texted me to come to the office immediately so he could explain my results and the treatment plan. The stack of medications you see above was my treatment plan for five parasites and cryptosporidium. During the five rounds of treatment, I was able to text the doctor from both Ecuador and Peru whenever I had a simple question and again when I was in Brazil with another question.

My Total Health Care Cost

🏥 Seriously Sick Two Emergency Clinic Visits in Pedasi, Panama	$0
🚑 One 45-minute Ambulance Ride in Panama	$0
🏥 Seriously Sick One ER Visit in Las Tablas, Panama	$0
🩻 Private ER and Medications in Panama	$737.41
🩺 Private MD and Special Testing in Colombia	$825.95
🦷 Dentist in Mexico and Colombia	$421.91
Total Health and Vet Costs	$1,985.27 (over 35 months)

These numbers will never not baffle me. When I think back to what I paid for private health insurance when I worked in corporate for the 7th (now 4th) largest hospital system in the US. Every two weeks, $240 was taken out of my check for health insurance, plus vision and dental with my employer covering the other half. That $5,760 from me each year would be about nine years of healthcare in Colombia. Add in my employer cost for $11,520/year that would be a smooth 18 years of care in Colombia. I’m so happy to save all that money and receive better healthcare.

Private ER Cost in Panama

Pedasi emergency clinic, ambulance ride and Las Tablas ER = $0 Panama City Private ER was a flat $500 Medications from the private ER MD for six medications, that I had filled twice = $237.40. Grand Total $737.40

Dental Costs – Mexico & Colombia

During these three years I was actively getting Invisalign between Mexico and Colombia. This also includes yearly cleaning for a total of $421.91

Colombia Health Care Costs

How I ended up establishing care in Colombia. After Porter got sick and passed away, I left my truck in Colombia and returned about a year after I got sick in Panama. This time no pain or ER, I was just tired, all the time, which is not so unusual for a solo full-time traveler who just suffered a great loss and was in and out of depression. No matter how much sleep I got or how much water I drank each day, I was always tired and dehydrated. So, I looked up functional health doctors near me, found one that spoke English and Spanish and sent a text to the doctor (private) and made an appointment for that week.

During my appointment, we went over my recent travel history as he examined my fingernails and hair. He said, you probably have parasites. I was shocked, I cook most of my meals, I was vegetarian at the time. From there I was sent to a specialized lab to produce a stool sample in office. A week later the results were in and he was correct and then some: 5 parasites and cryptosporidium. To this day, I’m shocked by how normal I felt. I suspect the crypto was from agricultural runoff into the waters of Costa Rica, which explains my sudden illness in Panama.

Specialized Lab $500

Private Doctor $206.08 (two consults, labs, prescriptions)

Medication $156.97 (five rounds of medications and antibiotics)

Another fantastic point to make about the health and vet care in LATAM is that everything is on WhatsApp. From making appointments to asking questions directly to doctors to texting prescriptions of mediations, all via text. Fast, easy and efficient.

Traveling with a Pet?