Colombia Travel Health Insurance: A Guide for Expats and Nomads

Colombia, a land of breathtaking landscapes, rich culture, and warm hospitality, beckons expats and digital nomads with its vibrant cities, stunning natural beauty, and affordable cost of living. However, amidst the excitement of planning your adventure, one crucial aspect often overlooked is ensuring adequate Colombia Travel Health Insurance. Unexpected medical emergencies or even routine health concerns can arise, and without the right travel health insurance, you could face significant financial burdens that could derail your dreams, and peace of mind.

It’s not just about choosing the right health insurance policy but also about understanding how medical assistance works within travel health insurance, what it covers, and how to access urgent medical care during your stay in Colombia. With this guide, you will not only discover the best options but also understand them in depth for your peace of mind when visiting Colombia or applying for a Colombian visa.

What is Travel Health Insurance
in Colombia?

To understand how travel health insurance in Colombia works, it’s essential to know what it means for you, whether you’re an expat, visitor, tourist, or someone applying for a Colombian visa. Therefore, Travel health insurance in Colombia is a specialized type of insurance policy designed to cover medical expenses incurred while traveling within the country.

These policies typically cover a range of medical needs, including emergency medical care, hospitalization, doctor’s visits, prescription medications, medical evacuation, and repatriation. However, it’s worth noting that the level of coverage and specific benefits can vary significantly depending on the insurance provider and the chosen plan.

Reviewing travel health insurance policies for Colombia is crucial, which is why everyone should pay close attention to coverage limits, exclusions, and provider networks to ensure peace of mind and access to quality care during your trip or extended stay. Choosing the right plan is essential, and we can guide you to choose the best insurance providers and the most accurate coverage for your needs.

Why is Health Insurance Crucial for Expats in Colombia?

It’s crucial for every visitor or expat to understand the significance of having travel health insurance when planning a trip to Colombia. Firstly, travel health insurance is often a mandatory requirement for obtaining a Colombian Visa, as it serves as proof of coverage needed for certain visa applications, ensuring safety during your journey or relocation to Colombia and even increasing the chances of approval for longer visa stays, due to having an appropriate insurance policy. This requirement is documented in Resolution 5477, which emphasizes the importance of having proper health insurance in place.

Travel insurance with health coverage: Private insurance policy with coverage in the national territory against all risks in case of accident, illness, maternity, disability, hospitalization, death, or repatriation.

Resolution 5477, Chapter 1, Article 3

Secondly, as a tourist visiting the country, it’s ideal to be prepared in case of any risks that you might face entering Colombia due to potential health risks that exist anywhere. Unexpected illnesses or injuries can occur, and seeking medical treatment without insurance in a foreign country can lead to substantial expenses. Having comprehensive travel health insurance ensures you’re covered for emergencies and routine care, safeguarding your finances and peace of mind.

Finally, obtaining adequate travel health insurance is not just a prudent choice for visitors to Colombia but also an essential safeguard for your well-being. Prioritizing your health ensures you can fully enjoy your Colombian experience, confident that you have access to the country’s robust healthcare system, including its leading hospitals and the benefits offered by international health insurance providers in the event of a medical emergency such as Assist Card and Continental Assist.

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What Must Travel Health Insurance Cover During Your Stay In Colombia?

When planning a trip to Colombia, ensuring that you have the right travel health insurance is important. Here are the key aspects your travel health insurance should cover during your stay, following the guidelines indicated in Resolution 5477, whether you are a tourist or a Colombian visa applicant.

Emergency Medical Expenses:

Your insurance must cover medical emergencies, including hospital stays, accidents, illnesses, surgeries, and treatments.

Repatriation:

In the unfortunate event of death or in a extreme case where you must return your country , your policy should include this vital item for your peace of mind and your relatives.

All Risks:

This clause in your travel health insurance policy ensures comprehensive protection against unforeseen events that may lead to accidents or illnesses during your stay in Colombia.

Death Coverage:

Many travel health insurance plans offer a death coverage, which provides a lump-sum payment to your designated beneficiaries in the event of your death while covered by the policy.

Maternity:

Maternity coverage in travel health insurance typically covers medical expenses related to pregnancy and childbirth that occur while the policyholder is traveling. It’s crucial to carefully review the terms and conditions of a travel health insurance policy to understand the extent of its maternity coverage, if any.

Disability:

Disability coverage in travel health insurance typically provides benefits if you become disabled due to an accident or illness that occurs during your trip.

Pre-existing Conditions:

Colombia is introducing stricter visa requirements for individuals with pre-existing medical conditions, similar to the United States. While the law doesn’t explicitly state health-related ineligibility, some cases are deemed high-risk, requiring applicants to submit detailed medical documentation to support their visa applications. It’s important to ensure you are protected, considering everything that surrounds your health and safety.

By securing travel health insurance that includes these essential coverages, you can enjoy your stay in Colombia with peace of mind. Furthermore, Colombian EPS (Entidades Promotoras de Salud) may not always offer all the benefits required when applying for a Colombian visa, making them ineligible as a valid health policy when submitting your application. Therefore, whether you are seeking a Colombian visa or traveling as a tourist, having the most suitable travel health insurance that meets all these requirements will always be the best, easiest, and least complicated option, as you can see next:

Why Choosing a Travel Health Insurance in Colombia than enrolling EPS?

While Colombia’s national healthcare system, Entidades Promotoras de Salud (EPS), offers comprehensive coverage to residents, it may not be the ideal solution for short-term visitors, expats in the process of obtaining residency, or digital nomads. Several key distinctions make travel health insurance a more suitable choice for these groups.

In the first case, it’s important to mention that if you’re in the process of applying for a Colombian visa that requires mandatory proof of health coverage, you must be aware that enrolling to an EPS and presenting it as your health insurance is not valid and this could result in denials or delays in your visa approval. While it’s true that after your visa approval, you may choose an EPS, there are several reasons to consider opting for travel health insurance in Colombia from an international and reputable insurer for your visa application, which can also benefit tourists who want to fully enjoy the country with the support of reliable service.

Portability:

This is a significant advantage. Travel health insurance plans are designed to provide coverage across different geographical locations. This is crucial for individuals who frequently travel within Colombia or internationally. EPS, on the other hand, is typically tied to a specific region within Colombia, potentially limiting access to care when traveling outside that area.

Access To A Wider Network of Providers:

Including private hospitals and English-speaking doctors, is often a feature of travel health insurance. EPS primarily operates within the public healthcare system, which may have longer wait times for certain procedures and fewer English-speaking medical professionals. For those unfamiliar with the Colombian healthcare system or who prefer private care, travel health insurance offers greater flexibility and convenience.

Coverage for Travel-Related Emergencies

It is a standard component of most travel health insurance policies. This includes benefits like emergency medical evacuation, repatriation, death coverage, and trip cancellation or loses, which are not typically included in EPS plans. These protections offer invaluable peace of mind for travelers who may face unexpected events.

Ease of Enrollment and Shorter Waiting Periods:

Obtaining EPS requires residency and can involve a more complex enrollment process. Travel health insurance, in contrast, can usually be purchased quickly and easily online, providing immediate coverage.

Customization of Coverage:

Travel health insurance plans offer a range of options, allowing individuals to select coverage limits and benefits that align with their specific needs and budget. EPS provides a standardized level of coverage that may not be tailored to the unique circumstances of short-term visitors or those with specific healthcare needs (pre-existing conditions) preferences and needs.

What are the Top Health Insurance Providers for Expats in Colombia?

When considering health insurance options as an expat in Colombia, several providers offer comprehensive coverage tailored to international travelers and residents. However, we aim to provide you with two strategic alliances to offer you the best travel health insurance in Colombia, the most reputable and with the best coverage: Assist Card and Continental Assist, both known for their extensive networks and a range of services designed to provide peace of mind while abroad.

Here we show you a comparison between both insurers so you can see for yourself:

In order to make you feel more confident and understand why we call these two insurers the best travel health insurance for expats in Colombia, it’s important to mention some additional information to help you make informed decisions:

• Assist Card

  Assist Card is the oldest medical care entity, with over 50 years of experience, and offers high coverage plans, as well as special, affordable pricing. Some of their benefits include direct payment to providers, 24/7 multilingual support, a mobile app, and a global presence. However, it doesn’t cover routine checkups, isn’t suitable for those staying in Colombia for over 3 months, and offers only one-year plans.

• Continental Assist

  Continental Assist is an esteemed American company that offers long-term travel health insurance for up to two years, making it suitable for clients in Colombia for over three months. It uniquely benefits pet owners, students without proof of status, and individuals aged 74-85 with its economic plans. However, its prices are higher, pre-existing condition coverage is less extensive than Assist Card’s, and it focuses primarily on emergency care, lacking coverage for general doctor or specialist appointments.

How to Get Travel Health Insurance in Colombia?

Each insurance provider offers different advantages, conditions, and coverage options, making it essential to assess your specific needs and understand any limitations before making a decision.

To navigate the various policies and ensure you select the best option, we recommend reaching out to us. Our team is dedicated to providing you with the most comprehensive assistance available. We can help you compare the features of different insurers, clarify any complex terms, and guide you in selecting a plan that suits your individual needs and lifestyle.

How to Access Medical Care in Colombia?

Having the appropriate travel health insurance from top providers like Assist Card or Continental Assist simplifies the process of accessing medical care in Colombia. They assist with navigating the healthcare system, overcoming language barriers, scheduling appointments, and locating hospitals or medical centers you may need during your visit. This ensures you receive the best possible care while giving you peace of mind that you are not alone in dealing with any unfortunate situations that may arise.

To understand how medical assistance works within travel insurance, what it covers, and how to access urgent medical care during your stay in Colombia, we want to show you how both insurers provide you with access to medical attention and assistance:

Assist Card

To access medical care with Assist Card, the most crucial step is not to seek medical assistance on your own. On the contrary, it is necessary to contact Assist Card directly to coordinate your assistance and avoid affecting your financial coverage.

Here are the contact methods and the indicated process to access medical care with their services:

FirstAlways Contact Assist Card

Do not seek assistance on your own. You must contact Assist Card directly to coordinate your assistance. Doing so on your own could affect your financial coverage.

SecondChoose one of these Contact Methods:

• Contact them through any of their self-service channels, such as WhatsApp (+54 9 11 2703 9665) or the Assist Card App.
• You can also contact them through their website.

You can call them through any of their phone numbers, which also contains information on how to submit a request and the necessary documentation.

ThirdCoordinate your Assistance

When contacting them, the objective is for them to coordinate your assistance. Through the App, for example, you can “talk to a doctor via video call.”

FourthIn Case of an Emergency

If you have an emergency and cannot contact them before seeking assistance, contact Assist Card as soon as possible after the event.

Always remember to keep all documents that may be relevant.

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Continental Assist

It is essential to follow the indicated procedure to ensure coverage and receive the necessary assistance. The most crucial step is always to contact Continental Assist.

Here are the steps to follow to access medical services in Colombia with them:

FirstAlways Contact Continental Assist

Contact the Continental Assist Assistance Center immediately when you require assistance.

SecondProvide your Information

When you contact them, the operator will request the following information to identify you and understand your situation:

• • Full name of the holder
  • Voucher number
  • Contact phone number
  • Reason for the emergency and the location where you are

ThirdValidation

You must always request authorization from the Continental Assist Assistance Center before taking any initiative or incurring any expense related to the benefits of your plan. This is crucial to validate financial coverage.

FourthIn Case of an Emergency

In case of a serious situation (that puts your integrity at risk):

• • You can go directly to the nearest hospital or medical center.
  • However, it is necessary to contact the Assistance Center within a period not exceeding 72 hours from the occurrence of the event to report it. The report can be made by you (the holder) or a close person.

FourthAdditional Information

It is vital to have their General Conditions at hand and consult them always. Some coverages must be reported within 24 and 72 hours. You can download the General Conditions on the Continental Assist website.

Contact methods to communicate with the Assistance Center:

• WhatsApp and international call: Use the line +1 3057225824.
• Email: Send an email to [email protected]. This mailbox is available 24/7.

To use your travel and health insurance correctly, it is essential to follow these steps, especially by contacting Continental Assist first to coordinate assistance and obtain authorization. This is important unless you are facing a serious emergency, in which case you must report it within 72 hours.

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What Else to Consider When Choosing Travel Health Insurance?

When planning your adventure in Colombia, selecting the right health insurance plan is crucial to ensure you are well-covered during your stay. Here are some additional key factors to consider that can help guide your decision:

Emergency Guides:

Having a comprehensive emergency guide is an essential aspect of your travel health insurance plan. This guide should provide you with vital information that can help you navigate any medical emergencies you may encounter while traveling in Colombia, and you can find it next:

Duration of Stay

The length of your trip plays a significant role in determining the best health insurance for you. If you’re a digital nomad planning to stay for several months, look for plans that offer extended coverage. Short-term travelers may opt for more basic plans, but be sure they still provide ample protection for emergencies.

24/7 Customer Support

Access to customer support is essential, especially in emergencies. Look for providers that offer 24/7 customer service, ensuring you can reach someone whenever you need assistance. English-speaking services are particularly important for expats and travelers who may not be fluent in Spanish. Having a support team that understands your language can alleviate stress and help you navigate any issues that arise.

Customer Reviews and Insurer Reputation:

Research the insurer’s reputation and read reviews from other travelers. This can give you insights into their reliability and service quality.

By taking these additional factors into account, you can select a health insurance plan that fits your specific needs and ensures a safe, worry-free experience in Colombia. Prioritize your health and peace of mind so you can focus on enjoying all that this beautiful country has to offer!

The Bottom Line: Colombia Travel Health Insurance: A Guide for Expats and Nomads

For expats and digital nomads traveling to Colombia, securing adequate travel health insurance is crucial. This is not only a mandatory requirement for certain visas as outlined in Resolution 5477, but it also serves as an essential safeguard against unexpected medical costs and facilitates access to quality healthcare as a tourist. To ensure a worry-free and secure experience while enjoying all that Colombia has to offer, it is important to consider high-quality providers like Assist Card and Continental Assist, understand coverage necessities such as emergency expenses, repatriation, and pre-existing conditions, and follow the correct procedures for accessing medical care.