Healthcare Colombia recently opened an office in Sabaneta, near Medellín, and offers specialized healthcare services to help U.S. Veterans in Colombia.
The Healthcare Colombia office in Sabaneta opened on March 8, 2019 and already about 75 U.S. veterans have come to this office or contacted this office. Basically, this office helps U.S. military veterans living in Colombia with healthcare services and filing benefits claims with the VA in the U.S.
Healthcare Colombia can assist veterans with getting drugs from pharmacies in Colombia and can also help with medical services for service related injuries or disability. Healthcare Colombia is the first organization in Colombia that is providing health services to U.S. veterans.
Note the above photo is inside the new Healthcare Colombia office in Sabaneta. And the below photo is inside the Healthcare Colombia office with logos from the U.S. military services.
Healthcare Colombia helps veterans from the U.S. military services
More About Healthcare Colombia
Healthcare Colombia is the expansion of Healthcare Panama into Colombia.
Healthcare Panama is a group specialized in health services focused on veterans and retirees from the United States government, who are currently living in or visiting Panama.
Furthermore, Healthcare Panama has over 15 years of medical experience and a wide network of affiliates in Panama including:
- 3 clinics and a network of doctors
- 7 pharmacies with delivery
- 1 hospital
- Physiotherapy centers with home service
When U.S. military bases in Panama closed, some U.S. veterans stayed or retired in Panama. So, this drove the need to have health services focused on veterans and retirees.
Healthcare Colombia is expected to add medical affiliates in Colombia, as Healthcare Panama has done in Panama.
The Foreign Medical Program of the VA
For eligible veterans living or traveling abroad, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers medical services through the Foreign Medical Program (FMP).
Through this program, FMP will pay for health care services, medications, and durable medical equipment associated with a service-connected condition and/or aggravated condition.
In addition, enrolling in FMP is simple – fill out the FMP Registration Form (VA Form 10-7959f-1) and send to VHA Office of Community Care.
Veterans Service Officer in Colombia – Danilo Bryan
Danilo Bryan is the Veterans Service Officer in the new Sabaneta office near Medellín.
Veteran Service Officers help you write and submit your benefits claims to the VA for service related injuries or disability. In addition, they will help gather information that supports your claim. And once a claim is filed they can help you track the claim through the system. They can also help you file appeals for denied claims.
A Veteran Service Officer (VSO) can help you avoid the delays that missing paperwork or improperly filled out claims can cause.
In addition, VSO’s are trained and accredited by the VA to help veterans, their dependents and survivors. This includes not only applying for federal benefits but also providing resources related to the following:
- Compensation and pension
- Healthcare
- Education and training
- Employment
- Burial and survivor
- Housing
- Military records
- Transportation
Meet Danilo at the Medellin Guru Meetup on August 6
If you would like to meet Danilo and talk with him, he plans to be at the August Medellin Guru meetup on August 6 at Medellin Beer Factory, which is located in El Poblado.
Join the Medellin Guru August Meetup
Also, Danilo can be reached via email at danilo@healthcarecolombia.com.
In addition, Danilo plans to travel to other cities in Colombia to meet with U.S. veterans living in Colombia in other cities such as Bogotá and cities in the coffee triangle.
The Healthcare Colombia office in Sabaneta
Location of the Healthcare Colombia Office in Sabaneta
Healthcare Colombia’s office in Sabaneta is located about two blocks from popular Parque Sabaneta.
Addresss: Carrera 43C # 68Sur-21, Torres Bombay, Sabaneta
Phone: +57 322 617 0689 or the U.S. number 1 954 945 0440
An easy way to get to Parque Sabaneta is to take the Medellín metro Line A south to the Sabaneta metro station. And the Sabaneta station is only about 10 minutes from the Poblado metro station.
Parque Sabaneta in Sabaneta
Parque Sabaneta is located about a 10-minute walk east from the Sabaneta station. In addition, there are many people walking on the streets to/from the metro station. So, it’s relatively safe during the day and even after dark – but not too late.
Also, there are frequent and inexpensive metro buses that use Civica cards that currently cost only 2,100 pesos, which run from the Sabaneta metro station to and from the park. Most noteworthy, these buses don’t drop you at the park, they drop you about a block from the park. And the integrated fare including both the metro train and Sabaneta metro bus is only 2,800 pesos.
In addition, there is a taxi stand at the Sabaneta metro station, which normally has taxis available. Furthermore, any taxi or Uber driver in Medellín will know where Parque Sabaneta is located. It’s also normally pretty easy to catch a taxi at the park.
Healthcare Colombia – Offering medical services to U.S. veterans
The Bottom Line: Healthcare Colombia – Offering Medical Services to U.S. Veterans in Colombia
Colombia has a relatively low cost of living. So, the country is attracting U.S. veterans and retirees. We previously looked at 11 reasons why Medellín is a top foreigner retirement location.
Also, Colombia has the best healthcare system in Latin America and Colombia has 23 of the best hospitals in Latin America. And nine of these best hospitals in Latin America are located in Medellín.
With the success Healthcare Panama had in Panama, it’s not surprising to see this organization expand to Colombia with Healthcare Colombia.
If you are a U.S. veteran living in Colombia you should contact Danilo at Healthcare Colombia.
Sign up for the Free Medellin Guru Newsletter – You can see all of the previous Medellin Guru weekly email newsletters and sign up here.
Two questions:
1)
Does the healthcare written about today – also include non-vets, who are retired persons?
2) Where can I write to find out if certain prescribed drugs are available at Pharmacies in Medellin??
Thank you for your responses.
My understanding is vets only – but can ask Danilo, his email and number are in the article. Plan to cover pharmacies in a separate article in the future but will require research. But Danilo may be able to answer that question if you contact him.
Jeff: Thanks very much for your thorough and rapid response to my questions. I reallly enjoy reading your daily articles, and they have spurred my desire to relocate to Medellin.
Jeff, I appreciate you getting the word out on this. I’m a vet and current VA member but still actively working in the US. It’s nice to know that there’s other healthcare options if/when I ever decide to retire and expatriate to the Medellin area. This new office certainly might make my decision a tab bit easier.
Hi Jeff, thanks. I wanted to help get the word out about this.
I am a US veteran with VA medical services in the US. The article said the Veteran coverage is for service connected injuries rather than for Veterans who have VA Medical coverage. Is this correct as I am in Colombia and considering retirement here. Thanks
Yes, this office helps veterans write and submit benefits claims to the VA for service related injuries or disability under the Foreign Medical Program (FMP) of the VA. FMP pays for health care services, medications, and durable medical equipment that are associated with a service-connected condition and/or aggravated condition.
Yes Jeff your article was very interesting, I thinking in two and a half years of retiring in the Medellin area I’m a US veteran and the VA sends me all my meds. Could they send them to Colombia on a monthly basis.
Hi Russell, thanks. Regarding your question about meds I recommend asking Danilo – his contact info is in the article.
Jeff. I am coming to Colombia the end of June. How do I find cost of living info. For Sabaneta?
Hi Mickey, we have been averaging about 6,000,000 pesos per month as our cost of living for a couple living in Sabaneta. But our costs will drop by about 750,000 pesos per month as we recently moved to a 3-bedroom house with lower rent and lower utility costs plus lower transportation costs as we can walk more. For example, our new rent is only 1,050,000 pesos per month compared to 1,500,000 pesos per month if we would have renewed at the apartment we were living in.
I plan to write an updated cost of living article after a few months living in our new house.
The cost of living in Sabaneta is lower than some other neighborhoods popular with foreigners due to lower rental costs. See our article about unfurnished rentals – https://medellinguru.com/2018-unfurnished-apartment-rental-costs.
Hi can you send me more information about your services in Colombia, looking to move there 23 Years Vet…
You can reach Danilo via email at danilo@healthcarecolombia.com to ask about their services.
Any plans for assistance in Cartagena?
I recommend contacting Danilo and asking – email and phone number is in the article.
Hi Jeff need inforation. On getting a ccw in colombia
I assume by CCW you mean carrying a concealed weapon. Nobody I have met in Colombia has a gun and I understand its difficult to get licensed to posses a gun. I recommend looking at the policies here – https://www.gunpolicy.org/firearms/region/colombia or talking with a law firm like – https://cuadrolegal.com/en/