Healthcare Colombia located in Sabaneta, near Medellín, has been open nearly three years ago and opened a clinic that offers specialized healthcare services to help U.S. Veterans in Colombia.
The Healthcare Colombia office in Sabaneta opened on March 8, 2019 and less than a year later it opened a new clinic on February 1, 2020.
In less than a year, nearly 100 U.S. veterans have been helped by this office and about 200 U.S. Veterans in Colombia have been contacted. Basically, this office and clinic help U.S. military veterans living in Colombia with healthcare services and filing benefits claims with the VA in the U.S.
This office and clinic can assist veterans with getting drugs from pharmacies in Colombia and can also help with medical services for services related injuries or disability. Healthcare Colombia is the first organization in Colombia that is providing health services to U.S. veterans.
Note the below photo is inside the Healthcare Colombia office with logos from the U.S. military services.
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Healthcare Colombia helps veterans from the U.S. military services
More About Healthcare Colombia
Healthcare Colombia (by Healthcare International) 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.
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Outside the new Healthcare Colombia HSAClinic in Sabaneta
Inside the new Healthcare Colombia HSA Clinic in Sabaneta
The New Healthcare Colombia Clinic in Sabaneta
On February 1, 2020, Healthcare Colombia opened a new clinic in Sabaneta to service the healthcare needs of U.S. veterans in Colombia.
Examination room inside the new clinic
This new clinic offers medical care, physiotherapy and psychiatry services.
The grand opening of the new clinic in Sabaneta was attended by Santiago Montoya, the new mayor of Sabaneta.
At the grand opening of the new HSAClinic in Sabaneta
Ribbon-cutting at the clinic grand opening by Sabaneta mayor Santiago Montoya and Danilo Bryan from Healthcare Colombia
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
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In addition, Danilo has travelled 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.
Address: Carrera 43C # 68Sur-21, Torres Bombay, Sabaneta, 1st floor, clinic is on third floor.
Phone: +57 4 209 9938, +57 350 3645678 or the U.S. number 1 954 324 0272
Hours: Monday to Friday: 7:00 am to 7:00 pm, Saturday: 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
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 2,750 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 3,615 pesos.
In addition, there is a taxi stand at the Sabaneta metro station, which normally has taxis available. Furthermore, any taxi 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 12 reasons why Medellín is a top foreigner retirement location.
Also, Colombia has the best healthcare system in Latin America and Colombia has 24 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 (his contact email is above).
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Editors note: updated on February 1, 2020 with information about the new clinic Healthcare Colombia opened in Sabaneta.
Editors note: updated on July 17, 2023 with updated information about the clinic Healthcare Colombia in Sabaneta and metro fares for 2023.