Is public health insurance mandatory in Colombia?

Summary: EPS is not mandatory in Colombia. Expats who have temporary or permanent residency are eligible to enroll, but it is not a requirement.

This question sometimes creates confusion. Public health coverage, either through an EPS or SISBEN, is mandatory for all residents of Colombia.

The reason that the question creates confusion is because people sometimes answer this question by saying that EPS health insurance is not mandatory. The reason why they answer that way is because lower income and homeless residents are not required to enroll in an EPS since qualify for coverage through SISBEN.

For most expats who become residents of Colombia, enrolling in an ESP health insurance plan is effectively mandatory (because they do not qualify for SISBEN).

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About the Author

Betsy Burlingame is the Founder and President of Expat Exchange and is one of the Founders of Digital Nomad Exchange. She launched Expat Exchange in 1997 as her Master's thesis project at NYU. Prior to Expat Exchange, Betsy worked at AT&T in International and Mass Market Marketing. She graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with a BA in International Business and German.