Expat Health Insurance & Healthcare Guide to Guatemala

An expat in Lake Atitlan talks about the proximity to hospitals in Guatemala City and Quetzaltenango, availability of prescription medicines, private health insurance and more.

Here's a very brief report about the health care system in Antigua, Guatemala. Information about proximity to services and information about prescriptions is offered.

An expat who lives several hours from Guatemala City explains that he would only use the local hospital in an emergency to be stabilized before going a hospital in Guatemala city. He explains most prescription medicines are available in Guatemala, but expensive.

I had an appendicitis last year and was referred to MultiMedica off Vista Hermosa 1 in zone 15 in Guatemala City. It was wonderful!!!! I was referred to an internal specialist who then took me to the small emergency room in the same building (I didn't even know they had one there!). They did a laproscopic surgery within 4 hours of me arriving. I recovered perfectly, had great English-speaking doctors, and best yet, my two scars are the size of hair follicles!! My surgeon (whose office is in the same building) later told me that he is responsible for training many Latin American doctors on laproscopic surgeries. My family and I were shocked that I was able to receive such great care here. I do have international insurance (RPN) so my copay was 20%. I only paid $450 for the surgery and two nights in the hospital AND my prescriptions. I was very impressed!