Expat Health Insurance & Healthcare Guide to Panama

Expats in Panama offer 8 important tips about healthcare and health insurance in Panama. While the quality of healthcare varies, there are world class doctors and facilities throughout Panama. Health insurance is much less expensive in Panama. Doctors visits (with and without insurance) are very affordable. The one negative seems to be that medications can be more expensive that in the U.S. Despite these pros and cons, many expats mentioned that people have healthier lifestyles in Panama - cleaner air, cleaner water, fresh produce and less stress.

An expat in Coronado, Panama recommends Dr. Levy for general care. She has health insurance, but explained that his fees are low even if you don't have insurance.

An expat in Panama describes the major challenges her husband faced when he had surgery in Panama. Her story serves as a cautionary tale for other expats seeking medical care in Panama.

An expat in Coronado, Panama offers candid advice about the healthcare system and health insurance options for expats in Coronado. She discusses issues that she and her husband have had with Tricare being accepted, having to pay cash at the hospital for emergency surgery and more.

An expat in Nueva Gorgona, Panama talks about health care services, health insurance, the cost of prescription meds, English-speaking doctors in Panama and more.

Private clinic in Santiago - Jesus de Nazareno. Top quality from the doctors and nurses. My wife was attended by the Gyn or Pediatrician from the moment she went into labor until the baby was born. The doctors stayed in the same room as us THE ENTIRE TIME and gave us THEIR FULL ATTENTION! Total cost for 2 nights in the hospital, epidural, and circumcision= $1200. Dr. Villaba is great, very kind and patient.

My son's wife delivered a baby by C-Section at Mae Lewis Hospital in David. There were 4 doctors in the OR during the procedure. She stayed in a private room for 3 days. The total cost was $2500.00 including doctors, nurses and hospital. The care was top notch. In Oregon where we lived the cost would have been $25,000.00

I went to the Centro Medico Paitilla in downtown Panama City. It's a modern hospital with english speaking doctors, however, while not all of the support staff (nurses, technicians) are bi-lingual - they are all very caring and professional.

I was given an epidural to manage all pain.

I stayed in the hospital ten days, the much lower costs ensured my insurance company did not have any issues with the length of stay. Delivered twins, had two neonatal teams on hand for the delivery, private room for 10 days - all for under $6,000.