Colombia Forum

awalles
Joined 2016
Posts: 146

4 years ago

I ssigned up for EPS SURA

4 years ago

There's been a lot of talk about coulda, shoulda, woulda when it comes to EPS. Here's some of what I learned and what happened when I enrolled.

Expats can sign up for EPS. I happened to pick SURA for their reputation and because a neighbor of mine has it and likes it and walked me through the sign up.

Should you have EPS....read another blog.

I'm not sure how long the sign up usually takes. My neighbor had a 2nd cousin, twice removed, on her mother's sister side who works at SURA, and that with $20,000 COP got her to do the computer work on her break. And it's not very much work.

My "contract" begins on the 11th of Feb. I paid $73.000 COP for the rest of this month and will pay $109.000 monthly after that. You need to bring a copy of you first payment to...SURA...to prove you've paid. Once you're in the system, you don't need to provide proof anymore. It'll show up on the computer.

The amount you pay is based on income and mine0 is around $23,000 USD from social security only.

There will be a small co-pay for doctor visits and pharmacies, probably around $2-3000 COP. Right now I'm paying around $350.000 self pay for meds, and $100.000 if I go to a doctor, a month so this will truly be a blessing.

SURA does not take payments directly, others may. I need to go to a taquilla (a bill paying kiosk for the newbies) at a store listed (Exito is one) and pay there. "Quiero pagar la salud" (I want to pay my monthly health insurance). Your cedula number is all you need.

You get a 4 day window to pay. I signed up on the 11th, so I have from the 11th to the 15th to pay. After that, I believe they cancel you.

Haven't used it yet and probably won't until the first of the month. I'll drop a note to tell you how it works for me.

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