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Health Care in the Leon area

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Vanvesta
  7/25/2022 17:38 EST

Can expats/tourists receive good health care in the Leon area and is it a pay as you go service for the walk in clinics as well as the major hospitals?
I understand there are some global health insurance companies that offer monthly plans, are there any recommendations?
Does one need to be vaccinated in order to receive health care/surgeries/medical procedures in the hospitals in the country?

elduendegrande
  7/26/2022 12:03 EST

1. public hospitals and clinics are free to all to the limit of their capacity which is sometimes wanting.
Private doctors etc are pay as you go, often cash only.

2. Investigate foreign insurance, best if you are young and healthy. A friend was happy with his 100 usd a month plan with a 5 k deductible.

3. I have not run into any mandatory vaccination, but expect masks at doctors, supers, etc.

There are excellent doctors here and Dr. Mengele types. Ask upper middle class Nicas for recommendations. Do not expect English.

If you get in a car wreck or something you will probably end up in a regional hospital and they will do the best they can. If you have a choice you will probably go to a private hospital or abroad.

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William Russell's private medical insurance will cover you and your family wherever you may be. Whether you need primary care or complex surgery, you'll have access to the best hospitals & doctors available. Unlike some insurers, we also include medical evacuation and mental health cover in our plans (except SilverLite). Get a quote from our partner, William Russell.
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Dough
  7/26/2022 12:11 EST

The Vivian Pellas hospital in Managua is probably the best healthcare that you can get in Nicaragua. Obviously it's not around the corner to Leon, but if you have time to get to Managua it's worth doing. They have various insurance policies that you can pay for at various levels. I looked into them but I did not buy one of them so I can't comment on exactly what you get versus what is advertised. The rates looked very reasonable and there was a selection of levels of care that seemed to meet most people's needs. In the city of Leon itself there are some private hospitals which I can't vouch for. They're also a number of doctors that teach at the University or work at the local hospitals that have private offices and these have much better accessibility and you will probably find that the prices are very reasonable and make it totally appropriate to pay cash for your visits and procedures. You'll definitely to speak Spanish or have an interpreter most will not have much English. Be ready for good, not great, but very personalized care under very unassuming circumstances.The public hospital is very under-resourced and understaffed, and the care there is extremely basic. Accessibility is also very difficult. If you need something local I would look into a private (cash) hospital in Leon, but if you're able to schedule appointments I would definitely look at Vivian Pellas.

Vanvesta
  7/26/2022 16:47 EST

elduendegrande,

Thank you so much!

Vanvesta
  7/26/2022 16:51 EST

Thank you so much!

shermanwc
  7/27/2022 11:02 EST

I agree with the advice to consider using Hospital Vivian Pellas in Managua for critical healthcare. Look for a local doctor that speaks English for routine healthcare.

My wife had critical care for atrial fibrillation at Hospital Vivian Pellas, and we were very satisfied with their service. However she ended up needing cardiac ablation, which they were not equipped to perform. We went to a Johns Hopkins related hospital in Panama for that procedure. Also very good care there (my granddaughter also had cardiac surgery there.)

Hospital Vivian Pellas has a discount program for their services, not really "health insurance". We joined the discount program since we have needed their services periodically.

We are in our early 70's - we previously had international health insurance, but premiums increased every year while in our 60's and it became excessively costly or unavailable when we turned 70. We have Medicare in the USA, so we could return there for hospital care if desired.

Most medications can be obtained without a written prescription (excluding opioids).

William RussellWilliam Russell
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William Russell's private medical insurance will cover you and your family wherever you may be. Whether you need primary care or complex surgery, you'll have access to the best hospitals & doctors available. Unlike some insurers, we also include medical evacuation and mental health cover in our plans (except SilverLite). Get a quote from our partner, William Russell.

William RussellWilliam Russell

William Russell's private medical insurance will cover you and your family wherever you may be. Whether you need primary care or complex surgery, you'll have access to the best hospitals & doctors available. Unlike some insurers, we also include medical evacuation and mental health cover in our plans (except SilverLite). Get a quote from our partner, William Russell.
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pither1952
  7/27/2022 20:05 EST

This guy (Scott Alan Miller) lives in (and Loves!) Leon. He has a good Youtube channel, too. This is per healthcare question:

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