Healthcare and Health Insurance in Chile

Summary: Expats and global nomads in Chile share their experiences with health insurance, healthcare in Chile, local hospitals and specialists, quality of medical care and more.

What are medical services in Chile like?

When we asked expats and global nomads about the quality of medical care in Chile, they replied:

"Public healthcare costs 7% of your monthly income for expats residing here. It covers everything including dental and vision. Services are free unless you see a private specialist and then you have a copay that is about 9 dollars to 20 dollars. Doctors visits are thorough and not rushed, anywhere from 30 minutes to over an hour. Doctors go to National Universities that are free and only the best graduate so they are the best. Does not depend on how rich your family is, how well connected they are or how well they play football. Medications are delivered to our front door and are free. Ambulances are free, physical therapists come for free, it just prooves that National healthcare not for profit can be afforded by this third world country," wrote an expat living in Pucon.

"Mostly free meds and delivered to our doorstep. The municipal health center is also free and has excelent emergency service, free ambulance service, regular health screenings for seniors," said an expat in Pucon.

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" There are two clinics in Pucon, One is municipal and is free or inexpensive. The Pucon Medical Center has emergency services with ambulances. Villarica is 20 Km away and also has a hospital and ambulance services. Temuco is about an hour away and has a large German Hospital with excelent services as well as other hospitals and clinics both public and private. The doctors in Chile get a free education but only the brightest graduate. Most public services are free and the same doctors have to work for the public hospitals for years to pay for their education. Even if you have to pay full price for medical services in the German Hospital, it will cost less than your copay would cost with insurance in the US. Waiting times are much shorter than what I experience with insurance in the US. ," said an expat in Pucon.

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What have your experiences during the pandemic with the local healthcare system been like?

We asked members about local medical facilities in Chile, they wrote...

"I have received my first dose of vaccine. The second one is due mid March. The local hospital and municipal health center provide free testing upon request. They monitor the infected people that are quarentened to their homes daily and publish the information daily. The cases that require hospitalization are transferred to the main hospital in Temuco. All Covid services are free regardless of coverage," mentioned another expat in Pucon.

"I was hospitalized for five days with kidney stones as well as eight visits to the emergency center all at no cost. That included ultrasound and CT scans," commented one expat who moved to Pucon, Chile.

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What advice do you have for expats having a baby in Chile?

We asked expat moms who gave birth in Chile about their experiences and advice they have for other moms to be. They said:

"It is important to be aware of the healthcare system in Chile before having a baby there. It is also recommended to find a trusted medical provider and a good hospital to ensure the best medical care for your baby. Additionally, you may want to start researching the vaccination requirements in the country and make sure all necessary documents are in place for filing a birth certificate. Lastly, it is important to learn the language so you will be able to communicate more effectively and get around in the city more easily," said another person in Chile.

"Be demanding if necessary. YOU are the one having a baby. The baby is YOURS. Make a birthing plan and share it with your dr., midwife, husband, everyone. Do what you believe is best," remarked another expat in Antofagasta.

Are healthcare services good in Chile?

"In Chile, healthcare is generally of a good standard and can be accessed through the public system, which is free for all Chileans and permanent foreign residents, or through private healthcare, which is more expensive but offers more choice and shorter wait times. The public system relies heavily on user fees to cover the costs of care and pharmaceutical services and medicines, while the private system is more often used by those with higher incomes and is run by insurance companies or medical practitioners in private practice. Chile has some of the lowest rates of out-of-pocket spending in Latin America and the Caribbean, but the public system has been criticized for long wait times, lack of access to specialists, poor hospital hygiene and faulty technology," explained one expat.

15 Expats Talk about Health Insurance and Healthcare in Chile

What are medical services in Chile like?

What have your experiences during the pandemic with the local healthcare system been like?

What advice do you have for expats having a baby in Chile?

Are healthcare services good in Chile?

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