Expats Talk about Health Insurance and Healthcare in Cuenca, Ecuador

"IESS (federal system) is cheapest insurance here UNLESS you came on "retirement income" visa, where it can be quite expensive (they they charge 17% of your income for the insurance). Almost all non-opioid prescription meds in the US are available here OTC," commented one expat living in Cuenca, Ecuador.

"If you need medical care and have good knowledge of Spanish, the state system IESS may be your choice, however if you are retired they raised the rates to about 17.5% of retirement income. I have cheap (low quality) insurance which reportedly doesn't pay, which is fine for me because I would rather pay 45 per month for insurance that I can't use than 75/mo for insurance I won't use," wrote one expat.

"In the cities, the medical services are the best we have seen in our travels outside of France, (the best in the world). From a home and the decision to see someone, to seeing a specialist can take as little as 20 minutes at a cost of $40. Tests and operations can be set for the same day. We grew up with national medical care and were advised on arrival, by those who have that background, to get insurance. We did so for three years but dropped it in angry disgust. It is demeaning being privately health-insured if you are not used to it. We self-insure and cover the expat requirement (when there is one from time to time) with IESS (never used)," commented one expat who moved to Cuenca.

"Seeing a doctor in Cuenca is an easy matter. No appointment necessary in most cases. Excellent service and good quality for a much lower cost that the U.S," said one expat.

"Choose carefully where you plan to live. In many Ecuador cities emergency care is often very limited or even non-existent. As we age good quality emergency care can mean to live or die. The same goes with good quality health care in general. Many small cities lack more than one doctor and medicines and supplies can be difficult to obtain in an emergency. This also happens with dentists as well. I suffered an injury to a tooth and had to travel for over an hour to find a dentist that could provide the needed treatment. And as we age we may find that the uneven pavement (or lack of pavement) in most Ecuadorian cities and towns will become a hazard to getting around. Again, choose carefully where you live," remarked one expat in Cuenca.

"Cuenca offers a wide range of medical services, including both public and private hospitals and clinics. The public hospitals are generally well-equipped and offer a variety of services, including emergency care, general medical care, and specialized care. Private hospitals and clinics offer a more personalized approach to medical care, with a focus on preventive care and specialized treatments. Cuenca also has a number of pharmacies, which provide a wide range of medications and other health-related products. Additionally, there are a number of medical professionals in the city, including doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals, who are available to provide medical care," wrote an expat living in Cuenca.

"Don't come down here looking for a miracle cure for your ails. You would find the experience frustrating and assistance costs would wipe out the advantage I think. I do know from some other gringos, and gringo sites, that some medications are not available here, I don't have that experience," said an expat in Cuenca.

"We didn't use our U.S. insurance because the deductibles would have been more than what we paid for care in Cuenca," said one expat living in Cuenca.

" I am convinced that health insurance is a scam and that the cost of medical care is a scam in the USA. It has been proven to me by my experiences and the experiences of others in Ecuador and throughout Mexico, Central and South America. The Allopathic medical system has the worst record in losing patients to life threatening diseases, but the best records in trama cases where you have to air lift a patient to a hospital. I will only opt for Natural healing methods, which really work. I have also seen in the rural areas, a free health clinic with Allopathic medical doctors offering 24 hour service 7 days a week, being ignored by the local population, except in trauma cases. These rural folks go to their local healers and pay a very low fee for herbal and other healing preparations. Why? Because their experience is that the herbal preparations work and also have no side effects. They therefore do not opt for health insurance. ," mentioned one expat in Cuenca.

"We tried private insurance here. Even though we got to the two years when prior conditions must be accepted by Ecuadorian law, we cancelled it. We come from a country where medical coverage is universal. We found the private insurance process deeply humiliating and we are not trained to tolerate it. The Cuenca medical services are great, superior to most in the world. It is a world medical/dental tourism destination. It is cheap.. though no serious illness is costless. We have the resources to pay as we go and like most developed world expats, at the very worst, we can return from where we came and get our coverage back in 3-4 months. If Ecuador decides to stopping letting expats in who cannot prove they have insurance, we pay 90$ a month in IESS premiums That is not to say that hospitals are not without payment annoyances in Ecuador. If you do not pay before leaving, they will not unhook you from their stuff. And it is hard to go downstairs and pay at Accounting when you are in bed undressed with tubes still running into you. Ecuadorian credit cards will not cover (without tedious special arrangements) amounts over $1000 and even then, the hospital won't believe it. Happily, Ecuador may not be a credit/debit card place but it is a cash one. Unlike the developed countries, banks here have gobs of the stuff on hand. My wife and I get an estimate and the non-hospitalized one has the cash on hand. (shrug)," commented one expat who moved to Cuenca, Ecuador.

"I would pay out of pocket if it were still available, because doctors are cheap. With my cheap insurance, I will still have to pay out of pocket and maybe get reimbursement if I'm lucky. Insurance here is a government sponsored racket, as whenever government requires something the drops and prices go up, that's why governments do it. If it were a service people actually wanted it wouldn't be required," remarked one expat living in Cuenca.

" I am closest to a hospital that is a private hospital, and is less than a mile away. Another hospital about 2 miles away is also a private hospital. A public hospital is about 5 miles away. The quality of care at most hospitals is excellent, yet the public hospitals have a lower grade of care, a higher population waiting for service and because of the high volume of patiensts, a lower class service to the patient and a longer waiting period for service. The level of caring for the patient varies, with the highest level of caring at the private hospitals. The most expensive private hospitals charge a fraction of the price that you would pay in the United States. The level of care and the success of recovery is so much higher than in the United States in my opinion and in the opinion of both the local people and the expat population. In addition, there is a freedom of choice of medical care. So Cancer patients are not only offered Chemo, Radiation and Surgery. There are Natural Health healers, Homeopathy and many other practitioners with successful records of reversing serious life-threatening disease conditions. ," wrote an expat living in Cuenca.

"Emergency services in Cuenca are generally reliable and efficient. In the event of an emergency, the best way to call for an ambulance is to dial 911. This will connect you to the local emergency services, who will be able to dispatch an ambulance to your location. Additionally, there are several private ambulance services in the city that can be contacted directly," said an expat in Cuenca.

"Hospitals are everywhere. I have three hospitals within 1 mile of my home in Cuenca. The public hospital is OK if you have lots of time and very little money and the issue is not life threatening. The private hospitals are every bit as good as in the US. I was in one just a week ago in fact (pneumonia)," commented one expat living in Cuenca, Ecuador.

"I am young and in good health so these don't concern me. I only have insurance because the law requires it," remarked one expat living in Cuenca.

"Pretty much every specialty can be covered right here in town (Cuenca), We even have a cancer center hospital specifically for that (which is free if you paid for IESS) that has gotten rave reviews from two friends who recently went through cancer treatments. I have two heart specialists myself (stents in 2005 in the US). They seem very competent, though I have had no heart issue since coming to Ecuador," said one expat living in Cuenca.

" Yes, we have common prescription medicines available throughout the city at different competing pharmaceutical chains. So you often may find one pharmacy with a competing pharmacy within a block or two. Prices are a fraction of what you would pay in the States. Prescriptions are required for most controlled medications, but natural medicines are also readily available. An example of the costs are from an experience of a gal that was bit by a dog and needed a tetanus shot. In rural Asia where this happened she paid $20. When she got to Europe, she had to pay $800. and when she got home in California, she had to pay $5,000. These were the same exact medicine and the same brand. It is a popular brand used for tetanus. ," wrote one expat.

"Many common meds are available without prescription for a fraction of the price. New meds may not be available and can be expensive if they have to be imported. Names of meds are different than in the U.S., and you may have to go to a doctor initially to get them translated. Bringing your prescription forms from home will help," commented one expat who moved to Cuenca.

"Medical care in Cuenca is generally of a high quality. The city has a number of well-equipped hospitals and clinics, staffed by experienced and qualified medical professionals. Cuenca also has a number of specialized medical centers, offering a range of services from general practice to specialized care. The city also has a number of pharmacies, providing access to a wide range of medications. In addition, there are a number of private medical practices, offering a range of services from general practice to specialized care. Overall, medical care in Cuenca is of a high standard and is easily accessible to residents and visitors alike," commented one expat who moved to Cuenca.

"Yes, as a foreigner living in Cuenca, you will have access to public healthcare. The public healthcare system in Cuenca is generally considered to be of good quality, with many hospitals and clinics offering a wide range of services. The cost of healthcare is also relatively low compared to other countries, making it an attractive option for those looking for affordable medical care," wrote one expat.

"Yes, every expat is required by law to have insurance. The federal system is available, and costs $68/mo for a couple. However, health care is so cheap that I skip the (underfunded and long lines) IESS (federal system) and pay out of pocket for private health care anyway," commented one expat who moved to Cuenca.

"Regular Dr visits, no issues regarding Covid One DR visit with my 27 year old son, no issues regarding Covid," commented one expat who moved to Cuenca.

"My experiences with the local healthcare system in Cuenca during the pandemic have been generally positive. The healthcare system has been very responsive to the needs of the community, providing free testing and treatment for those affected by the virus. The hospitals and clinics have been well-equipped and staffed with knowledgeable and caring professionals. The government has also provided financial assistance to those in need, helping to cover the costs of medical care. Overall, the healthcare system in Cuenca has been able to provide quality care to those affected by the pandemic," said one expat.