Health Insurance

NO, unless you work here!!! Then, your employer (and you partially) pay "seguro social" and in most cases in 12 payments you are fully covered. If you don't pay "seguro social" the only medical help you'll get will be for cash payment. There is NO free medical care in Ecuador. You can also pay ss yourself or get a private insurance.
Hope it helps.

Hello Kathyaa,

If you don't work for somebody else you can do personal payments to the SS here. Is named "aportación voluntaria" and after few months payments you can get public insurance. You can do once you become an ecuadorian legal resident and you get your ecuadorian ID.

Other option is creating your own business and you will be self employed BUT you have to demostrate your business is really working creating expenses and income.

Vinny

Thanks for the response Vinny.  Do you happen to know the specifics of the aportacion voluntaria - like how many months are required, how much per month, age limitations, if any, etc.  Is this what most retirees who are over the age limit for international insurance do?

Hello,

The information I have says you have to pay for 3 month before you can use the medical services.
Minimun payments are around $70 a month and there's no age limit.
As far as I know few expats use the Social Security service, maybe they don't know they have this option or is not as easy to get it as they explain it to me.
I talked about this with a SS employee and she assure me expats with Resident Visa can apply for the medical services, no age limit.

Vinny

Interesting information.  In your experience do most retirees who are over 60 (international insurance far to expensive at that point) just go it alone - as in pay out of pocket?

As I heard most expats pay out of pocket.

Basic medical services, doctor visits and some meds are cheaper than in the States so expats use to pay for it when they nedd it.

Vinny

We have tried to get some information about health insurance but are having no luck. We tried emailing Salud SA but they dont reply. We tried calling the US number in Florida, no one answers. I looked at their web site, but it does not give costs or a basic work up sheet. Any suggestions out there?

I'm following this string too.  I will be 65, and was under the impression that I will be covered once I obtain residency.  My wife will be 56, and I expect to pay around mid 50's for her.  I plan to keep paying my Medicare premiums for 2 reasons: 1) If I have to return to the states for anything major, I'm covered and 2) if I opt out, and if I return to the states down the road I will have to pay a 10% penalty for each year I opted out.  In other words, If I return in 5 years and the premium is $100, I all have to pay $150 per month.

Can somebody let me know if I have this right or not.  Thanks

Hello Txsbigfoot,

Getting rates if you're not in Ecuador is difficult. There's many plans available, rates depends in many factors like age, previous illnes, etc.
Another thing is the lenguage barrier.
If you want,send me a private email with basic info about you like age, any preconditions, any especific coverage you want, insurance for how many people and I will contact Salud, I know people who work there.

Vinny

My 2 cents: when I came here 6 years ago, I got an insurance from the best hospital (Hospital Metropolitano) in Quito, which ran about $45 per month (I was 36 years old). But then again, it is accepted directly only at Hospital Metropolitano. They have, of course, a red of doctors and clinics, but you have to pay there in cash and then claim with the insurance and in some weeks receive your money back minus deductible. Didn't work out for me. As it was noted, medical care is relatively inexpensive. I doubt anyone voluntarily would want to be admitted at Social Security Hospital in Quito. If you think you'll need medical care on a regular basis, get a private insurance, definitely not local Seguro Social. Well, if you work here, you'll get it automatically. I checked, some coverage starts in 3 months, but full coverage only after 12. Correct me if I am wrong.

I will be 57 and wife 54. We do not require regular medical visits, but need it in case of emergency, or a disease befalls us. I am in contact with a nice lady at Salud, but going is slow because of the language difference and how they do things compared to the U.S. We will not be working there, this is a retirement thing.
We probably will relocate in Cuenca or Loja when we make the jump. I am still in contact with Salud S.A. and will post any info I receive.
Anyone out there have any more suggestions, or info on health insurance would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

Hola:

I am also watching the info from this topic.  I will be retiring at age 62 from the States and my plan was just to pay as I go in EC.  But for major emergencies and surgeries, this could become a financial burden; and some type of insurance would be necessary.  But i am retiring on a short string and expensive insurance payments would be out of the question. Thank you for this information, as these inquiries are very helpful.

Diane