Thread: health care in Panama

Hello.
Just heard a debate on the radio, apparently prompted by the comments of a well known radio nut job here in the U.S. regarding health care. Made me wonder if Panama is part of the civilized world. Does Panama provide health care to all of its residents or do they have the stay-healthy-if-and-only-if-you-can-afford-to system of insurance sponsored barbarism like we have in the States?

Just curious.

Talking about Rush? I seem to have read that somewhere too.

I'd like to hear from the peeps living there... from what I understand, you can either buy into the system for an annual fee, or pay as you go, which is quite cheap. I'd be curious to know which choise the peeps living there have made and why...

Sir, you are young and healthy and strong. When you feel the need for health care there are clinics and they only cost a couple of bucks. Meds are also cheap. You have many years to go before you need to worry about this aspect of your life. I saw you pic. But, even when you do need medical care, you will find it much cheaper than in Florida dude.

Hi!
We pay as we go for our health care. Since we are pensionado's we get the same prices as the Panamanians. I had major cancer surgery last year in PANAMA. My 10 days in the hospital plus the 4 U.S. trained surgeons came to $410. $100 of that was to test the blood that was donated for my surgery. I was told if I couldn't afford it they would put me on a payment plan of $2.--/month. I paid out of pocket for presurgery testing ($10 EKG, $27 Chest X-ray, $75 colonoscopy, $160 for all my blood work, $300 for 2 cat scans, etc.).

Mary
www.whypanama.com

Mary, I didn't want to just give you a "thanks" for your informative post. You've itemized costs on things before and I find that most educational. Thanks again. I should add that I find these costs to be amazing when compared to what it would cost in the US. I'm hoping to get to Panama as soon as I sell my house in Wisconsin and, although my health is fine, it is a future concern and is one of the reasons I have been looking at moving to Costa Rica or Panama. The day to day expenses for food, appliances, electronics, and the very poor roads have pretty much eliminated Costa Rica from my consideration. In fact, Panama is turning out to be what I was hoping to find in Costa Rica. The health care costs in Costa Rica are, like Panama, very reasonable.

Bicar: We lived about 20 minutes from Lake Geneva before we retired down here in 2005. The last 3 years before we moved down here was HELL in waiting to get out of the rat race. We saw our property taxes go craze from $3K/year to almost $9K! I can't imagine the costs now. I still have a house in IOWA and watched my taxes go DOWN this last year--very unusual!!

Mary

Originally Posted by whypanama

Hi!
We pay as we go for our health care. Since we are pensionado's we get the same prices as the Panamanians. I had major cancer surgery last year in PANAMA. My 10 days in the hospital plus the 4 U.S. trained surgeons came to $410. $100 of that was to test the blood that was donated for my surgery. I was told if I couldn't afford it they would put me on a payment plan of $2.--/month. I paid out of pocket for presurgery testing ($10 EKG, $27 Chest X-ray, $75 colonoscopy, $160 for all my blood work, $300 for 2 cat scans, etc.).

Mary
www.whypanama.com

Mary, thanks for the great info, please, let me know the name of the place you had your surgery, I will appreciate this info. Take good care.

Hi!
I had my surgery done at Instituto Onocological Nacional. You have to be referred by a private practice doctor to be admitted.

Mary
www.whypanama.com

Mary, like always you being a great help. God bless

I paid almost $300 for a 90 day health insurance. If health care is so cheap in Panama , is it better not to buy a policy since I don't have any health problems and I'm in my mid forties?

Hi!

It would have been expensive for me and Matt is too old to get healthcare (70 years old) or too expensive. I had pre-existing conditions from my cancer 12 years ago. We are pensionados and therefore get to use the social security hospitals at Panamanians fees. The one thing people don't know down here is that in order to practice medicine, doctors also have to donate so much time to the social security. All of my doctors have private practices at Punta Pacifica Hospital.

Mary

Is it a good idea to buy health insurance if you are a healthy person in your forties, since health care is so cheap in Panama?

Originally Posted by HOSEM1

Is it a good idea to buy health insurance if you are a healthy person in your forties, since health care is so cheap in Panama?

MRWOOHOO, do you have any health insurance while living in Panama?
People keep repeating that health care is cheap down there.

Mary,
I read your account of your battle with cancer on your website. Congrats on coming through it so well. It was encouraging to read your first hand account of the health care you recieved. I wish you a continued recovery.

Thanks! I just had a check-up last week at the cancer hospital. I saw 2 of my U.S. trained surgeons and had a complete physical, including a pap smear. My cost was $1.00. Everything is great according to them (LOL)!! Unfortunately, I have put back on 25 lbs of the 50+ lbs I lost after the surgery.

Mary
www.whypanama.com

Originally Posted by whypanama

Hi!
We pay as we go for our health care. Since we are pensionado's we get the same prices as the Panamanians. I had major cancer surgery last year in PANAMA. My 10 days in the hospital plus the 4 U.S. trained surgeons came to $410. $100 of that was to test the blood that was donated for my surgery. I was told if I couldn't afford it they would put me on a payment plan of $2.--/month. I paid out of pocket for presurgery testing ($10 EKG, $27 Chest X-ray, $75 colonoscopy, $160 for all my blood work, $300 for 2 cat scans, etc.).

Mary
www.whypanama.com

Hi Mary. I just went to your webite. My compliments to you, it is a terrific site. User friendly, aesthetically attractive, and contains valuable information nuggets for those of us researching what daily life in Panama is like. Thanks for sharing.

mary , this is the first i have read about your battle , i would think you are well read on living a heathy lifestyle , here is a good website on lots of heath related things , www.naturalnews.com maybe you already know of it or maybe others might be interested