Sounds familiar.
Health Care in Colombia: Top Quality and Affordable
Everyone Has Access to Colombia’s Health Care System
To understand Colombian health care, it’s important to understand the way in which Colombians view health. In 1991,
Colombia drafted a new constitution that called for sweeping reforms. The new governing document deemed a person’s health a basic human right that applies to all citizens and foreign residents. It was a groundbreaking decision that paved the way for everyone
living in Colombia to have access to the health care system.
And the Colombian court system stands behind the right to health care. If your doctor recommends a treatment that the insurance company refuses to pay for, you can contest the denial of service using a legal instrument known as a
tutela, which you can file with any civil court. Although most civil cases languish on dockets for months or years, the law requires judges to rule on
tutelas within three days, and they often rule in favor of patients.
Colombia has one public health insurance company, Nueva EPS, and dozens of private companies. All Colombian policyholders have the same basic health care plan, which includes medical, dental, and vision care. Private companies offer premium policies that expand upon the basic coverage. For instance, basic insurance won’t cover the cost of LASIK eye surgery, but some premium plans will pay a portion of those costs.
All plans will cover you and at least one beneficiary—a spouse, minor child, dependent parent, or partner—at no extra cost. If you’re married and have three minor children, a single policy can cover your whole family. Dependent employees pay 12.5% of their salary—8.5% paid by the employer and 4% paid by the employee. Independent workers must pay the entire 12.5% from their own funds. Retirees also must pay the full premium, but they get a slightly lower rate—12%. Copayments vary by income level and break down as follows: