Traveling to Panama as a Tourist? Read This!
In one of my earlier posts, I mentioned how impressed I was with the free one month emergency medical insurance provided gratis by the government.
One of the expat blogs I follow, mentioned that they had heard stories about the insurance not being honored. In fact, a B&B owner shared, “More than once, we have had guests here that have tried to use this service. The hospitals have told them; sorry we don’t take these cards. In other words, another way Panama promotes tourism, but does not reimburse those who are expected to pay the bill.
If a tourist gets in an auto accident, or is sick, and racks up a bill at a hospital, the hospital is stuck with the bill. The Gov of Panama does not reimburse them. So, now, they are simply turning the tourists away or make them pay their bill.”
I wanted more information and followed up on this post.
Another expat supplied the solution.
In the Oct 20-26 issue of The Visitor/El Visitante bilingual paper, on the back page (or online under ‘news’) are the following with phone numbers to report problems. The notice is reprinted below:
“Panama gives free health insurance for 30 days to all who enter
the country through Tocumen International Airport. Cards promoting this
benefit are available at the airport. But carrying the card is not
necessary to collect on the policy to cover medical expenses for
accidents that occur while in national territory.
Visitors to the country who have a medical emergency must simply
show the entrance stamp on their passport to the hospital staff and the
Panama Tourism Authority (ATP) will cover the cost through a blanket
policy provided through Generali Insurance.
Through this effort, Panama expects to capture a greater
percentage of the tourism market by making visitors to our country feel
safer through providing this free value-added service. There is an
exclusive hotline for questions and concerns regarding the new policy,
reachable at 204-9300 and 204 2312.”
Traveling to Panama? Write down these numbers and keep them with your other emergency information. Hopefully you won’t need to take advantage of the complimentary health insurance, but if you do, it would be helpful to provide the telephone numbers to a physician or facility that might be unaware of the policy.
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