How does healthcare work in Central America, and what travel insurance, health insurance or expat insurance do you need?

How does the healthcare system work in Central America?

The quality of healthcare in Central America varies greatly by country and region. Larger cities generally have better facilities than rural areas.
All countries have both public and private healthcare providers, with private healthcare providers generally being better and offering more options.
For more serious medical conditions, it is best to seek care in Costa Rica, Mexico and Panama. There are more options and better facilities here.
Pharmacies, “farmacias”, are generally easily accessible, especially in urban areas. Many people visit a pharmacy for primary care.
Many medicines that are only available with a prescription in other countries can be purchased over the counter here.

Most Central American countries have a public healthcare system that is accessible to residents (sometimes also expats with a residence permit). This system is usually financed through taxes or social contributions.
Public healthcare in Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Honduras is sometimes or regularly substandard. The waiting times are long, the facilities are very limited and you will hardly find any privacy or comfort.
In Costa Rica, Panama and Mexico, public healthcare is reasonable to good.

Reasons to choose private healthcare in Central America are the shorter waiting times and better facilities.
Private healthcare is a lot more expensive than public healthcare, but the costs are still lower than in North America or Europe, for example.
You often have to pay in advance.

A formal GP system usually does not exist. In many countries you can visit a specialist directly without a referral.
In Costa Rica and Panama, you often first have contact with a general practitioner in the public system.
Many expats go to private clinics with "general practitioners" or make direct use of specialists.

Dental care is generally good and much cheaper than in Western Europe or the US, especially in countries such as Costa Rica, Guatemala and Nicaragua, but also in Belize.
Most dental practices are located in urban areas.

The quality of maternity care also varies between countries. In Costa Rica and Panama, maternity care is well organized in both the public and private sectors. In Guatemala and Honduras, pregnancy can be riskier because care lags behind other countries.
In the more developed countries, deliveries generally take place in hospitals.
Expats usually opt for maternity care through private institutions.

Safety is an important point of attention in Central America. Some countries have higher crime rates, especially in certain urban or remote areas.
Countries such as Costa Rica and Panama are relatively safe, while El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala are known for violence and theft, especially in certain neighborhoods.
Especially in tourist areas pickpocketing, burglaries and scams occur.
It is not recommended to travel alone at night and in remote areas.

Tropical diseases are common, such as dengue, chikungunya, zika and in some regions malaria.
Drinking water is safe in Panama and parts of Costa Rica, but bottled water is recommended in other countries.
The sun is intense – sunburn, dehydration and heat-related complaints are common.

Traffic is often chaotic and unpredictable, especially in cities.
Road quality varies widely: highways can be good, but rural roads are potholed or unpaved.
Traffic rules are often ignored, which can lead to dangers on the road.
Buses are cheap but often overcrowded and irregular. In Panama and Costa Rica, public transport is better organised.
Many expats opt for their own car or taxis/Uber in the city (where available).

Is the trip to Central America and your return sufficiently covered? Are you sufficiently covered before, during and after your activities? Which insurance best suits your trip and your activity? Read more about insurances for abroad on JoHoinsurances.org.

Good international health insurance is in most cases essential for a stay in Central America, so that you are covered for medical evacuation and repatriation and the high costs of private care.
Make sure your insurance covers medical evacuation as well as coverage in neighboring countries. Read more about insurances for abroad on Expatinsurances.org.

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