How does the healthcare system work in Colombia?

• Colombia has a surprisingly well-organized health care system that has improved significantly in recent decades; in fact, it is one of the best in the world. The combination of public and private healthcare systems offers extensive options to locals and emigrants alike. 
• In fact, the country is often praised for its medical care and has become a hotspot for medical tourism, especially for dental and cosmetic treatments.
• The quality varies depending on the region. In large cities such as Bogotá, Medellín and Cali, public care is of high quality, but in rural areas it can be limited.
• As a resident of Colombia, you are required to enroll in the EPS (Entidades Promotoras de Salud), the public health care system, where part of your salary is used as a health care premium. As expats, however, you can get out of this, but then you have to prove that you are insured in some other way.
• So most foreigners bring their own, private health insurance with them because it offers more coverage and freedom of choice. 
• To apply to the EPS, you must have a visa that allows you to become a resident. Then you go to an immigration (Migración) office where you sign up for an identity card (cédula). After that, you have to wait two to four weeks for the ID, with which you can then apply to the EPS. To do this, you must first find your own insurance administrator affiliated with it. It can be helpful for the whole process to bring a Spanish-speaking person with you if you don't speak the language yourself....

How does the public healthcare work in Colombia?

• The public healthcare system in Colombia is managed through the Sistema General de Seguridad Social en Salud (SGSSS). Expats with a residence permit can enroll in one of the public health care programs, the EPS (Entidades Promotoras de Salud).
• Public healthcare is very affordable. Employees contribute through their salaries (12.5%, or 4% when employed by a Colombian company), and care is largely covered, including hospitalizations and medications.
• English-speaking doctors in public care are scarce. In urban areas it is easier to find a doctor who speaks English, but in rural areas Spanish is essential.

How does the private healthcare work in Colombia?

• The private healthcare sector in Colombia is excellent and a popular alternative for emigrants. Many private hospitals and clinics offer top-quality services and short waiting times.
• Private care is more expensive, but still significantly cheaper than in the U.S. or Europe. A consultation often costs as little as €30-€50, depending on the specialist.
• Expats often choose private care because of the faster service and wider availability of English-speaking specialists.

How is the general practitioner arranged in Colombia?

• If you are affiliated with the EPS, you will often be assigned an IPS (Institucion Prestadora de Salud). This is usually a local healthcare facility where you can see a family doctor. 
• If you have private insurance, you will find family doctors at the various private institutions, especially in the big cities, who can help you and refer you if necessary. 

How is the dentist arranged in Colombia?

• Dental visits are generally covered by the EPS. You will find the dentist in an IPS - your local health care center. 
• You can also visit private institutions.  
• In fact, dental care is one of Colombia's (medical) draws. 
• Dental treatments are very affordable. For example, a filling costs around €30-€50 and a crown about €300-€500.

How is the prenatal and pregnancy care arranged in Colombia?

• Prenatal care is offered extensively through both public and private health care facilities. Many doctors specialize in obstetrics and gynecology.
• Through the EPS, you are entitled to monthly checks up to and including your 36th week. After that, this expands to once every 15 days until the birth of your child. You are also entitled to tests, vaccinations and ultrasounds, dental care and birth preparation classes. 
• At the birth, the specialist who helped you throughout the pregnancy is usually present, along with a midwife (partera). 
• Most deliveries take place in hospitals, with a strong emphasis on medical supervision. Home births are not common, but the system does allow the option of doing so. 
• Colombia has low maternal and infant mortality rates in urban areas, but they are higher in more remote regions due to limited access to care.
• After birth, you generally have checkups every two weeks. You will also receive a vaccination booklet (tarjeta de vacunación) for your child. 

How safe or unsafe is a trip or stay in Colombia?

What should you pay attention to in terms of safety in Colombia?

• Colombia has made significant progress in security in recent years, but it is still important to be vigilant. Petty crime, such as pickpocketing, is common in large cities and public transportation.
• Avoid remote areas, don't walk the streets at night and be careful when using your phone (they are most commonly nicked) in public places. It is also important to hold your bag securely, and better yet, carry it on your stomach. You will see many women in Colombia doing this by default. 
• Demonstrations can sometimes turn into unrest. Stay on top of the news and avoid large crowds.
• Never take any cab off the street and beware of the “paseo millonario” scam and. This involves a cab driver driving past all sorts of ATMs, forcing you to withdraw money and then dumping you at a random spot.
• So use apps like Uber, DiDi or Beat to get around. 
• Some neighborhoods are safer than others. In Bogotá, the neighborhoods of Zona T, Usaquén, and Chapinero Alto are generally safer for foreigners, although you still need to be vigilant (and especially in the evening)!
• There is still a lot of organized crime surrounding drugs (especially cocaine). You run security risks in areas where cocaine, opium or marijuana is grown or processed. In rural areas on the border with Panama, Venezuela and Ecuador, the Parque Nacional Natural de La Macarena and in the ports of Buenaventura, Turbo and Tumaco, these risks are highest. 
• There is a high risk of earthquakes in Colombia. They occur regularly, especially in the Santander area and the Andes. Landslides and floods can also occur after heavy rains and there are several active volcanoes in the country. 

What should you look out for in terms of diseases in Colombia?

• There are quite a few tropical mosquito-borne diseases in Colombia. So protect yourself well against mosquitoes, and especially in warm, low-altitude areas. 
• In higher elevations, altitude sickness can be a problem. So keep a close eye on your symptoms and ring the bell in time! 
• Tap water is safe in Bogotá, but bottled water is recommended in rural areas, other cities and along the coast.

What should you pay attention to when it comes to traffic in Colombia

• In urban areas the roads are well maintained, but in rural areas you may encounter poor road conditions, especially during the rainy season.
• Driving can be chaotic. Traffic is crowded, and driving styles are often unpredictable. Consequently, road accidents are common. 
• There is also risk of road blocks by militia in remote areas. Main roads are generally safe during the day. 
• Buses are cheap but often overcrowded. Urban areas such as Bogotá have a TransMilenio bus system, but it is notoriously crowded.
• Armed robberies on buses occur. 

What work and travel insurance policies are appropriate for short and long stays in Colombia?

• Is the trip to Colombia 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.

What emigration and expat insurance can you take out for Colombia if you are going to live there for a while?

• It is mandatory to have health insurance if you want to live in Colombia. This can be done through the EPS, but you may have to wait a long time, or through private insurance. Most expats choose their actual international expat insurance. Read more about insurances for abroad on Expatinsurances.org.

Travel in Colombia?

• Colombia is a great country to travel through and has plenty to offer an adventurous traveler. Take a multi-day trek to the lost city called Cuidad Perdida, taste freshly roasted coffee in the green hills of Zona Cafeteria, trek through the Andes and visit the Tatacoa Desert. In metropolises like Bogota, Medellin and Cali you will find churches, museums, as well as plenty of places to dance (salsa) at night. Prefer to chill out? Plenty of places on the Caribbean coast to enjoy a fresh jugo or cold cerveza under a palm tree.
• Go hiking in northern Colombia, in the protected area of El Cocuy.
• Take a trip to the Ciudad Perdida and Playa Blanca (beach paradise with donkeys running loose) from the port city of Cartagena.
• Do one of the jungle treks in the Amazon.
• Go all-night salsa dancing in Cali, Colombia's most famous salsa dancing spot.
• Get carried away during carnival in Barranquilla. Only the carnival in Rio de Janeiro is bigger.
• In the capital, Bogotá, you can see Colombian contradictions everywhere. The city has futuristic architecture, colonial churches and museums, countless “busetas” (small vans), extravagant stores and roadside stalls. But the vibrant melting pot of cultures also shows its dark side: beggars, drug use, slums and traffic jams.
• The Indian culture in San Agustín is one of the area's best-known Indian cultures, about which unfortunately little is known because the culture disappeared before the Spaniards came to Colombia. You can learn about a piece of the mysterious culture at an archaeological park in Timaná and Neiva in southwestern Colombia. Here you will find impressive, human-like statues and tomb temples.
• Ciudad Perdida, also known as “Lost City,” is one of the largest pre-Columbian villages discovered in the Americas. There are about 150 stone terraces built between the 11th and 14th centuries that once served as foundations for houses. Lost City is hidden in a deep, thick forest among mountains and far from the accessible road. A hike there and back will take you six days.
• San Andrés & Providencia Islands: Despite a tourist explosion, San Andrés & Providencia Islands remain beautiful: turquoise waters, extensive coral reefs and rich marine life. The laid-back lifestyle allows you to escape from hectic city life for a while. The Islas de Rosario also offer superb diving and snorkeling.
• The port city of Cartagena on the Caribbean Sea played an important role in the past, as well as today. It is an important economic center where you can also see a lot as a traveler. Above all, do not skip the port itself.
• Be prepared that the enormous inequality in Colombia can be shocking.
• Do not be alarmed by beggars, drug use, slums and traffic jams, these are also part of Colombia.

Updates Colombia

• More about Colombia, updates and contributions, see the link below.