Ecuador is relatively a small country in South America that gets its name due to its proximity to the Equator. The majority of the people in Ecuador speak Spanish.
As per the immigration law signed by the government of Ecuador in 2017, effective May 1, 2018, all foreigners entering Ecuador must carry proof of public or private health insurance for the entire duration of their stay in Ecuador.
In fact, in order to get the Ecuador visa, you will be required to present proof of proper health insurance at your appointment. Fortunately, we have many travel health insurance plans available to meet this requirement. You can get the instant quotes from multiple companies, compare plans side by side, and make an instant purchase online. As soon as you complete your purchase, you can download and print the visa letter to take with you to the Ecuador embassy or consulate.
Healthcare in Ecuador
Ecuador has both public and private healthcare systems. Foreign tourists to Ecuador are not eligible to use their public healthcare system. In any case, the public healthcare system is very basic, lacks adequate facilities, and has very long wait times.
Therefore, having a private health insurance is a necessity for Ecuador tourists. Even though private healthcare facilities are adequate in major cities, their standards may not up to the same standards of Western countries. In case of serious illness or injury where local treatment cannot be given adequately, travel medical insurance is very useful as it would cover emergency medical evacuation, which is transportation to the nearest place where adequate care can be given.
Even though their healthcare is obviously not as expensive as it is in the US or other major countries, for any extensive treatment, it can still be quite expensive; especially in the private hospitals that provide care on par with international standards.
Health Tips in Ecuador
Ecuador has tropical weather; many diseases common to tropical climates are a concern in Ecuador as well.
For example, many areas are rife with mosquito borne diseases such as dengue fever, malaria, and zika virus. Additionally, typhoid and yellow fever are prevalent in some parts of Ecuador.
Parts of Ecuador have very high elevation where the high altitude lowers chances of mosquito borne diseases, but at such high altitude, there is still the problem of altitude sickness from such dizzying heights.
Expatriate Health Insurance
For short visits to Ecuador, travel health insurance is sufficient. However, if you are planning to move to Ecuador for a few years or longer, you should consider purchasing expatriate health insurance, which are annually renewable major medical insurance plans.