Expats who want to get to know Ecuador before deciding to move permanently, or those who want to make short trips to the country for other reasons (beautiful nature and delicious coffee, for example), will not need medical insurance to enter the country. The Latin American country recently abandoned the idea of making medical insurance mandatory for visitors in order to remain affordable and attractive to visitors from around the world.
Not sure when to block?
It's been a confusing year for those planning to travel or relocate to Ecuador, so it's not surprising if you're unsure. For the past few years, the Ecuadorian government has been manipulating the idea of making medical insurance mandatory for tourists. The decision was finally made in February 2017: medical insurance will be mandatory for all foreign visitors. However, as the year passed, the date for making the condition truly mandatory was constantly being suspended, making the situation less and less clear to anyone wishing to visit the country. Ultimately, the law never really took effect and is now repealed entirely. Visitors to Ecuador won't need health insurance after all, a decision that the Ecuadorian Minister of Tourism has promoted as a strategy to boost the country's tourism industry.
When do you need insurance?
Expatriates who wish to stay more than 90 days in Ecuador still need medical insurance and must present proof of this at the Ecuadorian Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the time of processing their visa. Those who plan to visit the country for less than three months do not need health insurance, at least for now.
There is still an exception for those who want to visit the Galapagos Islands. Over the past two years, these Ecuadorian islands have had to spend large sums on medical care for foreigners, largely due to the large number of older tourists who required medical assistance during their visit. Therefore, as of November 2018, tourists visiting the islands will need to obtain private health insurance from a provider authorized by the local government.
Bottom line: If you are only visiting mainland Ecuador for less than 90 days, you are not required by law to have health insurance. However, as mentioned, these laws tend to change frequently, so to be safe, it is definitely worth getting medical insurance for your trip to Ecuador. This will not only protect you from unexpected health costs, but also from any unexpected changes in the law.
There is still an exception for those who want to visit the Galapagos Islands. Over the past two years, these Ecuadorian islands have had to spend large sums on medical care for foreigners, largely due to the large number of older tourists who required medical assistance during their visit. Therefore, as of November 2018, tourists visiting the islands will need to obtain private health insurance from a provider authorized by the local government.
Bottom line: If you are only visiting mainland Ecuador for less than 90 days, you are not required by law to have health insurance. However, as mentioned, these laws tend to change frequently, so to be safe, it is definitely worth getting medical insurance for your trip to Ecuador. This will not only protect you from unexpected health costs, but also from any unexpected changes in the law.
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