New law - Increase in health care payments by Colombian Pensionados

gringoloid says on Jul 26, 2007, 07:20:

We haven't had a discussion on health care lately......anyone have any news on health insurance, medicamientos, etc.

A man approached me with a health plan from the states yesterday......but I feel a colombian plan would be better. Anybody dealing with ColSanitas, btw??

lawyer CO says on Jul 26, 2007, 15:39:

As i emailed ELK this is only a project so we have to wait until it becomes a law.

Also, i have to traslate the rule that gives exemption to foreign pensionado citizens to pay pension here in Colombia

Esteban R.
lawyer CO
email: lawyerscolombia at yahoo.com

wcarmack says on Jul 26, 2007, 19:39:

I am curious what a good medical plan will cost for a family per month. Has anyone actually had occasion to use these plans and if so, how did it go?

Is there a basic medical plan fee that all citizens and residents are part of? (Costa Rica is like that.) If this is the case are the private medical plans supplements to it?

We are planning on arriving as residents on either a Pensionado visa or as the parents of a Colombian citizen.

I have noticed when inquiring in Canada about medical insurance issues with regard to traveling to Colombia, the Canadian insurance agents tend to get a blank look on their faces, sometimes involuntary twitching sets in, and they start speaking in tongues and stuff.

Thirty years ago we just paid as we went in Colombia all through my wife's pregnancy. In and out of the Clinica de los Remedios - cash on the barrel head. I am a little more cautious and calculating these days. Nevermind that I need to cover all the bases on behalf of any of our children that may come to live with us. They got questions.......

Finally, I will say that all the medical and dental care we received in Colombia back in the seventies was top notch in every regard. I am the first to understand that we were very lucky to be able to afford the care and recognize that many people could not. ( If I knew how, I could post a picture that I took from the window of my wife's private room in the Clinica de los Remedios which shows the Social Security hospital in Cali clearly in the background. And it wasn't lost on me at the moment I took the picture.

Woody

vicshere says on Jul 27, 2007, 05:01:

woody your first job is to find a good medical provider you like..for example close to home, how clean the facilities are, what kind of equipment they have, what hospitals are they associated with, talk to some members in the waiting area waiting for a doctor's appointment after you have made your decision you need your cedual and become "afiliado" the cost will run (if you are not working and apply as an "indipendenti") around 46,000 to 50,000....this amount is based on the minimum monthly salary ( I think 413,000) 30 days later you will have full benefits including basic dental care. now if you get a job the employer needs to pay the medical insurance you can stay with the same medical provider by the cost now change depending on you salary....I believe the employer pays like 75% and employee pay 25% right now my 25% is worth about 50,000 per month which mean the monthly cost now is in the neighbour hood 150,000 hope that helps

listo

BAQ says on Jul 27, 2007, 09:31:

I just started paying for my mother in laws medical at COMEVA, she is 62 yrs old and is listed as an INDIPENDENTI, the monthly premium is $56.000.00 pesos. Hope the info helps.

Semper Fidelis !

BAQ says on Jul 27, 2007, 09:35:

If you are from the states on a PENSION VISA, why cant you just apply for the INDIPENDENTI PLAN ato COMEVA.

If my memory is correct, I NEVER had to provide a copy of my VISA, all they wanted was my CEDULA. Granted, I am here on a spouse visa but the fact that they never aske for the visa tells me unless you tell them you are here on a pension they will never know.

I could be wrong but just a thought.

Semper Fidelis !

vicshere says on Jul 27, 2007, 09:43:

Baq once you have your cedual you can apply for medical coverage with any company....when you apply as an "indipendent" you are suppose to write on the form your salary......but most people lie about the real salary and basically use the minimum salary which gives them the minimum payments.....but they have the right to audit you I would assume....I which case you would be in deep shit

listo

BAQ says on Jul 28, 2007, 13:01:

What are they going to audit???????

If you are making millions, its an easy fix, get two bank accounts and keep MINIMUM DEPOSITS in one account.

AUDITED and COLOMBIA are almost a contradiction in terms.

My mother in law does not work and has no pension and she STILL has to pay the premium minimum salary or should I say I do.

Semper Fidelis !

vicshere says on Jul 28, 2007, 13:11:

Yes she will have to pay at least on the minimum wage....well actually read the form you are filling out on the back is small print that you cant even read with a microscope...bet dollars to donuts that it there..reason for audits is many people lie about their wage to pay lower premiums...that's another option BAQ I believe you could put her as a dependant on your insurance and it may not cost you a cent

listo