Quick answers: healthcare in Panama
- How much does health insurance cost in Panama for expats?
- Indicative international health insurance for a 32-year-old living in Panama (inpatient and outpatient, mid-level plan, worldwide excluding the USA) typically costs £241 to £334 a month, with a median of £263 and the cheapest at £181, based on 12 plan quotes from the 14 insurers on our panel, taken in 2026-09. Your price depends on your age, medical history, plan and deductible, and is only confirmed by the insurer.
- How much does expat health insurance cost by age in Panama?
- Indicative median monthly premiums in Panama (inpatient and outpatient, mid-level plan, worldwide excluding the USA): age 25 US$264, age 35 US$351, age 45 US$429, age 55 US$726, age 65 US$1,319. Quotes taken 2026-09; the insurer confirms the final price. Shown in US$. Other HealthiNomad prices are in GBP.
- Do foreigners need health insurance in Panama?
- It depends on the visa. Remote workers (short-stay visa for remote workers): Must provide a copy of a medical insurance policy that covers the applicant in Panama and is valid for the whole stay. Retirees and pensioners (pensionado permit): No health insurance is required; applicants provide a health certificate and a lifetime pension of at least US$1,000 a month (US$750 with property worth over US$100,000). Friendly Nations applicants (paises especificos permit): No health insurance is required; applicants provide a health certificate plus proof of employment, real estate of at least US$200,000 or a fixed deposit of US$200,000. Students (temporary permit for education): No health insurance is required; applicants provide a health certificate, proof of admission and proof of economic solvency. Countries that require travel insurance to enter
- Can foreigners use public healthcare in Panama?
- Public hospitals exist nationwide, but services outside Panama City, Colon and the Pan-American Highway corridor are limited, and ambulance services are unreliable outside those areas. None of the residence permits checked (retiree, friendly nations, student) requires private health insurance, only a health certificate.
- Do hospitals in Panama ask foreigners to pay upfront?
- Private hospitals require payment up front before service or admission, and bills must be paid in full after care. Hospital costs can exceed US$10,000 depending on treatment. Credit cards are usually accepted for hospital charges but not for doctors' fees.
- What is the emergency number in Panama?
- Call 911 for an ambulance in Panama.
What health insurance costs in Panama (indicative)
These are indicative prices, based on 12 plan quotes from the 14 international insurers on our panel, for one standard profile: a 32-year-old living in Panama, inpatient and outpatient cover, mid-level plan, worldwide excluding the USA. The typical monthly price is £241 to £334, with a median of £263 and the cheapest at £181. Your actual price depends on your age, medical history, the plan, your deductible and where you want cover, and is only confirmed by the insurer. Snapshot 2026-09-24. See the Health Insurance Cost Index.
Indicative prices: the 5 lowest of 12 plan quotes, monthly in GBP, cheapest mid-level plan in each insurer's range. Quotes taken 2026-09-24.
See the figures
| Age | Cheapest | Median | Higher end | Plans quoted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | US$168 | US$264 | US$290 | 13 |
| 35 | US$234 | US$351 | US$386 | 13 |
| 45 | US$266 | US$429 | US$527 | 13 |
| 55 | US$447 | US$726 | US$853 | 13 |
| 65 | US$700 | US$1,319 | US$1,473 | 12 |
Indicative. Single adult, inpatient and outpatient, cheapest mid-level plan per insurer, worldwide excluding the USA. Quotes taken 2026-09-29. The insurer confirms the final price. Shown in US$. Other HealthiNomad prices are in GBP.
How healthcare works for expats
Panama uses the US dollar alongside the balboa, which is pegged one to one. Public care is provided by Ministry of Health hospitals and the social security fund, the Caja de Seguro Social, while Panama City has several private hospitals of a good standard. Medical facilities outside Panama City are limited.
Public care and state schemes
Public hospitals exist nationwide, but services outside Panama City, Colon and the Pan-American Highway corridor are limited, and ambulance services are unreliable outside those areas. None of the residence permits checked (retiree, friendly nations, student) requires private health insurance, only a health certificate.
Private hospitals
Private hospitals in Panama City, such as Hospital Nacional and Hospital Punta Pacifica (Pacifica Salud), sell fixed-price maternity and surgery packages, and private clinic chains such as Panama Diagnostic Center publish prices for consultations, scans and laboratory tests online. Package prices usually exclude doctors' fees.
Paying up front
Private hospitals require payment up front before service or admission, and bills must be paid in full after care. Hospital costs can exceed US$10,000 depending on treatment. Credit cards are usually accepted for hospital charges but not for doctors' fees.
Typical medical costs in Panama
Published prices, mostly from private hospitals. Pound figures are approximate conversions.
| Treatment | Price | About |
|---|---|---|
| GP consultation at clinic, Panama Diagnostic Center1 Panama City, per consultation | US$35 | £26 |
| GP home visit, Panama Diagnostic Center2 Panama City, per visit | US$75 | £57 |
| CT of the head (cerebral), Panama Diagnostic Center3 Panama City, per scan, without contrast to with contrast | US$345 to US$510 | £261 to £385 |
| Ultrasound scans (breast to lower-limb arterial Doppler), Panama Diagnostic Center4 Panama City, per scan | US$85 to US$330 | £64 to £249 |
| Knee X-ray (both knees, two views), Panama Diagnostic Center2 Panama City, per study | US$75 | £57 |
| Preventive blood panel (full blood count, creatinine, uric acid, lipid profile, urinalysis), Panama Diagnostic Center5 Panama City, per panel, promotional to regular price | US$40 to US$77 | £30 to £58 |
| Normal birth package, Hospital Nacional6 Panama City, package, private room to VIP suite; valid to 31 December 2026; excludes multiple births and complications | US$700 to US$1,100 | £529 to £831 |
| Caesarean package, Hospital Nacional6 Panama City, package, private room to VIP suite; valid to 31 December 2026; excludes multiple births and complications | US$1,225 to US$1,850 | £926 to £1,398 |
Health insurance rules for foreigners
Remote workers (short-stay visa for remote workers)
Must provide a copy of a medical insurance policy that covers the applicant in Panama and is valid for the whole stay. Other requirements include foreign income of at least US$3,000 a month (US$36,000 a year); the visa lasts 9 months, renewable once.7
Retirees and pensioners (pensionado permit)
No health insurance is required; applicants provide a health certificate and a lifetime pension of at least US$1,000 a month (US$750 with property worth over US$100,000).8
Friendly Nations applicants (paises especificos permit)
No health insurance is required; applicants provide a health certificate plus proof of employment, real estate of at least US$200,000 or a fixed deposit of US$200,000.9
Students (temporary permit for education)
No health insurance is required; applicants provide a health certificate, proof of admission and proof of economic solvency.10
Tourists needing a visa
No health or travel insurance is listed among the requirements; proof of economic solvency of at least US$500 is required.11
Tips before you buy cover
- Dial 911 for emergencies or 103 for an ambulance; ambulance cover is unreliable outside Panama City, Colon and the Pan-American Highway corridor.
- Private hospitals ask for payment before admission, and doctors' fees are often billed separately and may not be payable by card.
- Hospital maternity and surgery packages usually exclude obstetrician, paediatrician and anaesthetist fees and do not apply if there are complications.
- Specialist care is concentrated in Panama City, so allow for travel if you live elsewhere in the country.
- The remote worker visa is the only permit checked here that requires a health insurance policy.
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Sources
- 1.Consulta medica general en clinica, Panama Diagnostic Center (accessed September 2026)
- 2.Panama Diagnostic Center home page (price list), Panama Diagnostic Center (accessed September 2026)
- 3.Tomografias en Panama, Panama Diagnostic Center (accessed September 2026)
- 4.Servicios radiologicos, Panama Diagnostic Center (accessed September 2026)
- 5.Preventivo laboratory package, Panama Diagnostic Center (accessed September 2026)
- 6.Planes de Maternidad, Hospital Nacional (accessed September 2026)
- 7.Requisitos para solicitar visa de corta estancia como trabajador remoto, Servicio Nacional de Migracion de Panama (accessed September 2026)
- 8.Requisitos: jubilado pensionado, Servicio Nacional de Migracion de Panama (accessed September 2026)
- 9.Requisitos: paises especificos, Servicio Nacional de Migracion de Panama (accessed September 2026)
- 10.Requisitos: temporal por razones de educacion, Servicio Nacional de Migracion de Panama (accessed September 2026)
- 11.Solicitud y requisitos para visa de turista, Servicio Nacional de Migracion de Panama (accessed September 2026)
- 12.Panama travel advice: health, FCDO (December 2025, accessed September 2026)
- 13.Panama International Travel Information, US Department of State (accessed September 2026)
Costs and rules change. Always check with the hospital, the insurer or the relevant authority before relying on a figure.