Panama Could Provide Health Insurance to Tourists Again


News from Panama / Tuesday, March 21st, 2017

We have got to do this folks, it is a huge drawing card for Panama.

The Tourism Authority is considering redeploying the benefit of free insurance for medical expenses for visitors, but adjusting the scope and term of the coverage.

Authorities are assessing the changes that would be needed in order to implement the free health insurance program for tourists once again, seeing as it was such a valuable promotional tool. The benefit was implemented by the Martinelli administration in 2011 and canceled three years later, due to its high cost.

Gustavo Him, administrator of the ATP, told Prensa.com: “…  We are consulting with the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and we are reviewing some options to bring back this product.”  

Antonio Alfaro, president of the Chamber of Tourism of Panama, “… described the idea of resuming provision of the insurance as positive, adding that it should never have been removed, but rather the terms changed if what was sought was a reduction in costs.”