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Retirement visa insurance international insurer recommendations

expat42451

I read Stealtannest3t's post  on necessary insurance to qualify for the retirement visa here in Colombia-- I have very much the same question Stealtannest3t does.   I am in Pasto. I moved over from Ecuador some 2 weeks ago and have about 2 1/2 months on the first tranche of  my visitor visa with the ability to get another 3 months by contacting immigration for an extension according to the office here in Pasto.  I have  been to the immigration office here a couple of times and  pretty much understand the requirements.  I lived in Ecuador for the past 8 years and since 1) I am somewhat of an athlete at 74 years old...mountain biking, some climbing, lots of hiking yadayada......I have no health insurance and 2)  Given what passes for Ecuadorian public health I didnt buy any sort of policy. So.


FWIW I did contact Bolivar Insurance, one of the  respected Colombian insurers here and they will not issue a policy to anyone)1 Older than 55 years old and 2) anyone without a Colombian cedula.  This leaves international insurers.  Which international insurer will issue a policy particularly given my age? Any suggestion deeply appreciated.

Many thanks.

See also

The Working Holiday Visa for ColombiaVisas for ColombiaPensionado visa approval for 15 monthsRetirement visaVisa types
expat42451

@expat42451

FWIW just did the Cigna  exercise online and their insurance ranges from $870 US  to $1558 US  PER MONTH for coverage.  Cant afford that.

stealtannest3t

@expat42451

Thank for your response.  I like you maintain a healthy active lifestyle so I prefer to pay out of pocket as the need arises.  So I am not looking for a policy that has benefits.  I will be filing my pensionado visa application early next week.  I purchased a travel insurance medical policy for 1 year for $120 USD from Starr Insurance out of the US and will submit that with my application.  It covers medical emergencies up to $50K and repatriation for $100K.  Just finalizing translations of the apostilles.  Wish me luck!

South American Voyager

$120. for a 1 year policy that is acceptable to Immigration and meets their requirements, jump on that.


I recall 7 years ago I too when originally applying for my COL pension visa paid something like 3.000.000 pesos or roughly, at the current exchange rate at the time, a $1,000. USD for the year.


When that 1 year policy expired, actually before it expired, I have been on EPS-SURA and pay right at 400 mil a month or about $100. USD per month and never use it rather pay out of pocket for things that arise , and they do.


Godspeed!

nico peligro

Read my response on the other fellows thread.


Note that getting a " policy" to meet the cancillerías visa requirements is one thing , but getting a reliable health care policy is a totally different kettle of fish  and a policy for one objective wont necessarily suffice for the other.


Also  note that by the 2022 Visa reform, pensionada visa holders are not qualified to enrol in the  EPS system.However, if you have an active cedula, I am 90 % sure any EPS provider will enrol you, because cedulas only mention "C","M" or "R" type and dont get into the visa sub categories,and most providers dont know the rules.


Also  by law  you have to be enrolled in EPS to be eligible to be enrolled in a medicina prepagada program.


But once again many providers of Medicina prepagada will enroll you with just a passport, because the providers themselves dont know the rules that apply to their industry..That was.how I was enrolled years ago, with Coomeva  prepagada..just a passport. Also recently, SURA offered me enrollment in a progrram with only a passport...no visa  no cedula, no EPS, because the lady didnt know the rules and niether did the lawyer she refferred me to.

nico peligro

Like to hear how the Star insurance turns out..i.e. whether the Cancilleria  accepts it.


Like I said in the other thread, I used ATM Colombia for $360 a year and worked okay.


I have a similar active lifestyle to you and have probably only used  20% max of what I have paid into the Medicina  Prepagada over the years,  but am sticking to it for now.


As far as EPS, a mixed bag   depending who you talk to, but my experience talking to Colombians is its pretty crappy.

stealtannest3t

I will keep the group posted on my results with the low cost insurance policy.  I anticipate only getting a one year pensionado visa since that seems to be the norm now.  Anyone else have better luck?Â