Healthcare in Colombia for retirees
Healthcare in Colombia for retirees means private cover and hospitals such as JCI-accredited ones in Medellín, Bogotá and Cali, at a fraction of US spending: $644 a person a year, against $13,473.
The hospitals retirees use, what insurance does and does not cover. Checked against official and hospital sources on Oct 7, 2026.
- Life expectancy
- 77.9 years US 78.9. World Bank, 2024
- Doctors
- 2.5 per 1,000 US 3.7. World Bank, 2023
- Health spending
- $644/person Per year; US $13,473. World Bank, 2024
- Paid out of pocket
- 14.7% Of all health spending; US 10.9%. World Bank, 2024
Hospitals retirees use in Colombia
Medellín
Hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe
- Joint Commission International accredited since 2015, last surveyed September 2024
- Private non-profit university hospital of the highest level of complexity
- Accredited with excellence in Colombia's national system since 2008
Hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
Bogotá
LaCardio (Fundación Cardioinfantil)
- Joint Commission International accredited since 2013
- Hospital open 24 hours
- Heart, liver, lung, kidney and pancreas transplant programs
LaCardio. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
Cali
Fundación Valle del Lili
- Joint Commission International accredited
- University hospital for high-complexity care
Fundación Valle del Lili. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
The Pensionado visa does not let you join the Colombian social security system unless a bilateral or multilateral agreement allows it, so retirees on it rely on their own health cover in Colombia or a private policy valid there, which the visa requires.
Paying for care in Colombia
14.7% of health spending in Colombia is paid directly by patients, close to the US share, so plan how you will pay before you move.
Retirees use either an international health plan, which can also cover care at home and in other countries, or a local plan from an insurer in Colombia, which costs less but covers care there only. Prices depend on age and on the insurer's terms for existing conditions; compare written quotes.
If you are on Medicare
Medicare usually does not pay for care outside the United States; the exceptions are narrow, such as a foreign hospital closer to your US home than the nearest US hospital.
Medicare.gov. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
Healthcare questions
Does Medicare cover me in Colombia?
Medicare usually does not pay for care outside the United States; the exceptions are narrow, such as a foreign hospital closer to your US home than the nearest US hospital. Plan on private insurance or paying directly for care in Colombia.
Do I need health insurance for the Pensionado visa?
Yes. To get the Pensionado visa you must show health cover in Colombia or a health policy valid in Colombia covering accident, illness, maternity, disability, hospital stays, death and repatriation for your whole stay.
How much of the bill do people pay themselves?
In Colombia, 14.7% of all health spending is paid out of pocket, against 10.9% in the US (World Bank, 2024).
Is there good medical care in Medellín for retirees?
Hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe in Medellín is a private non-profit university hospital of the highest level of complexity, accredited by Joint Commission International since 2015.
Do I need private health insurance to retire in Colombia?
Yes, for the Pensionado visa: you must show health cover in Colombia or a policy valid there for your whole stay, because the visa does not let you join the Colombian social security system.
How much does Colombia spend on healthcare?
About $644 a person a year, against $13,473 in the US, with out-of-pocket payments at about 15% of health spending.
