Healthcare in Ecuador for retirees
Healthcare in Ecuador for retirees means private insurance, which the Jubilado visa requires, or joining IESS as a resident, with hospitals such as JCI-accredited Hospital Metropolitano in Quito.
The hospitals retirees use, what insurance does and does not cover. Checked against official and hospital sources on Oct 8, 2026.
- Life expectancy
- 77.6 years US 78.9. World Bank, 2024
- Doctors
- 2.3 per 1,000 US 3.7. World Bank, 2020
- Health spending
- $509/person Per year; US $13,473. World Bank, 2023
- Paid out of pocket
- 30.9% Of all health spending; US 10.9%. World Bank, 2023
Hospitals retirees use in Ecuador
Quito
Hospital Metropolitano
- Joint Commission International accredited since 2011, then the only hospital in Ecuador with it
- Re-accredited by Joint Commission International for the fifth time in 2024
Hospital Metropolitano. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
Cuenca
Hospital Universitario del Río
- Founded in 2009; more than 200 doctors in more than 60 specialties
- ISO 9001:2015 certified
- First private hospital accredited by INDOT, the national transplant body, for living-donor kidney transplants
Hospital del Río. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
Guayaquil
Omni Hospital
- Third-level specialty hospital, open since 2009
- Certified to ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001
Omni Hospital. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
Foreign residents have the right to use Ecuador's health systems, and no public or private hospital may refuse emergency care because of nationality or immigration status. Residents also have the right to join the social security institute, IESS, with contributions based on the income declared for the residence visa; voluntary contributors pay 17.6% of their income.
Paying for care in Ecuador
30.9% of health spending in Ecuador is paid directly by patients, about 3 times 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 Ecuador, 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 Ecuador?
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 Ecuador.
Do I need health insurance for the Jubilado visa?
Yes. The Jubilado visa requires Ecuadorian or foreign health insurance valid for the whole period of the visa, and a foreign policy must state that it covers you in Ecuador. The law also says residents need public or private insurance for illness, accidents or death.
How much of the bill do people pay themselves?
In Ecuador, 30.9% of all health spending is paid out of pocket, against 10.9% in the US (World Bank, 2023).
Can foreign retirees use IESS, Ecuador's social security health system?
Yes. Foreign residents have the right to join IESS, with contributions based on the income declared for the residence visa. Voluntary contributors pay 17.6% of their income.
Do I need health insurance to retire in Ecuador?
Yes, for the Jubilado visa: you must show Ecuadorian or foreign health insurance valid for the whole visa period, and a foreign policy must state that it covers you in Ecuador.
Is there a good hospital in Cuenca?
Hospital Universitario del Río in Cuenca was founded in 2009 and has more than 200 doctors in more than 60 specialties. It is ISO 9001:2015 certified.
