Healthcare in Panama for retirees
Healthcare in Panama runs on private hospitals for most retirees, at a fraction of US spending: $1,558 a person a year, against $13,473.
The hospitals retirees use, what insurance does and does not cover, and the discounts that come with residency. Checked against official and hospital sources on Oct 7, 2026.
- Life expectancy
- 79.8 years US 78.9. World Bank, 2024
- Doctors
- 1.6 per 1,000 US 3.7. World Bank, 2022
- Health spending
- $1,558/person Per year; US $13,473. World Bank, 2023
- Paid out of pocket
- 40.5% Of all health spending; US 10.9%. World Bank, 2023
- Retiree discount
- 20% off doctors 15% off dental and optometry services, 15% off private hospital and clinic bills. Ley 6 (1987). Checked Oct 7, 2026.
- Insurance for the visa
- Not required Not among the documents the law lists. Decreto Ejecutivo 320 (2008); Decreto Ley 3 (2008). Checked Oct 7, 2026.
Hospitals retirees use in Panama
Panama City
Pacífica Salud (Hospital Punta Pacífica)
- Joint Commission International accredited (the hospital lists six accreditations)
- Affiliated with Johns Hopkins Medicine International
- Emergency room open 24 hours
- Website in English
Pacífica Salud. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
Panama City
Clínica Hospital San Fernando
- Joint Commission International accredited for the sixth time in August 2026
- Founded in 1949, Panama's first private hospital
Hospital San Fernando. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
David
Hospital Chiriquí
- Emergency line (507) 774-0127
- Intensive care, imaging, hemodialysis, surgery and laboratory among its services
Hospital Chiriquí. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
Most retirees use private hospitals in Panama City for anything complex. Boquete and the Chiriquí highlands rely on hospitals in David.
Paying for care in Panama
40.5% of health spending in Panama is paid directly by patients, about 3.5 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 Panama, 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.
Pensionado health discounts
| Medical consultations, general and specialist | 20% |
| Dental and optometry services | 15% |
| Private hospital and clinic bills, if you have no hospitalization insurance | 15% |
| Prescription medicines at pharmacies | 10% |
Law 6 of 1987 gives these to all pensioners and retirees in Panama, and to residents from age 55 (women) or 60 (men). Ley 6 (1987). Checked Oct 7, 2026.
Healthcare questions
Does Medicare cover me in Panama?
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 Panama.
Do I need health insurance for the Pensionado visa?
Health insurance is not among the documents the law lists for the Pensionado application; you need a health certificate from a licensed professional instead.
How much of the bill do people pay themselves?
In Panama, 40.5% of all health spending is paid out of pocket, against 10.9% in the US (World Bank, 2023).
Is there good care near Boquete?
Boquete is in Chiriquí province; the province capital, David, has private hospitals such as Hospital Chiriquí with a 24-hour emergency line. For complex care most retirees go to Panama City.
