Unlock The World
Overseas Havens Reports
Conference Kits
Lahardan Books
Services
Our Customer Service team is here to assist with any questions or concerns CustomerService@LiveandInvestOverseas.com
Unlock The World
Overseas Havens Reports
Conference Kits
Lahardan Books
Services
Our Customer Service team is here to assist with any questions or concerns CustomerService@LiveandInvestOverseas.com
Chile’s health-care system is a mixed model—publicly funded through FONASA (the national health insurance fund) and privately available via ISAPRE insurers. FONASA provides universal coverage, while ISAPRE offers access to private clinics and faster service in exchange for higher fees.
Health care in Chile is provided by the government and private insurers. In general, both sectors provide affordable, quality services. As you would expect in most countries, public hospitals in Chile tend to have longer wait times and for this reason many expats opt to go with private health care.
Reviewed By Lief Simon
Lief Simon is the managing editor of Global Property Advisor, Simon Letter, and Offshore Living Letter. He has purchased more than 45 properties, investing in 23 different countries around the world.
Start Your New Overseas Life Today
A world full of fun, adventure, and profit awaits! Sign up for our free daily e-letter, Overseas Opportunity Letter, and we’ll send you a FREE report on the 10 Best Places To Retire In Style Overseas Today 2025
We Value Your Privacy! We will not share your email address with anyone else, period.
Most importantly, the World Health Organization ranks Chile as the 33rd best health care system in the world, ahead of Costa Rica (36), Mexico (61), and even the United States (37).
Chile offers the second best medical care in all of South America, behind Colombia.
And, if you do find yourself in need of medical services keep in mind that patients do not need a referral to see a specialist.
Expats may find that the concept of a local family doctor in Chile is not that common, as most doctors specialize in a particular aspect of medicine rather than having a general practice.
Many doctors train overseas, in countries like the U.S., Canada, and other First-World nations, and offer consultations in English. Finding an English-speaking physician is much easier in the larger cities of Chile than in the rural towns and villages.
The Fondo Nacional de Salud (FONASA) is the government organized health care system that is available to residents of Chile. In order to take advantage of public healthcare you will need to be a resident and be paying taxes in Chile. The quality of care, even in public hospitals, is high quality, although it’s often reported that there can be long waits and crowding.
There are variety of private institutions that provide top-notch health care in Chile.
As part, expats and residents join in private Chilean health insurance programs through Instituciones de Salud Previsional (ISAPRE) or private health insurance companies. This can be your best option if you don’t meet the requirements for the public (FONASA) coverage.
Just like in the public sector, doctors for private hospitals provide an excellent level of care. These doctors will generally have a higher level of English and are more familiar with having foreign patients.
Pharmacies are abundant in Chile and are conveniently located in nearly ever town and city.
Many locations have 24-hour service for prescription pickup and drop-off. Like doctors in Chile, Pharmacists are well-trained and provide a breadth of information on many ailments and illnesses.
As prescription drug abuse isn’t a widespread problem many drugs are available over the counter without the need for a doctor’s visit or prescription.
Under the Chilean government, through the FONASA program, you can have access to the public health insurance system in Chile.
This insurance allows most of the population to be covered and receive free public health care. But, if you are in need of care within the private medical facilities of Chile this program can also provide subsidization on many of the costs.
FONASA, the government run Fondo Nacional de Salud, is a program funded by public taxes to provide health care in Chile.
Chilean citizens and foreign residents who pay taxes will receive a 7% monthly income deduction for the program. Public hospitals run by the government are required to provide free, quality health care to all the public, including those without health care coverage.
If you are in need urgent medical care there are many worse places to be than in Chile.
A large majority of hospitals have full emergency services, complete with ambulances and ER units. In more remote areas of the country you will find that some of these services aren’t available 24 hours a day, however if the emergency is severe enough there are medical air evacuations available.
Air evacuations are quite expensive, however many expats opt for international health insurance plans that cover this option.
The emergency dialing code for Chile is 131.
Reviewed By Lief Simon
Lief Simon is the managing editor of Global Property Advisor, Simon Letter, and Offshore Living Letter. He has purchased more than 45 properties, investing in 23 different countries around the world.
Start Your New Overseas Life Today
A world full of fun, adventure, and profit awaits! Sign up for our free daily e-letter, Overseas Opportunity Letter, and we’ll send you a FREE report on the 10 Best Places To Retire In Style Overseas Today 2025
We Value Your Privacy! We will not share your email address with anyone else, period.
Chile has a two-part health care system. People can choose to be covered by the public National Health Insurance Fund or by private health insurance companies. Right now, 68% of the population uses the public fund, while 18% are covered by private insurers.
My last visit to Barcelona before I moved back to Europe was in 2007, and I was just 18, but...
The French refer to this time of year as la rentrée. July and August all France goes en vacance. Then,...
Years ago I heard a definition of “wealthy” that has stuck with me. Being wealthy, the thinking goes, is having...
Considering a move to Spain? After living in the Costa del Sol for three years, here’s my list of things...
We Value Your Privacy! We will not share your email address with anyone else, period.
As seen in
RETIRE OVERSEAS AND
LIVE LIKE ROYALTY
Sign up for FREE and learn how to live the good life on a modest budget, find bargain property, and more. Plus, check out our FREE report on the 10 BEST PLACES TO RETIRE.
Top Countries
Budgets
Affordable
Resources
Real Estate
Overseas Property Alert
How To Become Independently Wealthy And Fund The Lifestyle Of Your Dreams
Buying Real Estate For Cashflow
Discover tips and strategies used by global property investing veterans
Explore Our Latest Posts
Learn how to invest and purchase property abroad…
Conferences
Live and Invest In Spain Conference
Offshore Wealth Summit
Live And Invest In Argentina Online Workshop
Contact Our Events Team:
Toll-Free U.S. and Canada:
1 (888) 627 8834
From Outside North America:
1 (443) 599 1221
Working Hours
Monday – Friday 08:00 am – 17:00 pm EST.
Reach us with your questions by email at: events@liveandinvestoverseas.com
Store
Overseas Havens Reports
Conference Kits
Lahardan Books
Services
Free Report
THE 10 BEST PLACES TO RETIRE IN 2025
Sign up to receive the FREE daily e-letter, Overseas Opportunity Letter and we’ll immediately email you our editors’ latest research report…
We Value Your Privacy! We will not share your email address with anyone else, period.
Follow Us:
© 2008 - Live and Invest Overseas - All Rights Reserved.
