Just a quick post to remind any non-Colombians living here that I can help you to get private health insurance which covers you from routine check-ups to major accidents at the best hospitals in Colombia. (Click here to find out why private is the only way to go in Colombia)

I have already helped several readers get signed up and they have been happy customers so far! Send me a message on the 'Contact' tab at the top of this page and I will get back to you ASAP!

*Disclaimer* I do not benefit from this, just want to help!

Health insurance for ex-pats can be a real pain. You don't qualify as a backpacker, nor do you qualify as a citizen of that country. Travel insurance bought from a Western country almost always only covers you for public healthcare which, in Colombia, would be insufficient and dangerous if you got into a serious accident or fall pregnant. Public hospitals here are pretty bad so it may seem like a tricky situation.

Fear not, I have the solution! My boyfriend's dad works for Coomeva, one of the best private health insurance companies in Colombia and, a few weeks into my arrival, he told me that I could sign up for a plan through him. The plans vary from around $88.000 per month for the Silver plan, and $200.000 per month for the Gold plan. Had I known this was a option, I never would have bought travel insurance.

So, for any expats planning on coming, or any already here, if you want this insurance you can get in touch with me (click on the 'Contact' tab at the top or comment on this post) and my boyfriend's dad can set it up so easily and may even be able to give you a discount. All I had to give him was a copy of my passport. Problem solved!

Health insurance for ex-pats can be a real pain. You don't qualify as a backpacker, nor do you qualify as a citizen of that country so in my weeks of searching for the best fit in the UK before flying out, I felt like I was somewhere in the middle. When you ring up insurance providers to explain that you are going abroad to look for work they will give you one of three responses 1) that they do not cover people working abroad, 2) that they do but only for certain temporary jobs such as fruit picking or 3) that they will cover you as a backpacker, but this leaves them with some power to refuse to dish out when it comes to it as providers will use anything to claim you do not comply with their smallprint. And regardless of the provider you end up going for, most do not cover private hospitals or clinics. 

After having already lived in Colombia before coming this time, I knew that this was the most crucial part of my insurance that I needed. Public hospitals here are really terrible so paying hundreds of pounds for health insurance which only covers you for the public care is no better than having no insurance in my book. After much investigation, I ended up paying for a few months of regular travel insurance with Debenhams who said that they may (or may not!) cover private hospitals and it depends on the type of injury. They said when an incident arose, that I, or someone in my family, should call them to clarify whether I can be treated in a private hospital or not. Now, this is less than ideal as if I am alone and get run over, no-one will be able to call to check this, but it was the best I could find.

I now have a better solution for ex-pats that I didn't realise was an option before I left. My boyfriend's dad works for Coomeva, one of the best private health insurance companies in Colombia and, a few weeks into my arrival, he told me that I could sign up for a plan through him. I pay $80,000 (£22) a month and can be treated in any private hospital/clinic in the country, have elective blood tests and check ups, and am covered from small illnesses like tonsillitis, right up to serious accidents, without having to claim anything back or go through difficult paperwork. Had I known I could get the same insurance as Colombians without the need for a cédula (ID card) or anything, I never would have bought the insurance from Debenhams. 

So, for any ex-pats planning on coming, or any already here, if you want this insurance you can get in touch with me (click on the 'Contact' tab at the top) and my boyfriend's dad can set it up so easily and can even give you a discount. All I had to give him was a copy of my passport. Problem solved!