I like your 2 cents. Can you find the reference to needing emergency medical coverage vs any other type. I am buying people coming here from Venezuela.
No, Caribbean Cool, I can't find the reference you request. I couldn't find anything straight from a government entity. That's why I asked for guidance from the local Argentine consulate. But they are very very slow to reply. It took my wife 10 days to get a reply to her email.
My statement about suggesting emergency medical coverage only instead of the more expensive comprehensive coverage is the result of my reasoning.
The need for travelers to have medical coverage comes from the "Decreto 366/2025" (DNU-2025-366-APN-PTE) signed by the president on May 5, 2025. I skimmed through its "Disposiciones" after finding it on Google.
At the end of approximately the first 25% of the document, it reads:
"Que también es necesario exigir, al momento del ingreso al país, una declaración jurada por la cual el extranjero manifieste los motivos por los que pretende entrar al territorio nacional y el compromiso a no desvirtuarlos."
Which is the need for foreigners entering the Argentina to show an affidavit stating the reason for the visit.
Several paragraphs below, the following can be found:
"Que, por ello, corresponde habilitar a los establecimientos sanitarios públicos a cobrar los servicios a aquellos extranjeros que no habitan establemente esta Nación, sino que se establecen en ella de manera transitoria.
Que, sin embargo, por razones humanitarias, corresponder mantener la prestación de servicios de salud en situaciones de emergencia a aquellos extranjeros que hayan ingresado al país irregularmente o no cuenten con la residencia permanente."
Which is the ability medical institutions now have to charge for medical services rendered to visitors. But it also says that in case of emergency situations, and for humanitarian reasons, health services will be provided to all visitors regardless.
Finally, approximately at the end of the first 30% of the text counting from the beginning of the document, the following can be read:
"Que, asimismo, es imprescindible requerir que los extranjeros que ingresen al territorio nacional declaren que cuentan con un seguro de salud con el fin de pagar sus gastos médicos en el país por medio de él, lo cual contribuirá a lograr una correcta implementación de la medida y asegurará una mayor eficacia en la prestación de los servicios sanitarios."
Which is the requirement for visitors to state that they possess health insurance.
Here is how my reasoning went. If now medical providers can charge for services to non residents, then the cost of those services is not a cost to the country. But there is an exception in case of a medical emergency, in which case the medical attention must be provided even if the patient can't pay. If the patient can't pay, that's a cost to the country. Therefore, it makes sense to assume that the insurance should be only for emergencies.
Yes, it's an assumption and only an assumption. And you know, often when we assume we make an ass of u and me
