New Expat - Medical Insurance

[cornelius]

I am moving down to Buenos Aires in August (will be there again this month for a month or so) and It's super hard trying to find medical insurance. I've tried OSDE over the phone and they told me I needed a DNI and the hospital plans (aleman) told me I can't join with prexisting condition (Chrons) - not sure where else to go. I'm relatively healthy and I'm only 31 years old. Any advice?

 

[Quilombo]

If you're coming for a month or so you'll have an extremely difficult time finding any company willing to insure you for only a month. You're better off getting travel health insurance in your country of origin.

Also, health insurance companies here are in some ways worse than American ones. For example, OSDE is lying, you don't need a DNI, and Hospital Aleman is breaking the law - it's illegal in Argentina, like in the US, to deny coverage to someone with preexisting conditions. They can charge you an extra premium for the first year, but that's it, outright denial is illegal, and if you want to denounce them, you can, but honestly not worth the time since most people with preexisting conditions return the favor in kind to these bloodsuckers by omitting the fact.

 

[cornelius]

I’m oficially moving in august - itll be long term. Do most people just not let them know about their preexisting conditions and make “ complaints” later.

 

[Rich One]

If you're coming for a month or so you'll have an extremely difficult time finding any company willing to insure you for only a month. You're better off getting travel health insurance in your country of origin.

Also, health insurance companies here are in some ways worse than American ones. For example, OSDE is lying, you don't need a DNI, and Hospital Aleman is breaking the law - it's illegal in Argentina, like in the US, to deny coverage to someone with preexisting conditions. They can charge you an extra premium for the first year, but that's it, outright denial is illegal, and if you want to denounce them, you can, but honestly not worth the time since most people with preexisting conditions return the favor in kind to these bloodsuckers by omitting the fact.

There's a new (Milei?) regulation approved in 2024 requiring Argentine DNI for Lab tests, IADT Center, Rossi Lab, Hosp. Clinicas. Info checked this week.

 

[Silvie]

I’m oficially moving in august - itll be long term. Do most people just not let them know about their preexisting conditions and make “ complaints” later.

They will ask you for certain lab tests or exams besides having to answer the questionnaires and after that, they will ask additional questions and request more information; I was told that sooner or later they would find out if you lied to them at the time of application; it makes sense.

 

[Rich One]

They will ask you for certain lab tests or exams besides having to answer the questionnaires and after that, they will ask additional questions and request more information; I was told that sooner or later they would find out if you lied to them at the time of application; it makes sense.

Very true, OSDE asked me to go through an extensive battery of tests before providing an insurance rate, which would exclude pre existing ailments.

 

[ArgentinaVet]

Very true, OSDE asked me to go through an extensive battery of tests before providing an insurance rate, which would exclude pre existing ailments.

This is almost certainly an age related requirement; I most certainly didn't have to take any medical tests when I signed up in 2011, and when I added my fiancée in 2023 to my OSDE 450 plan she didn't have to take any medical tests either. I was 28 in 2011 and she was 27 in 2023 when she was added.

 

[Ronnie Hotdogs]

They will ask you for certain lab tests or exams besides having to answer the questionnaires and after that, they will ask additional questions and request more information; I was told that sooner or later they would find out if you lied to them at the time of application; it makes sense.

I signed up for Hospital Alemán about 2 years ago and only completed a questionnaire did not have any lab tests or examination by any doctor.
I am below 40 though.
Maybe things have changed since then?

 

[FrankPintor]

There's a new (Milei?) regulation approved in 2024 requiring Argentine DNI for Lab tests, IADT Center, Rossi Lab, Hosp. Clinicas. Info checked this week.

Very interesting, given that the parents in law are due to visit shortly.

On my last visit to the Hospital Austral I was asked for my physical DNI before going for the tests. Maybe it was because nobody understands me? Or foreigners are PNG now? I’ll ask next time.

 

[Rich One]

Very interesting, given that the parents in law are due to visit shortly.

On my last visit to the Hospital Austral I was asked for my physical DNI before going for the tests. Maybe it was because nobody understands me? Or foreigners are PNG now? I’ll ask next time.

Foreigners will have to pay in CABA Public Hospitals. According to a Macri/Jorge Decree in the Official Gazette. For all services they request DNI residente/Temporario.

La Ciudad de Buenos Aires cobrará a los extranjeros por la atención médica en los hospitales públicos

La Sociedad de Facturación y Cobranzas de los Efectores Públicos será la encargada de recuperar costos. La medida no incluye urgencias.

www.ambito.com

The new City resolution establishes that permanent and temporary residents will have equal access to medical services. DNI required