An Expat Guide To Healthcare In Argentina

An Expat Guide To Healthcare In Argentina

Source: www.expatfocus.com 2

Che Guevara, soccer, tango, and Iguazu Falls

“Argentina is known all around the world for its vibrant culture, impressive heritage, sub-tropical climate, diversity, cosmopolitan lifestyle, and scenic beauty.”

http://www.expatfocus.com/


Source: www.expatfocus.com

Important factors

3

Imag

e so

urce

isto

ckph

oto.

com

“Many foreigners are therefore considering this popular destination to settle down in. However, it is only natural for you to look at several other aspects of expat life when considering a new destination to move to. Healthcare, is one of important factors…”




An expat guide to healthcare in Argentina:

4

Introduction to Medical Care

• The healthcare system in Argentina has been divided into 3 sectors: the Public sector (financed by taxes), the Private sector (paid for by voluntary insurance schemes) and the Social Security sector (funded by obligatory insurance schemes).





5

Public Healthcare• Around 50% of the local population

relies only on the public sector for their medical needs, mainly because it is free for all in-patient treatment. This applies to locals as well as foreigners. There is no charge for out-patient treatment either but you will have to pay for your own medication. Emergency care and doctor callout services are free for everyone.





6

Private Healthcare• Private healthcare services in

Argentina are of a better quality and the waiting lines are shorter. This is because patients have to pay the entire cost of medical care. Fortunately, a number of the private facilities offer their own healthcare plans, making it easier for patients to finance their treatments through flexible payment options and discounts.





7

Social Security or Obras Sociales

• In the case of all working professionals, the employer as well as the employee are obliged to make contributions towards a health insurance scheme that is organized by a trade union. This is the most commonly used form of health cover throughout the nation.





8

Emergency Care

• Anyone can call for emergency medical services by dialing 107 from a local number or a payphone, without the use of a card or money. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that the person who answers your call will be able to speak English.

Some terms through which you can get the right form of help:

• I need an ambulance: Necesito Una Ambulancia

• Accident: Un Accidente• Bleeding: Sangrando• Burn: Quemado• Heart attack: Paro Cardiaco• I’m in labor: Tengo contracciones• Injured: Herido• Stroke: Un Accidente Cerebro Vascular• Very ill: Muy enfermo





9

Dental Care

• The standards of dental care across Argentina are quite high, even if you take the smaller towns into consideration. One of the biggest challenges is finding an orthodontist who can speak in English outside of the urban areas. The cost of dental care is relatively low compared to most North American and European nations.





10

Cosmetic Care

• It is easy to find several highly trained and experienced specialists in this nation, who are as skilled as professionals in Europe and the US. However, the cost of such surgeries is much lower and that is why people from all over the world travel to Argentina when they want to undergo any kind of corrective procedure.





11

Finding a Doctor

• Though walk-in clinics (guardias) are often available at most medical centers, visits to a doctor should be scheduled by making an appointment beforehand. Depending on the system under which you are covered, you may have the option of choosing your general practitioner.





12

Medical Visas

• If you are a foreign national with a serious or a chronic health problem and need to undergo long-term treatment in Argentina, you could apply at the Direccion Nacional de Migraciones for a 1-year multiple entry medical visa.





13

Health Hazards

• Before traveling to this nation, it is recommended that visitors get immunized against certain diseases. These include vaccines for yellow fever, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies, and typhoid. All travelers should also have taken their routine inoculations such as MMR (Measles / Mumps / Rubella) and DPT (diphtheria / pertussis / tetanus).



ThankYou

Health & Medicine

An Expat Guide To Healthcare In Argentina