Health Care in Puerto Rico: What Expats Needs to Know
Expats in Puerto Rico who are coming from the United States will find many things about the island’s health care system that mirror their experiences on the mainland. For example, according to figures quoted by the Kaiser Family Foundation, 34 percent of Puerto Ricans are covered under some sort of employer-sponsored health care insurance plan. In the United States, about 59 percent are able to take advantage of such plans.
If you are like many expats, you are either covered by private health insurance or you have a health care plan through your retirement from an employer. With the population of Puerto Rico swelling with those of retirement age, Medicare is also a popular way to manage the payment of health care on the island.
Generally speaking, many private health insurance plans, such as Triple-S Salud, Humana, Medical Card System and Tricare, are accepted by doctors, hospitals and other medical facilities in Puerto Rico. For expats who are purchasing a health insurance plan for the first time or who are interested in switching from their current one to a plan that is accepted throughout the island, Triple-S Salud is one that is accepted pretty much universally. Triple-S Salud has been an exclusive licensee for Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Puerto Rico since 1965. The company offers a variety of plans to choose from.
The following are some pointers to keep in mind when considering your health care options in Puerto Rico:
1. Dental is Included
For expats who have health care insurance that is accepted in Puerto Rico, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to learn that dental is included within your plan. Unlike in the United States where a separate dental plan or rider must be purchased and paid for, dental care is part of the package of benefits offered on the island.
2. Insurance might be cheaper
While this is especially true if you obtain insurance through an employer in Puerto Rico, it also has to do with other factors as well. For example, the insurance companies that offer services on the island typically cover almost every condition and test that you’ll need. Pre-existing conditions don’t even exist in Puerto Rico so there’s no worry about having to pay out of pocket for them. That being said, expect to have to pay your health insurance co-pay prior to actually seeing the doctor. It’s a good idea to have cash at the ready as nearly all business transactions require it.
3. Be prepared to wait
True to its laid back nature and emphasis on the connections with people, medical facilities in Puerto Rico often feature long waits. It’s important to note that this refers to seeing the doctor at his or her office. Typically, you’ll have an appointment for a certain time but you could be waiting for an hour to be seen. Not only is this because the medical professionals on the island take their time with each patient, but they are also likely to see people on a first-come, first-served basis.
When it comes to obtaining an actual appointment for either a routine visit or even something more involved, such as surgery, you’ll likely have only to wait a few days or a week at the most. As mentioned previously, many doctors see patients as they arrive. This means that walk-ins are not typically turned away if you have a need to see your doctor the same day. Surgeries can often be scheduled within a week or so.
4. Lab tests aren’t done at the doctor’s office
If your doctor wants you to have some type of blood work or laboratory testing of any sort, you will likely have to go to a laboratory that specializes in those types of services. The doctors in Puerto Rico typically don’t draw blood for lab work there in their office.
5. Availability can vary widely
As you might expect, your access to health care can vary widely based in large part on exactly where you settle down. In the capital city of San Juan, for example, you’ll find comparable services and diversity like you would in any other large city on the mainland. These amenities include numerous hospitals such as a Veterans Administration hospital and a children’s hospital. Physicians and specialists of all sorts can also be found there. In many cases, smaller towns and villages have limited options when it comes to the availability of physicians with almost no access to specialists. For example, expats who make Vieques their home will need to make a trip to the mainland of Puerto Rico to see specialists.
Tapping into the public health care system could mean that you will likely need to have Puerto Rican documents, such as a driver’s license. In addition, you might be required to meet residence requirements.
