Panama grants free medical insurance to air arrivals

Named “Seguro al Turista”, this state-funded insurance automatically activates upon entry through an airport stamp, with no registration or fees required, for all travelers under 86 years of age, regardless of nationality. Road or sea arrivals do not benefit from this coverage.

A panamanian state-covered policy

The initiative is led by Panama’s Tourism Authority (Autoridad de Turismo de Panamá, ATP). On April 14, 2020, the Cabinet Council adopted resolution No. 27, published in the Official Gazette on April 20, 2020, which allocates an additional 3.5 million balboas €3,118,998.71 to the ATP budget. The funds are fully dedicated to providing coverage under Seguro al Turista, an insurance policy covering foreigners and panamanians residing abroad who enter Panama by air.

The policy is operated by Internacional de Seguros (ISEGUROS), with assistance channels listed on the official page. For travelers, the insurance is free: Panama’s official tourism website clarifies that this is a government-provided benefit.

The official page currently lists the coverage as active. Authorities have not released a communiqué setting the exact implementation date; local Panamanian media suggests it will be around September 10, 2020, while also noting a similar program operated between 2011 and 2014. Neither detail has been confirmed by an official source.

Who qualifies, and under what conditions

This automatic coverage applies to any traveler lawfully entering Panama by air—under 86 years old—and receiving their entry stamp at one of the country’s six covered airports. Nationality is irrelevant: a tourist from Colombia, Canada, Morocco, Spain or Senegal is covered under the same conditions.

Panamanians living abroad also qualify, provided they can present proof of permanent residence outside Panama through an official document (a visa, passport or identity card from their country of residence).

No further action is required, whether before departure or upon arrival. Protection begins at the immigration stamp and lasts for ten days from that point. Beyond that period, travelers are no longer covered by this automatic insurance: for longer stays, only the first ten days are included.

The six airports covered under the scheme

Air arrivals are the only entries eligible for this program. Travelers entering via a land border or arriving by sea, boat or cruise are not covered. The official page lists the six airports included in the Seguro al Turista program:

• Tocumen International Airport (Panama);

• Panamá Pacífico International Airport (Panamá Oeste Province);

• Enrique Malek International Airport (David, Chiriquí);

• Aeropuerto Scarlett Martínez (Río Hato, Coclé);

• Enrique Adolfo Jiménez International Airport (Colón);

• José Ezequiel Hall International Airport (Colón Island, Bocas del Toro);

What the insurance covers

The automatic insurance covers sudden medical emergencies and unexpected illnesses that occur while in Panama, including:

• accidental medical care and hospitalization;

• medical evacuation and international repatriation;

• legal assistance in case of theft or accidents.

Pre-existing conditions, whether congenital or chronic, are not covered. Official details on coverage limits have not been released by Panama’s official tourism page.

In case of an emergency, travelers can contact the assistance center reachable 24/7 (in Spanish, English, French and Portuguese) through a WhatsApp message at +1 305 722 5824; by phone at +507 840 4585; via online chat on the insurer’s website; or by email at seguroalturista@iseguros.com to file a claim. A coordinator records the case, a team evaluates it and then organizes the care according to the policy. Authorities stress using only official channels should requests arise.

How this plan compares with others in Africa

This state-supported automatic coverage represents a move opposite to policies requiring visitors to pay for health insurance, such as the mandatory travel insurance introduced in mainland Tanzania in October 2020. Similarly, Kenya’s mandatory health insurance policy requires proof of minimum 50,000 USD €44,557.12 coverage—both strictly enforced at point of arrival.

In Panama, no additional insurance documents are required: the stamp given at point of entry activates the free automatic coverage for up to ten days.