Are healthcare and health insurance expensive in Nicaragua?

When we asked expats in Nicaragua if healthcare and health insurance are expensive in Nicaragua, they wrote...

"Healthcare and health insurance in Nicaragua can be expensive for some people. The cost of healthcare services and health insurance can vary depending on the type of services needed and the type of insurance plan chosen. Generally, the cost of healthcare services is higher than in other countries, and health insurance plans can be expensive for those who do not qualify for government subsidies. Additionally, the quality of healthcare services in Nicaragua can be lower than in other countries, making it difficult to access quality care," wrote a member who made the move to Nicaragua.

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"I've used both the public system, and "private doctors", and been satisfied with both. Almost all Nicaraguan doctors work for the government in the morning, and then hold private office hours in the afternoon. A private doctor's visit is inexpensive, $20 - $30. If you want to queue up at the clinic, it's free. It may take you a while to be seen, depending... Private labs do blood work inexpensively. Most medications are available without prescription, and are reasonably priced. I maintain a "footprint" in the US, I''m registered to vote here, and have an address where I receive mail. This enables me to have a no premium Medicare Advantage plan. I've been very happy with it. I also have relationships with both a primary care provider and various specialists. I feel it's important to establish these relationships before you leave the US. I'm only a 5 hour flight from Managua. I recently had some heart work done that was billed to the plan for $160K. An angioplasty and a couple of stents plus the diagnostic work that led to the operation. My nut was only $600, for a co-pay for a night in the hospital and specialist co-pays, and a co-pay on one of the diagnostic tests. My prescriptions are shipped to my mailbox and I pay nothing, or very little, for a 90 day supply of the medications I need. Although this work would have been available and probably cost significantly less in Nicaragua, maybe $20K, it's still a lot of money. The diagnostic tests (stress EKG and Echo Cardiogram) that led to the decision to go into my heart WOULD be harder to come by in Nicaragua. All of this has to be arranged before you leave. But, it's not complicated, and is 99% on-line, or by phone. This has been my solution to my medical needs, and it has worked very well. Yours might be different. ," explained one expat living in Nicaragua.