Nicaragua Health Insurance for Expats

International Health Insurance for Expats in Nicaragua

International health insurance is the top choice for expats in Nicaragua to help cover medical costs. While the country offers public healthcare, private healthcare grants travelers and expats alike better treatment, flexibility, and options for medical care around the globe. 

Are you an expat looking for top-rated healthcare plans for Nicaragua? Or maybe you’re a traveler preparing for a tropical getaway who wants to ensure that possible mishaps are covered during your trip.

This article will outline the benefits of international insurance in Nicaragua, give an overview of the country’s healthcare system, help compare top insurance plans, and more. 

Whether you’re planning your long-term move to Nicaragua or preparing for a quick vacation, Pacific Prime can help you find the ideal plan for your needs and budget. Click below to get a free quote or keep reading to find out more about health insurance in Nicaragua.

Recommended International Health Insurance Plans for Expatriates Living in Nicaragua

Cigna Global Insurance Plan

• Worldwide Coverage (excluding the US)
• Access to Cigna's trusted network of hospitals and doctors
• Numerous Deductible Options
• 24/7 Customer Support
• 4 Core Insurance Plans

Plan Details Get a Quote

Allianz Care Health Insurance

• World-leading Health Insurance Provider for Expats
• Extensive Network With Over 1.9 Million Medical Providers
• Quick and Efficient Claims Process
• Maximum Plan benefit up to USD $4,000,000
• Flexible deductibles for inpatient and outpatient plans

Plan Details Get a Quote

The Healthcare System in Nicaragua

Nicaragua’s healthcare system includes both public and private sectors. The government guarantees free universal coverage to its citizens through public insurance, but accessibility to that care, especially in rural areas, is limited, and a lack of medical professionals makes the system unreliable.

The decentralized model offers three tiers of care, with community-based preventative and primary care offered at health posts and centers meant to address the disparity of care. The country’s second level of care is available through hospitals and clinics. 

The Ministry of Health (MINSA) manages the healthcare system on the national level, but the Sistema Local de Atención Integral de Salud (SILAIS) is responsible for intermediate levels of care and acts as the connection between local care and municipal-level services.

Emergency services are generally free for citizens and foreigners alike, but expect to pay upfront if you require medications and supplies. Wait times are long at these public facilities, since most of the country is covered under MINSA. 

Public Hospitals in Nicaragua

Most hospitals in Nicaragua are in or near Managua, complicating access to quality medical care. Some of the public hospitals offered around the country include Fernando Velez Paiz Hospital, Oscar Danilo Rosales Hospital, Hospital Argüello, and Hospital Victoria Motta Jinotega.

Fernando Velez Paiz Hospital

Address: 4M9V+6VC Terreno de Proyecto 6, Managua, Nicaragua

Phone number: 505 2298 0320

Oscar Danilo Rosales Hospital School Argüello

Address: C4MC+CQX, 1ra avenida este, León, Nicaragua

Phone number: +505 2311 6980

Hospital Victoria Motta Jinotega

Address: 859998 13.0867, Jinotega, Nicaragua

Private Hospitals in Nicaragua

Private hospitals like the Hospital Metropolitano Vivian Pellas in Managua are generally preferred over public hospitals for their quality of service and skilled medical staff. Some of the other top private hospitals in Nicaragua include Hospital Bautista and Nicaragua Adventist Hospital.

Hospital Vivian Pellas

Address: Carretera Masaya, Km. 9.8, 200 mts al oeste. Managua, Nicaragua.

Phone number: 505 2255 6900

Hospital Bautista

Address: costado sur del Recinto Universitario Carlos Fonseca Amador (RUCFA, Managua, Nicaragua)

Phone number: 505 2264 9020

Nicaragua Adventist Hospital

Address: Avenida Central Del Cine Nancy 1/2 C. al Sur, Nicaragua

Phone number: +505 2713 3827

Health Insurance Options in Nicaragua for Expats 

Expats should purchase expat insurance before heading to Nicaragua. The country offers free primary healthcare to its citizens through the INSS, but international health insurance guarantees expats care worldwide, even if they must be medically evacuated to another country.

Public Insurance in Nicaragua

Nicaragua offers universal public healthcare, but because the country’s healthcare system is spotty, many prefer the reliability of private care.

Beyond public care overseen by MINSA, Nicaragua’s mandated social security (Instituto Nicaragüense de Seguridad Social, or INSS) provides salaried workers in Nicaragua and their dependents with predefined services through EMPs and select providers at public and private institutions.

Private Insurance in Nicaragua

Expats often prefer private health insurance, particularly international health insurance. Shorter wait times, personalized treatment, more reliable and high-quality care, and customization make international health insurance an appealing choice for expats.

Some of the benefits often included with international health insurance include:

• Worldwide coverage
• Inpatient and day patient care
• Cancer care
• Mental health care
• Emergency ambulatory services and ER care
• Palliative care
• Home nursing
• Lab work and testing
• Prescription medications
• Emergency dental care
• Rehabilitation

International health insurance offers portable care, giving expats access to top-tier facilities worldwide. Portability is important for expats in Nicaragua since medical evacuation is otherwise very expensive, and many treatments are not available on the island.

Individuals who choose an international insurance plan also have the luxury of picking which benefits they need, including add-on benefits like vision and dental care, and when to renew their policies. 

We recommend speaking to our expert insurance advisors today to find a personalized plan before you begin your adventure in Nicaragua.

Best Private Insurance Providers for Expats in Nicaragua

Among the best private health insurance providers for expats in Nicaragua are Allianz, APRIL International, Cigna, IMG, MSH International, and NOW Health. Read more about each provider below, head to the link for their page, or get a free quote right away.

Allianz

Allianz offers expats coverage through three plans: Allianz Care, Allianz Care Plus, and Allianz Care Pro. All three plans cover inpatient and day-care services, oncology treatment, and medical evacuation.

The annual limit per plan is:

• Care plan: USD $2,500,000
• Care Plus plan: USD $4,000,000
• Care Pro plan: USD $5,00,000

• Inpatient treatment
• Surgical costs
• Cancer treatment
• Diagnostic services
• Medical evacuation coverage

Plan Details Get a Quote

APRIL International

APRIL International is a leading international insurance provider that offers affordable, comprehensive coverage to expats in Nicaragua. They offer tiered health benefits to expats across their Emergency Plan, Formule Basic, Essential Plan, Comfort, and Premium plans.

The table below outlines the yearly maximums for each tiered plan:

• Inpatient treatment
• Outpatient treatment
• Emergency repatriation
• Emergency medical evacuation
• Maternity, dental, and vision coverage

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Cigna

Cigna is known for their excellent health insurance plans. Expats looking for coverage inpatient and outpatient services can choose from Cigna’s Silver, Gold, and Platinum plans as well as their Close Care plan. 

Expats can also choose to customize their plan with add-on benefits such as:

• Hospitalization
• Inpatient and outpatient services
• Cancer treatment
• Medical evacuation and repatriation
• Accidental death or total permanent disability compensation

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The annual limits for each plan are: 

• USD $1,000,000 for the Silver plan
• USD $2,000,000 for the Gold plan
• An unlimited annual maximum for the Platinum plan 
• USD $500,000 for the Close Care plan 

IMG

IMG’s Global Medical Insurance plan, which is ideal for expats in Nicaragua, comes in four tiers: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Expats value IMG for their customizable worldwide coverage, emergency medical evacuation coverage, and prescription drug coverage across all tiers.

Limits across each tier are:

• Bronze: $1,000,000 per individual
• Silver: $5,000,000 per individual
• Gold: $5,000,000 per individual
• Platinum: $8,000,000 per individual

• Inpatient treatment
• Surgery
• Labs and diagnostics
• Physical therapy
• Cancer treatment

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MSH International

MSH International has been a leading health insurance provider for over 50 years. Expats love that MSH International offers inclusive coverage options, 24/7 member support, and a large medical network. Their First’Expat+ plans provide four tiers of international health insurance coverage.

Expats in Nicaragua can pick from the Hospi, Health, Health+, and Health+Child plans. Once they have chosen their core benefits, they can customize their plan with one of four annual limits and their related benefits: Quartz, Pearl, Sapphire, and Diamond.

Here is a brief description of the core benefits:

• Hospi: Covers hospital and medical evacuation
• Health: Covers routine healthcare services, third-party liability, and legal assistance services
• Health+: Covers vision and dental services
• Health+Child: Covers maternity services

Annual limits are then:

• Quartz: USD $625,000
• Pearl: USD $1,250,000
• Sapphire: USD $2,000,000
• Diamond: USD $3,750,000

• Emergency hospitalization
• Intensive care
• Surgical procedures
• Laboratory tests and other diagnostics
• Hospitalized emergency dental care
• Cancer treatment

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NOW Health

NOW Health offers their WorldCare plan with four tiers of coverage and their SimpleCare plan with three tiers of coverage. 

The SimpleCare plan was designed to allow expats to save on their premium costs. Note that expats cannot receive elective coverage in the United States under the SimpleCare plan.  Under the SimpleCare plan, annual limits are:

• USD $1,000,000 for the SimpleCare Core tier
• USD $1,500,000 for the SimpleCare 100 tier
• USD $1,500,000 for the SimpleCare 250 tier

The WorldCare plans from NOW Health were designed with comprehensive care in mind, though the copay options help expats lower their monthly premiums. Under the WorldCare plan, annual limits are:

• USD $3,000,000 for the Essential tier
• USD $3,500,000 for the Advance tier
• USD $4,000,000 for the Excel tier
• USD $4,500,000 for the Apex tier

• In-patient and day-patient care
• Organ transplant
• Evacuation and repatriation
• Cancer treatment
• Rehabilitation

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Facts to Consider When Picking Insurance in Nicaragua

When choosing private health insurance plans, consider direct billing options, Spanish translation options, specifics of your health and budget, and more. We’ve listed some of the main factors to keep in mind below:

1. Your Budget: Your health history, desired coverage, extra benefits, and even age and gender all contribute toward the cost of your plan. When breaking down your budget for your policy, remember the following costs:
   • Premiums are the amount you pay each month for health insurance. 
   • Deductibles are the amount you pay before your insurance covers costs. 
   • Copays are the amount you pay for medical visits, like doctor’s visits. 
   • Coinsurance is the coverage percentage you pay once you have met your deductible. 
   • The out-of-pocket maximum is the total maximum amount you may pay for health care within a term.
2. Plan Limits: Each plan offers differing coverage limits, meaning the maximum amount the insurer will pay for medical expenses. 
3. Range of Benefits: Expats should evaluate plans that meet their unique needs, especially if they require specialty services, such as maternity care, mental health services, and prescription medications.
4. Exclusions: Many plans do not cover pre-existing conditions, specific treatments, or alternative therapies. If you need treatment for excluded care, you will have to cover the costs out of pocket.
5. Direct Billing Options: Some providers provide direct billing, which allows expats to receive treatment upfront before payment, alleviating financial stress and streamlining the medical process. 
6. Adventure Support: Many individuals moving to and visiting Nicaragua plan outdoor excursions, so verify that your chosen policy covers your chosen activities, from hiking to surfing. Ensure the insurer also provides 24/7 emergency assistance for urgent medical emergencies.
7. Spanish Language Support: Most medical staff in Nicaragua only speak Spanish, so if you cannot competently communicate your medical needs, having help from a Spanish translator could be essential to your wellbeing. See if your intended provider offers these services.

Health and Safety Tips for Travelers in Nicaragua

Travel to Nicaragua is considered risky, especially for US citizens. The country’s government is known to target visitors for government reasons. If you choose to visit Nicaragua, visit your country’s travel advisory page for Nicaragua, get vaccinated, avoid bug bites, and purchase travel insurance.

Get Vaccinated

At least eight weeks before your trip to Nicaragua, check the CDC’s list of suggested vaccinations and make an appointment with your healthcare provider at home to receive these vaccinations.

Avoid Bug Bites

Malaria, dengue, and Zika virus are all possible health risks in Nicaragua. To protect yourself from these mosquito-borne diseases, wear insect repellent and protective clothing. Use a protective covering, such as a net, when sleeping, and stay in screened and air-conditioned locations. 

Purchase Travel Insurance

All visitors to Nicaragua should seriously consider travel insurance. Travel medical insurance provides coverage for some medical emergencies during your vacation, such as emergency care or repatriation. Make sure any insurance you purchase covers emergency evacuation.

Pair travel medical insurance with traditional travel insurance to receive comprehensive coverage against most travel mishaps. Travel insurance usually covers:

• Trip cancellation
• Delayed departure
• Personal belongings
• Lost luggage
• Travel documents
• Personal liability

If travel insurance fits your needs, read more about top insurers in this guide. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is healthcare free in Nicaragua?

Nicaragua offers free universal coverage to its citizens through public insurance, but accessing that care can be difficult outside of urban centers like Managua. The quality of care in public hospitals is limited, and wait times are generally long.

Is Nicaragua a good destination for tourists?

Travelers looking for a tropical getaway may benefit from researching alternative destinations to Nicaragua. Government corruption makes travel to Nicaragua risky and potentially dangerous.

Compare Plans and Quotes Now

Private health insurance is highly recommended for any expat who wants access to high-quality treatment in Nicaragua. Along with providing access to care within Nicaragua, international health insurance ensures policyholders can access treatment regardless of where they are in the world. 

Pacific Prime boasts over 25 years of experience providing quality insurance options for travelers and expats. By contacting a broker from Pacific Prime, you guarantee that you get the information to find the right plan for you. 

Pacific Prime offers a wide array of travel insurance policies and health insurance plans as well as benefit packages for inpatient, outpatient, maternity, and dental care. Contact our expert advisors to get a free, no-obligation quote or impartial advice, and experience the peace of mind our plans can offer.