Choosing to pursue an education in Colombia is a very rewarding and ambitious decision; however, after the excitement of selecting a university and/or a city has passed, the reality of the Colombian bureaucracy sets in. At the core of that transition is health insurance. In addition to being a safety net for international students, who often arrive with families, health insurance is also a mandatory legal requirement for their visas and a necessary part of their day-to-day lives.
Colombia’s healthcare system is two-tiered. On one hand, there are public systems (EPS – Entidades Promotoras de Salud); on the other, there is a large and well-established private sector. Understanding how the two interact, and why a global insurance policy should be the first and most important step in your relocation process, will help make the transition to Colombia much smoother.
The Regulatory Landscape: Resolution 5477/2022
As a prospective student it is essential to realize how specific the Colombian Government is regarding Health Coverage. Resolution 5477 of 2022 dictates that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will mandate that every individual applying for a visa will have to have an “International Medical Insurance Policy” that covers all risk.
The Catch is, even though you may intend to enroll in the local Public System (EPS) as soon as you arrive, the EPS is not considered to be “valid International Insurance” for your original Visa Application, nor is it valid for Renewal purposes. To meet the requirements of the Government you need to obtain a policy that states that it has International Coverage and includes Repatriation of Remains and Emergency Evacuation.
If you are a Student with a Family, the same rules apply to your Spouse and Children, therefore they will need to be included on your International Policy from Day One. If there are gaps in coverage this could result in Visa Denial or the worst case scenario, large out-of-pocket expense should there be a family emergency while living outside of their home country.
Understanding the EPS: Colombia’s Public Health System
Once you receive your Cedula de Extranjeria (Foreigner ID Card) when you first arrive in Colombia you will normally become a resident for medical reasons and at that point the enrollment in the EPS becomes compulsory for most visas.
The EPS is a gateway to the social security system of Colombia. Your contributions to the EPS will normally be 12.5% of your total gross salary. If you are an international student with a scholarship or living off of savings, your contributions to the EPS will normally be calculated using a minimum wage base, so it will be very cheap – about $50.00 per month for the primary contributor. One of the best things about the EPS is how inclusive it is; as soon as the primary contributor is registered in the EPS, the primary contributor’s spouse and dependents can normally be added to the EPS as beneficiaries without paying any additional premium.
However, the EPS is not perfect. The EPS is a high volume system. Although all of the doctors in Colombia are well qualified, there is usually a very long waiting list to see specialists and clinics in the large cities such as Bogota or Medellin have a lot of people. That is why many expats and professional level students take a hybrid approach to their healthcare in Colombia. They keep the mandatory EPS for their basic needs and to stay in compliance with the law, but they also purchase a private global policy or add to the local “Medicina Prepagada” (prepaid private medicine) so that they can get into their doctors offices quickly and go to the nice private clinics.
Top 10 Family-Suitable Providers for Students in Colombia
When selecting a provider, you need a company whose certificates are recognized by Colombian consulates and who has a network within the country. The following table provides indicative monthly premiums for a typical family (student in their 20s, one spouse, one child), excluding US coverage.
| # | Provider / Plan | Monthly Premium (USD) | Key Benefits for Families |
| 1 | Cigna Global | $250 – $450+ | Highly modular. Excellent Spanish-language support and widely accepted for visa purposes. |
| 2 | Allianz Care | $250 – $450+ | A “gold standard” for expats. Huge network in Colombia’s top-tier hospitals (Fundación Santa Fe, etc.). |
| 3 | IMG (Student Health) | $200 – $400+ | Budget-friendly for students. Can add dependents easily, though deductibles can be higher. |
| 4 | Bupa Global | $300 – $500+ | Premium coverage. Ideal for those who want the absolute best private hospitals in Latin America. |
| 5 | Aetna International | $250 – $450+ | Strong on chronic condition management. Great digital tools for managing family health. |
| 6 | AXA Global | $250 – $450+ | Reliable emergency and hospitalization focus. Simplifies the university “comprehensive” requirement. |
| 7 | WEA / MSH | $200 – $400+ | Popular with Europeans. Flexible benefits that allow you to lower costs by focusing on inpatient care. |
| 8 | Mapfre (Local + Int’l) | $150 – $300+ | A hybrid choice. Strong local presence but requires careful vetting to ensure it meets visa wording. |
| 9 | SURA + EPS | $50 (EPS) + $100+ | The local favorite. Excellent service, but usually requires a separate global policy for the visa itself. |
| 10 | Broker-Mediated | Varies | Using a broker (like Pacific Prime) can often find “unlisted” deals or tailored family packages. |
Note: Premiums are indicative. Your actual cost will depend on ages, pre-existing conditions, and your chosen deductible.
What Your Policy Must Include
When shopping for your family, do not just look at the price tag. The Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and your university will look for specific “Value Added” features. Ensure your policy includes:
- Repatriation and Evacuation: This is non-negotiable for the visa. It covers the cost of flying you back to your home country in the event of a serious illness or death.
- Inpatient and Outpatient Care: While the visa requires “all risks,” a policy that focuses heavily on hospitalization (inpatient) can keep costs down, while your local EPS handles the day-to-day (outpatient) doctor visits.
- Mental Health: Being an international student is stressful. Modern policies now include tele-therapy, which is vital for families adjusting to a new culture.
- Maternity Waiting Periods: If you plan on expanding your family in Colombia, be aware that most global policies have a 10 to 24-month waiting period before they cover pregnancy.
Actionable Strategy: The “Step-Down” Approach
For a professional-level student, I recommend what I call the “Step-Down” strategy to balance cost and care.
Phase 1: The Arrival (Months 1–6)
Purchase a robust international policy (like Cigna or Allianz) for the whole family. This ensures your visa is approved without questions and provides you with “VIP” access to the best hospitals while you are still learning how the Colombian system works.
Phase 2: Residency and Integration (Months 6+)
Once you have your Cédula, enroll the family in an EPS (like Sanitas or SURA). At this point, you have a choice. If you find the EPS meets your needs, you can “step down” your international coverage to a high-deductible plan. This keeps your monthly premium low but protects you against “catastrophic” events or the need to seek care back in your home country.
Phase 3: The Private Add-on (Optional)
If you find the EPS too slow, you can add a local Plan Complementario or Medicina Prepagada. These are local private insurance products that sit on top of your EPS. They are surprisingly affordable (often $40–$80 per person) and give you direct access to specialists without seeing a primary care doctor first.
Critical Tips for Families
- Document Language: Ensure your insurance company can provide a summary of benefits in Spanish. While many consulates accept English, a Spanish certificate significantly reduces the chance of administrative delays.
- Newborn Rules: Check if the policy automatically covers newborns from birth. This is a common “gap” where families find themselves uninsured for the first 30 days of a child’s life.
- The “US Exclusion”: Unless you plan on traveling to the United States frequently during your studies, exclude it from your coverage area. This single move can slash your premiums by 30% to 50%.
- Use a Specialist Broker: Don’t buy directly from a website if you can avoid it. A broker familiar with Colombia will know which carriers currently have the best relationship with local hospitals and which ones the Colombian consulates are currently “flagging.”
Pro Tips:
Securing family health coverage in Colombia requires several layers of protection. First, secure a global health policy acceptable to the visa officer, then layer this policy into the local healthcare system so that you can take advantage of Colombia’s high-quality, affordable government-run medical services. Layering these policies will create a safety net for your family and allow your family to receive care when traveling nationally (in Bogota or Medellin) or internationally.
Are you ready to narrow down your options?
If you share the city you’ll be living in, the ages of your family members, and whether you require coverage for trips back to the US, I can provide a more tailored analysis of the 3–4 best configurations for your specific situation.
References:
- Cigna Global. (2023). International health insurance & global medical cover. Cigna Global.
- ExpatFinancial. (2025, June 22). Best international health insurance | Health insurance plans.
- Expat Group Colombia. (2025, July 21). Is the EPS valid as a health policy requirement for a Colombian visa? Expatgroup.co.
- IMG. (2023). International student insurance. International Medical Group.
- Nomadic Fire. (2024, June 22). The expat guide to Colombian health insurance: EPS, private, international. Nomadicfire.com.
- Pacific Prime. (2025, May 4). A guide to health insurance in Colombia for expats. Pacificprime.com.
- U.S. insurer student resources (Cigna Global). (2022). Guía para seguro de salud internacional para estudiantes. Cigna Global.
- Expat Exchange. (2024). FAQ about healthcare & health insurance in Colombia. Expatexchange.com.
