State-funded scheme covers the first ten days after arrival and includes medical treatment, emergency care and repatriation
Panama has introduced free health insurance for international visitors arriving in the country by air, adding medical protection to the tourism experience from the moment travellers pass through immigration. The new Seguro al Turista has been operational since September 10, 2026, and covers eligible visitors during the first ten days of their stay.
The scheme is financed by the Panamanian government through the Panama Tourism Authority and requires no separate registration or payment by travellers. Coverage is activated automatically when an eligible visitor legally enters the country by air and receives the corresponding immigration stamp.
Medical treatment included from arrival
The insurance covers medical and hospital treatment following accidents and for eligible illnesses that are not pre-existing. Benefits also include emergency medication, emergency dental treatment, medical evacuation and transfers within Panama as well as international repatriation under the conditions of the policy.
Legal and administrative assistance following certain accidents or theft is also included.
The programme is available to eligible travellers up to and including the age of 86 and applies throughout Panama during the covered period.
Different limits apply to individual benefits
The insurance does not provide a single US$50,000 limit for every type of medical treatment. Instead, individual benefits are subject to different maximum amounts.
Medical and hospital expenses resulting from a covered accident or illness are insured for up to US$15,000 per person. Medical transport to a hospital within Panama can be covered up to US$10,000, while international medical repatriation can reach US$50,000.
Emergency dental treatment following an accident is covered up to US$1,000, while eligible outpatient medication has a limit of US$500. Repatriation of remains is covered up to US$10,000.
Ten-day protection reflects tourism strategy
The programme forms part of Panama's efforts to strengthen its competitiveness as an international tourism destination by providing visitors with an additional level of security during their stay.
The ten-day period also reflects typical travel patterns in the country. According to information accompanying the introduction of the programme, the average visitor stays in Panama for around eight days.
The initiative is backed by public funding of up to US$3.5 million and effectively integrates a basic level of health protection into the country's tourism infrastructure.
Coverage has important limitations
The free insurance is designed primarily for unexpected incidents during a visit and does not replace comprehensive international travel health insurance in every situation.
Pre-existing, chronic and congenital conditions are excluded under the policy. Other exclusions and conditions also apply, while coverage ends after ten calendar days, when the traveller leaves Panama earlier or when applicable benefits have been exhausted.
For international travellers, the programme therefore provides an additional medical safety net during the first part of a stay. For Panama's tourism industry, it also represents an unusual approach to combining destination policy with access to emergency healthcare.
Image Credit: © AI generated illustration
