(Chicago Tribune) Last week, Panama began offering all tourists entering the country through Tocumen International Airport free “top level” medical insurance during their first 30 days in the country.
When tourists arrive at the Panama City airport, they can request a brochure and user card at the tourist information center near the immigration station, according to that country’s tourism department. Should a visitor require medical attention, they will only be required to present the card, along with a passport, at any health center for treatment.
According to tourism officials, the insurance policy covers accidental death up to $20,000 (USD), hospitalization and medical expenses for injuries due to accidents or disease (contracted in Panama) up to $7,000, expenses for dental emergency up to $ 2,000, among others. The policy does not cover incidents caused by negligence, extreme sports or alcohol and drug use, according to tourism officials.
Why do it? To promote tourism, of course.
“Those who take advantage of the health services in the country will see that Panama is an ideal place for medical tourism with highly trained physicians and hospitals,” the country’s minister of tourism, Solomon Shamah, said in a statement.
Oh, and memo to the Tea Party folks: no word about those pesky death panels.