If you've searched the web for private medical insurance that covers expats in Ecuador then you are most likely for looking for established UK based health insurance providers that can cover your medical costs in Ecuador.
Living as an expatriate in Ecuador you want to avoid any nasty unexpected medical costs. In some countries these can run into hundreds of thousands of pounds for serious medical conditions.
Our advice when shopping around for private medical insurance that covers expatriates living in Ecuador is to speak to a insurance broker. Health insurance is very complicated and if you want complete certainty that Ecuador is covered by your policy you should consult with a medical insurance broker who can explain which policy providers will cover medical costs for expatriates in Ecuador and which will not.
There are many advantages to using a insurance broker but the biggest by far is that you're using their insurance training at no cost. They are paid by the insurer (Aviva or Bupa etc) rather than by you so it costs you no extra to use their services.
- Do you reside in many different areas? Some will give you a lower policy premium than offers. A broker will be able to advise whats best.
- Do you have a hobby that may invalidate your insurance policy? A broker will know this critical information.
- If you are a couple and one of you has claimed on your insurance policy this year would it be cheaper to separate you both onto two different insurance policies?
- You've developed a certain medical condition and want to know which policy provider offers the largest amount of cover for it. A broker will know this instantly saving you huge amounts of time and effort.
You can call around every health insurance provider on the market and ask if they provider cover for expats in Ecuador, however this will be a very time consuming process. Each insurer will ask for your medical history because its not normally a simple yes or not if a medical condition is covered or not.
Its far far quicker to speak to one health insurance broker which will know which policy providers on the market offer cover for expats in Ecuador and under what conditions they do or don't cover it.
Ecuador Information
Ecuador is a country with vast natural and cultural wealth. The diversity of its four regions has resulted in hundreds of thousands of species of flora and fauna. It has about 1640 species of birds. The species of butterflies line the 4,500, the 345 reptiles, 358 amphibians and 258 mammals, among others. Ecuador is considered one of the 17 countries where the greatest biodiversity of the planet is concentrated. Most of its flora and fauna live in 26 areas protected by the State. It also offers historical attractions such as Quito, food and a variety of cultures and traditions.
Ecuador is crossed from north to south by a volcanic section of Andes 70 volcanos, being the higher the Chimborazo, with 6310 m West of the Andes is the Gulf of Guayaquil and a wooded plain; at east, the Amazon. It is the country with the highest concentration of rivers per square kilometer in the world. In the Ecuadorian territory, which includes the Galápagos Islands 1000 km west of the coast, lies the densest biodiversity in the planet.
The Ministry of Information and Tourism was created on August 10, 1992, at beginning of the government of Sixto Durán Ballén, who envisioned at tourism as a key activity for the economic and social development of peoples. Compared with the growth of the tourism sector in June 1994, was taken the decision to separate tourism of information, to be devoted exclusively to promote and strengthen this activity.
The Galápagos Islands (officially Colón Archipelago) are an archipelago located in the Pacific Ocean 972 km off the coast of Ecuador. It consists of 13 large volcanic islands, 6 smaller islands and 107 rocks and islets, distributed around the line of terrestrial equator. The Galápagos Archipelago is one of the largest scientific and tourist attractions of Ecuador; undoubtedly, it is the most known and famous attractive of the country.
Administratively, the islands are a province of Ecuador, whose capital is Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (officially, also is called Insular Region of Ecuador). On 12 February 1832, under the presidency of Juan José Flores, the Galápagos Islands were annexed to Ecuador. Since 18 February 1973 constitute a province of this country.
It is estimated that the formation of the first island took place more than 5 million years ago, as a result of tectonic activity. The most recent islands, called Isabela and Fernandina, are still in process of formation, the most recent volcanic eruption in 2009 has been recorded.
The Galápagos Islands are famous for its numerous endemic species and Charles Darwin studies that led him to establish his Theory of Evolution by natural selection. Are called touristically, the «Enchanted Islands» as the flora and fauna found there is virtually unique and it can not be found anywhere else in the world. That is why many people visit them to know and enjoy the animals and unique plants.
The Galápagos were declared National Park in 1959, protecting 97.5% of the land area of the archipelago. The remaining area is occupied by human settlements that already existed at the time of the declaration. By then, about 1000-2000 people lived in four islands. In 1972, a census found that 3488 people lived in Galápagos, but in 1980 this number had dramatically increased to more than 20,000.
In 1986 the sea surrounding the islands was declared marine reserve. UNESCO included at Galápagos in the list of World Heritage in 1978, and in December 2001 This declaration was extended to the marine reserve.
In 2007, it were included in the list of List of World Heritage in Danger, due to mass tourism and invasive species. The July 29, 2010, the Galapagos Islands were removed from the list of endangered heritage by the Heritage Committee of UNESCO.
The archipelago has different international figures that have been implemented to try to ensure the conservation of Galápagos; including: reserve of world natural heritage, Ramsar site, whale sanctuary, biosphere reserve, etc. The Global Strategy for Nature Conservation identifies to Galápagos as a priority biogeographic province for the establishment of protected areas. Nationally the figures of national park and marine reserve, reflect the commitment of the Ecuadorian government to preserve this important legacy for future generations of Galapaguians, Ecuadorians and humanity in general
Baños de Agua Santa is famous for being one of the cities that most attracts tourists in the Ecuador, is at 3 hours south of Quito. Is strategically located in the center of Ecuador, between the Andes and the Ecuadorian Amazon, has a wet mild spring weather throughout the year, with an average temperature of 18 °C, is at an altitude of 1,820 m on the slopes of Tungurahua volcano. The WWF gave the nominative at Baños "A Gift to the Earth". It is the ideal place to enjoy a range of activities and attractions. Situated between Sangay and Llangantes national parks,