Uruguay Travel Insurance
Everything you need to know before your trip
Healthcare Cost Level
Moderate
Avg. ER Visit
$150
Recommended Coverage
$100,000
Evacuation Risk
Low
Healthcare in Uruguay
What to expect if you need medical care
Uruguay offers good quality healthcare, especially in Montevideo and major cities, but you'll need to pay out-of-pocket as a tourist since free healthcare isn't available to visitors. Expect to pay around $150 for an emergency room visit and $400 per day for hospitalization—moderate costs that can still strain your budget during extended treatment. The biggest challenge you'll face is the limited English availability among medical staff, which can complicate communication during emergencies. While the healthcare infrastructure is solid in urban areas, remote rural regions may require transport back to the capital for serious medical issues. If you're from Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, or Venezuela, you can access emergency care through Mercosur agreements, but remember this only covers emergencies and requires proper documentation—it's not a substitute for comprehensive insurance.
Reciprocal Healthcare Available
Citizens of AR, BR, PY, BO, PE, EC, CO, VE may have partial coverage through reciprocal agreements.
Mercosur agreement provides emergency care only, not comprehensive coverage, documentation required
What Your Policy Should Cover
Country-specific considerations for Uruguay
Your policy should include at least $100,000 in medical coverage to handle potential hospitalization costs and any necessary medical transport from rural areas to Montevideo. Since dengue fever presents a moderate risk during summer months (December-March), ensure your policy covers tropical diseases without exclusions. If you're planning beach activities along the Atlantic coast, verify coverage for injuries related to strong UV radiation exposure and rip current accidents. Rural horseback riding is popular in Uruguay's countryside, so specifically confirm that equestrian activities are included in your policy, as these aren't always automatically covered. Given the limited English availability in healthcare facilities, consider a policy with multilingual assistance services to help navigate medical situations. The low evacuation risk means you won't need extensive evacuation coverage, but basic medical transport between facilities should be included.
Dengue Fever
Moderate Risk
Peak: summer (December-March)
Zika Virus
Low Risk
Peak: year-round
Sun Exposure
Moderate Risk
Peak: summer (December-March)
Activity-Specific Coverage
Beach Activities: Strong UV radiation and rip currents on Atlantic coast
Rural Horseback Riding: Ensure coverage includes equestrian activities
How Much Coverage Do You Need?
Our recommendation based on Uruguay's healthcare costs
The recommended $100,000 coverage level protects you against extended hospital stays and accumulated medical costs in Uruguay. With hospital days averaging $400, a week-long hospitalization alone would cost $2,800, and complications requiring multiple weeks could quickly reach $10,000 or more. While the evacuation risk is low due to good urban healthcare infrastructure, you might need transport from remote rural areas to Montevideo for serious conditions. The minimum $50,000 provides basic protection, but $100,000 gives you a comfortable buffer for unexpected complications, extended treatment, or multiple medical incidents during your trip.
Minimum
$50,000
Basic emergencies only
Recommended
$100,000
Full protection
Making a Claim in Uruguay
Tips for smooth claims processing
Documentation Required: Medical reports in Spanish, hospital invoices, proof of payment, police report if accident-related
- Keep all medical reports in Spanish, as this is the required documentation format for claims—don't assume English translations will be accepted without the original Spanish versions
- Collect and preserve hospital invoices and proof of payment for every medical expense, no matter how small, as these are essential for reimbursement
- If your medical situation involves any type of accident, obtain a police report immediately, as this documentation is required for accident-related claims
- If you're from a Mercosur country (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, or Venezuela), bring documentation proving your citizenship to access emergency care, but still file claims with your travel insurer for comprehensive coverage
- Request itemized bills from healthcare providers showing the breakdown of all charges, as claims processors will need detailed documentation of what services you received
Get Covered for Uruguay
Protect your trip to Uruguay with comprehensive coverage from a trusted provider.
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