The Hospital Alemán was a mere 20-minute taxi ride to Barrio Norte. Two of the best hospitals in Buenos Aires are Hospital Alemán (German) and Swiss Medical Center, which are both in the north of the city, and a world apart from the site of our first hospital visit. As soon as we entered the Hospital Alemán my friend was whisked away by nurses and doctors. Instead of having to roam the hospital looking for where to pay and where to sign papers, she was given an emergency room bed. The papers were brought to her and I was told how to manage the payment for her. Although she ended up not needing surgery, she had pancreatitis and had to stay in the hospital for a week. Jana was distraught, but they allowed me to stay with her overnight for just $100 pesos. The attention was spectacular, although the service was slow as usual. The hospital even found German-speaking doctors to come and explain the process and to help Jana contact her parents, the airline and her German insurance company. She survived by flirting with the construction men that we could spot through the wide windows of her private room.
The morals of this story are twofold: first, educate yourself on what to do in case of illness while in Buenos Aires; and second, you should get some cheap local health insurance (called obra social ) . These plans have a monthly fee and generally allow you to visit any type of doctor and buy prescription medicine at little or no cost (note: don’t just try to find the cheapest obra social as the prices fluctuate to bring in new clients and can increase without notice).
Buenos Aires has excellent doctors that are only a taxi ride away. Always keep a copy of your passport or ID on you and know where the nearest private hospital is. As noted before, the two best “first world” hospitals are Hospital Alemán and Swiss Medical Group. These hospitals also happen to have the best health insurance programs and patient care.
Hospital Alemán is located in Barrio Norte at Pueyrredón 1640, just a few blocks from the Pueyrredón subway station. For over 140 years, this hospital has been treating locals and foreigners with a team of internationally trained doctors. Their facilities look like those in the US or Europe and the staff makes you feel safe. Most doctors speak English and many speak other languages including Portuguese, German, Italian and French. The facilities are clean, and the nurses are careful and gentle. The food is not half-bad and they allow one guest to stay overnight, as well as having various visiting hours. In grand Buenos Aires style, there is even a beautiful courtyard in the middle of the building where you can take a stroll with intravenous tubes sticking out of your arm.
Swiss Medical Center is the favored hospital of the elite in Buenos Aires and like Hospital Alemán, it has excellent facilities that will remind you of those in the US or Europe. There are centers in Barrio Norte (on the border of Palermo, at Av. Pueyrredón 1441, across the street from the Pueyrredón subway station) and downtown on Av. 25 de Mayo. Since both Swiss Medical Center and Hospital Alemán are large hospitals, there are occasions when patients will have to walk a few blocks to see specialists. But in case of an emergency, no walking will need to be done and patients are attended to on the spot.
In terms of health insurance, cough up the extra $300 pesos a month and go to the dentist, gynecologist and general practitioner for free. You will receive a bill in the mail once a month that can be paid by credit card, bank transfer or at Rapi Pago or Pago Facil (bill paying programs found at kiosks and chain grocery stores, such as Disco and Carrefour). Each hospital has many plans that range in cost according to services offered. There are many locations in the city where you can go to meet with someone who will explain each plan and help you decide which to choose. These locations are called surcursales and can be found on the hospital’s website. With these programs you will receive a cartilla from which you can contact any specialist yourself to arrange appointments. Most visits are free and unlimited with the exception of a few such as therapists and psychiatrists, which require a small co-pay. Ladies take note that you can get birth control for about $15 pesos a month, about $4.50 USD.
Hospital Alemán’s health insurance program, or obra social , currently costs between $235 – $343 pesos. Swiss Medical’s health insurance program currently costs between $200 – $260 pesos Argentinos. Both organizations offer various prices and packages depending on age (the previous costs are for a 24-year-old) and include:
- Complete cartilla in hard copy and online to find doctors and offices of attention
- 40% discount on prescription medications at various pharmacies
- House calls by doctors for a small additional fee
- Free medical studies, consultations, dentistry and orthodontics
- Small co-pay to see a therapist
- 24-hour emergency hotline and ambulance service
Other reliable hospitals with obras sociales include Hospital Italiano located in Almagro by the Medrano subway station and Hospital Britanico located downtown by Avenida Santa Fe and 9 de Julio.
Madi Lang
LPBA Staff
5 Comments for Health Insurance and Hospitals in Buenos Aires
Hospital Aleman is a good hospital, I speak from experience…multiple experiences actually! Costs about 50 pesos to be seen there without their insurance plan, don't forget your ID!
Thank you Madi, very helpful article! I might finally go get health insurance here.
This is a wonderfully helpful article! Are there any restrictions on who can get care and/or buy insurance at Hospital Aleman or Swiss Medical Center? (is it available to tourists or just official residents?)
Insurance and treatment are open to all. Seems to me that so long as the hospitals are making money, they're not going to turn anyone away.
its available to tourists too – long term ones – short term tourists should get international coverage