Panama visitors’ health insurance

Panama is offering all travelers arriving through Panama City’s Tocumen International Airport free medical insurance in case of emergency during the first 30 days of their stay.

An information brochure and a user card must be picked up in the tourist information center in the airport’s Immigration area. If medical attention is required, the card and a passport is to be presented at any health center.

The insurance policy will cover accidental death (up to $20,000); hospitalization and medical expenses for injuries due to accident or for a disease contracted in Panama (up to $7,000); dental emergency expenses (up to $2,000); administrative legal assistance for accident (up to $3,500), and lost or stolen documents. It does not cover incidents caused by negligence or related to alcohol and drugs or caused by extreme sports.

The insurance company Assicurazioni Generali is issuing the policy, and its contract is valid as of Jan. 17, 2011, for two years.