For many, the American Dream has moved south, nestled in the Andes Mountains, where retirees from across the United States are lured by affordable living, quality healthcare, and a burgeoning social scene that has made the wildest imaginations a rewarding reality.
Ecuador has an old world charm that few Americans were familiar with – until now. See what a little research can do? Those willing to put the time in, realize they don’t have to go that long a way to find Cuenca, the third-largest city in Ecuador and the capital of the Azuay province where writers and poets have found inspiration among the vast cafes and galleries tucked along the narrow cobblestone streets.
Rich history, first-class infrastructure and climate have attracted primarily North American retirees for years to Ecuador. The mayor of Cuenca told ABC News this year that approximately 4,000 Americans now live in the city of a half million.
No wonder International Living Magazine has declared Ecuador No. 1 out of the 22 best countries on its Annual Retirement Index for five years running, paving the way for the immigration population to find a niche and make a contribution to the community.
Retirees, locals and medical travelers benefit from Cuenca’s top-rated healthcare facilities that offer medical procedures at one-tenth of the cost of those in the United States. In Cuenca, many of the doctors have received training in the United States, and offer personalized care – some even make house calls.
International Living Magazine has declared Ecuador No. 1 out of the 22 best countries on its Annual Retirement Index for five years running.
Affordable Healthcare
The World Health Organization (WHO) ranked Ecuador as the 6th most improved healthcare system in the world.
“The government is investing heavily in new facilities and services as well as medical education, and the results are paying off,” the WHO reported. “We are seeing increasing numbers of foreigners visiting Ecuador to take advantage of low costs and high quality services. Medications are also plentiful and inexpensive.”
Bloomberg.com ranks Ecuador among the top 20 nations in the world for healthcare efficiency, reporting a per capita annual cost of only $332. The United States, in comparison, ranks 45th at $8,608 per capita annually.
According to several studies, medicines are another bargain in Ecuador, some costing less than 10 percent of U.S. equivalents.
As an example, asthma inhalers that cost from $85-$250 in the United States can be purchased over-the-counter in Ecuador for $15-$35. Heart medications in Ecuador average 15-20 percent less than U.S. prices.
An American living in Cuenca, can expect to pay just 7-15 percent of what they would in the United States for medical treatments. A heart bypass that would cost $130,000 in the United States will cost closer to $11,000 in Cuenca, and a hip replacement priced in the United States from $43,000-$51,000 will cost approximately $8,000.
Some specialized procedures include cardiology, cosmetic, dental and eye surgeries, gynecology, neurology and orthopedic surgery. Not only expats and medical tourists from the United States benefit from the healthcare system. Ecuadorians living in the United States often return home — sometimes after many years — just to make use of the affordable healthcare that their native country offers to the rest of the world. As a result, “Find Health in Ecuador” has earned a reputation as one of the most prominent medical tourism companies serving the industry in Cuenca.
Find Health in Ecuador, located in Cuenca, is a personalized medical tourism company devoted to improving quality of life by assisting patients through every step of their chosen medical procedure and stay in Cuenca. The company focuses on affordability and quality of care with optimal results, while providing a customized experience tailored to a patient’s needs. Find Health in Ecuador can arrange for opportunities to explore the city of Cuenca and other areas of interest in Ecuador. Visit www.findhealthinecuador.com/
