Planning Your Procedure in Medellín: Trusted Help, Real Savings, and VIP Care

• 💰 Save 50–70% on surgeries, dental work, and diagnostics compared to U.S. prices

• 👩‍⚕️ Hire local fixers like Carolina or Laura to avoid bureaucracy and delays

• 🏥 Top hospitals offer full-body executive checkups in one visit

• 🩺 Skip EPS insurance unless you enjoy red tape — go prepaid or pay cash

• 🏡 Recover in comfort with in-home nurses, bilingual caretakers, and local therapists

I have to apologize for having a week gap in articles here. I've been going through some things and I had to do some self care. I also said we were going to be covering stem cells in this article, but upon some reflection time in the forest in Santa Elena, I feel like I was jumping the gun slightly. I sometimes forget that people who are coming here are not used to the Colombian system and that may be a major pain point for those coming here. As much as I love it here, I have to say that if you don't plan out everything, getting caught in a sticky web of third world red tape is enough for you to need a trip to the forest in Santa Elena.

So before we start jumping into the treatments, I want to talk about the planning stages, and how you can lower your stress level before you even get started in your journey here.

Medical tourism in Medellín isn’t just about low prices and modern hospitals. It’s also about knowing who to trust to get things done right. If you’re coming for a surgery, dental work, cosmetic procedures, or a full-body executive checkup, what you really want is peace of mind. That’s where the right local help makes a huge difference.

Why People Come Here for Medical Care

• Medical costs in Medellín are a fraction of what you’ll pay in the U.S., Canada, or Europe.

• You get access to experienced doctors and international-standard clinics.

• Prescription medications are cheap and easy to get.

• Recovery is easier when you’re in a beautiful city with fresh fruit, mountain air, and affordable in-home care.

You’re not just saving money. You’re upgrading your whole recovery process.

But let’s be clear. Colombia’s medical system is built on layers upon layers of bureaucracy. You don’t want to be learning how it works while you're groggy from anesthesia. This is where smart travelers invest in a fixer. Someone who speaks the language, knows the local system, and can move things forward when nobody else will, and short of saying they are Liam Neeson in Taken, they have a particular set of skills that you want advocating for you.

Meet the People Who Can Help

Peace of mind is so important. There is a saying "Money can't buy peace of mind", but whoever said that was definitely not on the phone with a Colombian hospital or clinic who made a mistake and they're now trying to CYA on your time. If you are not familiar with how the system works here, you need someone advocating for you, someone who speaks English and can sherpa you through the process. Though there are SEVERAL trusted sources here in Medellin for this, I can personally recommend two professionals to handle this for you.

Carolina Restrepo
Carolina runs Medellín Expat Services, and she’s helped hundreds of foreigners navigate surgeries, specialist visits, and recovery in Medellín. She’s bilingual, organized, and doesn’t waste time. She’ll help you with everything from airport pickups to scheduling follow-ups and filling prescriptions. You can reach her on WhatsApp at +57 300 523 5537.

Laura Agudelo
Laura operates Cure and Care Colombia, a concierge-style service that helps patients from the moment they land in Colombia. She knows every reputable clinic and hospital in the city. Her team can help you manage your entire procedure timeline. Whether you're here for dental implants or a multi-week recovery plan, she keeps it moving. WhatsApp: +57 300 485 4117.

Both of these women are reliable, know their stuff, and most importantly, get things done. I'll tell you this, when you are recovering is not the time to test your Spanish knowledge or your patience for the medical system here.

Insurance in Colombia: When It Makes Sense

Not everyone needs health insurance to come here. If you're only staying a few weeks and paying cash for a single procedure, you’re probably fine. But if you plan to:

• Stay longer than a month

• Get multiple procedures

• Apply for a retirement, investment, or digital nomad visa

...you should speak with Diana at Seguros Óptimo Consultores.

I've talked about her in the past, and I will continue to praise her as much as I can. Having pre-paid health care saved my life, and she made everything as easy as can be. She's also fluent in English and can break things down to you in clear language, not something that is common in health insurance, especially here, so this is incredibly important.

She can walk you through the options and see if a prepaid private health plan is worth it. These plans offer VIP service and access to Colombia’s best hospitals, often with English-speaking staff. But avoid the EPS system unless you like long lines, inefficient scheduling, and getting bounced around.

Contact Diana on WhatsApp: +57 320 727 7511
Website: https://optimoconsultores.com

Executive Checkups at Pablo Tobón Uribe Hospital

If you want a full-body diagnostic done in one visit instead of bouncing between 15 specialists back home, check out the Executive Checkup Program at Pablo Tobón Uribe Hospital. Their executive checkup is a complete checkup for your body and in many cases you will get exams that would require 3 specialist visits in the US to get to. This is a place to get everything from a hormone test all the way up to genetic testing done. They also offer a comprehensive gynaecological exam for women and men's health checkups. There is literally something here for everyone.

It’s fast, efficient, and handled in a single place. This kind of service would take months to organize in the U.S. and cost several times more. I can also personally attest that this is one of the truly amazing hospitals in the world. It's on par with any top hospital in the US, UK, Europe, etc. Don't let the fact that it's located in Colombia fool you.

Send them a message in WhatsApp for more info: +57 317 401 3663

In-Home Aftercare: More Than a Luxury

Because costs are so much lower, you can afford professional in-home care while you recover. That could mean:

• A nurse visiting daily to change bandages and monitor healing

• A bilingual caretaker who coordinates meds, meals, and appointments

• A massage therapist or physical therapist coming to you

This kind of personalized recovery isn’t just more comfortable. It speeds up your healing and cuts down your stress. This can range from IV suerotherapy to in-home physical therapy. Later in the series, I'll get a list of in-home therapists for you, but if you need someone in the meantime, I would recommend reaching out to Carolina or Laura.

Final Word

If you’re serious about medical tourism in Medellín, do it right. Hire someone local who knows the system. Talk to someone who knows insurance. Choose a hospital that offers full checkups in one shot. And give yourself the space to actually recover.

Medellín isn’t just cheap. It’s efficient when you have the right people on your team. Now, next week, I'll be diving into the stemcells, and I was a bit surprised by what I found in researching the stem cell clinics. If you know someone who has a young autistic child, you do not want to miss this next article.