Healthcare in Peru for American Retirees
Healthcare in Peru
How healthcare works in Peru for a foreign resident: what the public system will and will not do for you, what private cover costs, and where the system is weak.
Peruvian healthcare is concentrated in Lima. The best private clinics there, including Clínica Anglo Americana and Clínica Ricardo Palma, are good and inexpensive. Outside Lima and Arequipa, care is basic and complex cases are transferred.
Access to the public system
EsSalud is the contributory public system, tied to employment. Foreign residents generally use private care or private insurance.
What private care costs
A private specialist consultation typically costs 25 to 60 dollars. Private insurance for a couple in their sixties runs 150 to 400 dollars a month.
What the visa requires
Private insurance is strongly advised. Evacuation cover matters if you live outside Lima.
Where it is strong
Very low cost, good private clinics in Lima, and inexpensive dentistry.
Where it is weak
Everything outside Lima. Altitude in Cusco and the Andean cities is a genuine cardiac and respiratory consideration for older residents.
Medicare
Medicare does not cover you in Peru.
Healthcare in Peru: common questions
Will Medicare cover me in Peru?
No. Original Medicare does not pay for care outside the United States except in a few narrow situations. Most retirees keep premium-free Part A, make a deliberate decision on Part B based on how often they will return to the U.S. for care, and buy local or international cover.
Can I use the public system in Peru?
EsSalud is the contributory public system, tied to employment. Foreign residents generally use private care or private insurance.
What will insurance cost?
A private specialist consultation typically costs 25 to 60 dollars. Private insurance for a couple in their sixties runs 150 to 400 dollars a month. Private insurance is strongly advised. Evacuation cover matters if you live outside Lima.
Verified Sep 7, 2026 Primary sources: www.gob.pe, www.gob.pe
This resource is provided free by Federal Apostille as an educational tool. It is not legal, tax, immigration or financial advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by using it. Immigration rules, income thresholds, fees and processing times change frequently and often without notice, and consulates apply them differently. Always confirm current requirements with the official government source and the specific consulate that has jurisdiction over your U.S. state of residence before you act. Every figure on this site carries the date we last verified it and a link to the primary source.
