We are considering signing up with Hospital Cooperativo and were wondering if any had any positive or negative experiences with this hospital. Were finding that Hospital Chriqui is becoming more and more expensive to the point of not being affordable.
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Hospital Cooperativo is a good little hospital with the lowest prices in Panama. That is because it is a non-profit organization. You are not required to join their discount plan, but it is a good idea. They have between 800 and 1000 members of their discount medical plan. Around 100 of the members are expats. It costs $120 per person per year and provides discounts of 25% on pharmacy and around 30% on most hospital services and doctor appointments. There is a schedule showing the exact discount percentages.
The hospital has inpatient rooms, an operating room, xray and ultrasound services but not Cat scan or MRI.
Some new consultation rooms are being added, along with a new pharmacy location. An outpatient surgery clinic will be opened in the old pharmacy area. There are around 20 doctors associated with the hospital, as well as psychologists and dietitians.
If you can get it, insurance will cost you around $2,000 to $5,000 per year for an older couple. If you use Hospital Cooperativo and put the difference into a savings account each year, you will receive a lot of good basic medical care for low cost and have some money in the bank in case you need an expensive operation or procedure.
Not many people at the hospital speak English, though most of the doctors do. They have information about the discount medical plan in English, although the contract is necessarily in Spanish. Sr. Ramses Casis is a very friendly man who administers the plan, and he can assist anyone who is interested. He can also probably make himself available to show you around the hospital. His phone number is 6517-1632, but he speaks little to no English.
The hospital is located three blocks east of Hospital Chiriqui on the same street.