New Policies about Public Health Insurance in Ecuador - IESS

In the following lines you will find a summary of the New Ecuadorian Immigration Law regarding to Public Health Insurance in Ecuador, IESS. Obtaining a health insurance plan is a must under the current Ecuadorian immigration law, nowadays authorities will be allowed to request proof of compliance with this current law. Article 51.- Right to work, and to be added to Social Security System in Ecuador: Foreigners residing in Ecuador have the right to work, and to have access to the social security system. Their monthly payments will be calculated based on the real income declared at the time of obtaining their residency. When the resident works for an employer their monthly payments (to IESS) will be calculated based on their salary.

Article 53. #7- Duties for foreigners: Have public or private health insurance while they are staying in Ecuador, except for those people who are on need of international protection program.

Article 56.- Tourists: Each person who arrives to the country as a tourist must have a private or public health insurance plan for the time they are going to stay in Ecuador.

Article 61.- Temporary Residents: Once the temporary residency visa is granted, the foreigner must be enrolled in the social security system or have private health insurance.

Article 64.- Permanent Residents: Once the permanent residency visa is granted, the foreigner must be enrolled in the social security system or have private health insurance. According to the IESS dispositions, the requeriments for foreigners to enroll in the IESS, Ecuadorian Social Security public system are: a. Cedula b. Be at least 18 years old c. Have a residency Visa d. Do not have pending debts with the IESS e. For retired foreigners, submitting the Social Security letter of benefits certificate that shows their monthly income or by making an online declaration through the IESS website. The amount to be paid for the voluntary IESS enrollment in Ecuador will be the monthly income that a person will state on their application, which will not be lower that the minimum salary. For retired foreigners, the monthly payment to IESS will be calculated based on their monthly social security income or the declaration made to the IESS, but can not be lower that the minimum salary in Ecuador. An expat who voluntarily registers for IESS must pay 17.6% of the monthly income they declared at the time of enrollment.