Health Cover

Health Insurance for Students in Chile

Plan two kinds of cover: a travel health policy for your first months, then FONASA (the public health scheme) or an Isapre (a private scheme). Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC) has clear rules for students from abroad.

Student Insurance Plan • Chile

Medical Coverage

UC's guide for international students asks for at least USD 30,000 (US dollars) in medical care

POLICY TYPE

Example: travel health policy

Doctor visits without a hospital stay

Covered

Hospital stays

Covered

Emergencies in Chile

Covered

Medical repatriation (flying you home)

Covered

What Health Cover Do You Need?

UC has clear rules for students from abroad. Check your own university's rules too.

Why You Need Health Insurance

Every UC student must have health cover while living in Chile.
Without cover, medical bills can be high.

Legal Requirements

UC: cover for at least the first 90 days, and a copy at enrolment if you are selected.
UC exchange students: cover from before arrival for the whole stay, including flights.

Insurance Approaches for Different Students

First 90 days

A travel health policy that works in Chile until you join FONASA or an Isapre.

After the first 90 days

Join Chile's system: FONASA or an Isapre.

Buy your travel health policy before you fly, so you are covered from the day you land.

University Rules on Insurance

What UC asks for. Other universities have their own rules.

Insurance Waiver Process

Important Waiver Deadline

UC asks for a copy of your health insurance when you enrol.

Common Waiver Requirements

UC exchange students: the policy shows your full name as in your passport.

Cover for your whole stay in Chile, plus your flights.

UC exchange students: at least USD 30,000 of medical cover.

Medical and funeral repatriation included.

Your Options in Chile

Chile has FONASA, the public health scheme, and Isapres, private schemes. Students from abroad usually start with a travel health policy.

Travel health policy from home

UC (postgraduate): you need health insurance you can use in Chile for at least your first 90 days. In that time you join the national health system: FONASA (the public scheme) or an Isapre (a private scheme).

FONASA (public health fund)

Members pay 7% of their taxable pay each month.

Isapre (private health insurer)

Private insurers. You choose either an Isapre or FONASA, not both.

Using Health Care at UC

How UC students get medical care.

Healthcare System Basics

Chile has a public health fund (FONASA) and private insurers (Isapres).

UC Christus Health Network

UC students can use the Red de Salud UC Christus under the university's agreement.

Available Services

Free care from doctors in four areas of medicine.
Discounts on other health services.

Key Advantages

Open to international students once they join FONASA or an Isapre.

More Help

Answers and useful pages.

Official Government Resources

Joining FONASA (ChileAtiende)

How to join Chile's public health fund (in Spanish).

Visit Resource →

Emergency Contacts

Ambulance

131

Medical emergencies.

Fire brigade (Bomberos)

132

Accidents or fires.

Police (Carabineros de Chile)

133

Police emergencies.

Important: Save the local emergency numbers in your phone before you travel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does UC ask for health insurance?

Yes. UC (postgraduate) asks for health cover you can use in Chile for at least your first 90 days. If you are selected, you must show a copy when you enrol.

How much cover should my policy have?

UC's guide for international students asks for cover of at least USD 30,000 in medical care: doctor visits, hospital stays, emergencies in Chile and repatriation (flying you home).