Hospitals in Jamaica

Owen Lucas said:
I'll never go to SA or the Carib unless it's to one of those western-run British or US territory islands. Even then I won't trust the locals and I'm bringing a CO detector because these people can't even install a water heater correctly which ends up killing multiple tourists a year in their sleep.
Click to expand...

Nor would I. There's plenty of sand, seawater, and palm trees right here... Without all the nonsense that accompanies foreign travel. Especially when things go wrong.
 
Owen Lucas said:
I would question the level of medicine available in Jamaican hospitals. If you go to even a rural hospital in the US you have CT, MRI, onsite labs, and possibly pathology. Multiple doctors, likely board certified, and ability to helicopter out to a regional hospital. I presume, that this level of care isn't available everywhere in Jamaica, I don't think it's a first world country. IIRC Avis/Budget subs their call center out to them. A phone rep told me they make like $3 an hr, despite having passed very hard local exams, there's little upward mobility, they're stuck on an island with little industry or than hospitality, which is low paying.

I doubt the difference between unsubsidized care is the extra amount that OP's sister was charged. Corruption outside the US is massively rampant and hospital admins/doctors who knows likely profited massively.

OK I did some research: https://travel.state.gov/content/tr...traveladvisories/jamaica-travel-advisory.html

Health
Basic and specialized medical care may not be available in many parts of Jamaica. This includes slower emergency service response times and less availability of care for illness or injury.

  • Health care facilities in western Jamaica were badly damaged by Hurricane Melissa.
  • Private hospitals require payment up front before admitting patients. They may not be able to provide specialized care.
  • Ambulance services are not always staffed with EMTs. They are not always readily available, especially in rural areas.
  • U.S. citizens should bring extra prescription medication. Common medications, such as insulin, can be difficult to obtain.
  • U.S. Medicare and Medicaid do not apply abroad.
  • Most hospitals and doctors abroad do not accept U.S. health insurance.
  • Air ambulance service to the United States costs $30,000 on the low end.
  • We strongly recommend that you have travel insurance and confirm your coverage. Travel insurance should include medical insurance, evacuation assistance, and other trip coverage.
One article I saw was for a $1200 IV bag.


Don't forget lots of the resorts in Mexico are run/protected by the cartels. Might as well go to a resort in Afghanistan.
The beautiful beaches is SA are wasted on the corrupt and violent locals.
  • Gang Rape in Acapulco (February 4, 2013): A group of 12 Spanish citizens and one Mexican woman were attacked when hooded gunmen burst into their rented beach house in Playa Bonfil, Acapulco. The men were tied up with phone cords and bikini straps while six Spanish women were raped. Although the primary attackers were identified as local gang members who later confessed, the case brought intense scrutiny to local security forces.
  • Police Rape in Playa del Carmen (February 12, 2013): Just days after the Acapulco incident, two municipal police officers in
    Playa del Carmen
    were charged with raping an Italian tourist. The officers allegedly demanded a bribe of 3,000 pesos to overlook a public urination offense; when the victim could not pay, they sexually assaulted her. This incident fueled widespread criticism of the "endemic problems of corruption" within local Mexican police forces. BBC

  • Impact on
    Puerto Vallarta
    : The violence included burning vehicles and roadblocks in
    Puerto Vallarta
    , a major tourist destination. The U.S. State Department issued a "shelter-in-place" advisory for Americans in the area as cartels conducted retaliatory attacks.
  • Current Travel Advisories: As of early 2026, many popular resorts like
    Cancun
    ,
    Cabo
    , and the Riviera Maya     are maintained at a Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) advisory due to crime and kidnapping risks.


I would wager it is fleecing because I doubt the unsubsidised costs of care are that expensive in Jamaica. There's a reason some people go to Mexico for plastic surgery or dental care, cost of labor is cheaper. Should be even cheaper in JA as well.

That being said, medical travel insurance is definitely a good idea! Especially getting flow out of town to avoid local hospitals, if possible.


I'll never go to SA or the Carib unless it's to one of those western-run British or US territory islands. Even then I won't trust the locals and I'm bringing a CO detector because these people can't even install a water heater correctly which ends up killing multiple tourists a year in their sleep.
Click to expand...
Sure - its 3rd world and of course there going to bill the patient. Do you expect them to serve her for free.

Most people would just leave the island after, so of course there going to bill up front.

Its not just Jaimaica - look into the ER billing practices of San Francisco General - ( also 3rd world IMHO). Regularly soak patients with private insurance. This one made national news a few years ago - TLDR - they billed a lady $20K to set a broken arm from a bike accident above what insurance paid. The only insurance they actually accept at "usual an customary" charges is medicade, because they have to by law - IIRC. https://reason.com/2019/01/08/zuckerberg-hospital-bill-san-francisco/

Again, this is why you get private health insurance if your going to travel, especially to the 3rd world but really anywhere. Healthcare is a racket like all other businesses.

Also, dislocated elbow is hardly complex. Many 3rd world doctors study medicine in the first world then return. Her care is most likely fine.
 
And make sure you get travel insurance that is direct pay. Otherwise, you have to deal with it and pay out-of-pocket and get reimbursed at a later time.
 
SC Maintenance said:
Its not just Jaimaica - look into the ER billing practices of San Francisco General - ( also 3rd world IMHO). Regularly soak patients with private insurance. This one made national news a few years ago - TLDR - they billed a lady $20K to set a broken arm from a bike accident above what insurance paid. The only insurance they actually accept at "usual an customary" charges is medicade, because they have to by law - IIRC. https://reason.com/2019/01/08/zuckerberg-hospital-bill-san-francisco/
Click to expand...
Probably need to make up for all the free care they give to the homeless? Certainly an outlier, and for CA and their supposed socialized medicine, sure sounds hypocritical. I guess they voted for it?

Doc8404 said:
It was because they had to put her under general anesthesia. Supposedly.
Click to expand...
I doubt anesthesia is that expensive. I'm sticking with fraud here.
 
Owen Lucas said:
Probably need to make up for all the free care they give to the homeless? Certainly an outlier, and for CA and their supposed socialized medicine, sure sounds hypocritical. I guess they voted for it?


I doubt anesthesia is that expensive. I'm sticking with fraud here.
Click to expand...

That’s the going rate for most broken bones down there. Sucks for sure.

If it was me, I would’ve said fentanyl and fly me home.
 
You should have travel insurance that covers medical and evacuation as needed.
There is generally no such thing as direct pay for most foreign providers, although a good plan will advance funds as needed and will allow the hospital to contact them directly, providing you with a contact phone number to give them.
A lot depends upon what's wrong with you and where you are.
I have heard of a number of American travelers in EU countries being charged a little bit of nothing for treatment of an emergent condition.
 
SC Maintenance said:
I always get emergency travel health. It’s quite cheap.
Click to expand...
This^^^^.

Sue is traveling to the UK for this summer for two weeks and got travel health insurance from Alliance. She's looking into adding an "extreme" policy that even pays for a private charter flight home should she be unable to fly home commercial.

Ya gotta get travel insurance any time you leave your home country. This is why we like Hawaii - besides the health care issues I like having my Miranda Rights.

Scott
 
Owen Lucas said:
I would question the level of medicine available in Jamaican hospitals. If you go to even a rural hospital in the US you have CT, MRI, onsite labs, and possibly pathology. Multiple doctors, likely board certified, and ability to helicopter out to a regional hospital. I presume, that this level of care isn't available everywhere in Jamaica, I don't think it's a first world country. IIRC Avis/Budget subs their call center out to them. A phone rep told me they make like $3 an hr, despite having passed very hard local exams, there's little upward mobility, they're stuck on an island with little industry or than hospitality, which is low paying.

I doubt the difference between unsubsidized care is the extra amount that OP's sister was charged. Corruption outside the US is massively rampant and hospital admins/doctors who knows likely profited massively.

OK I did some research: https://travel.state.gov/content/tr...traveladvisories/jamaica-travel-advisory.html

Health
Basic and specialized medical care may not be available in many parts of Jamaica. This includes slower emergency service response times and less availability of care for illness or injury.

  • Health care facilities in western Jamaica were badly damaged by Hurricane Melissa.
  • Private hospitals require payment up front before admitting patients. They may not be able to provide specialized care.
  • Ambulance services are not always staffed with EMTs. They are not always readily available, especially in rural areas.
  • U.S. citizens should bring extra prescription medication. Common medications, such as insulin, can be difficult to obtain.
  • U.S. Medicare and Medicaid do not apply abroad.
  • Most hospitals and doctors abroad do not accept U.S. health insurance.
  • Air ambulance service to the United States costs $30,000 on the low end.
  • We strongly recommend that you have travel insurance and confirm your coverage. Travel insurance should include medical insurance, evacuation assistance, and other trip coverage.
One article I saw was for a $1200 IV bag.


Don't forget lots of the resorts in Mexico are run/protected by the cartels. Might as well go to a resort in Afghanistan.
The beautiful beaches is SA are wasted on the corrupt and violent locals.
  • Gang Rape in Acapulco (February 4, 2013): A group of 12 Spanish citizens and one Mexican woman were attacked when hooded gunmen burst into their rented beach house in Playa Bonfil, Acapulco. The men were tied up with phone cords and bikini straps while six Spanish women were raped. Although the primary attackers were identified as local gang members who later confessed, the case brought intense scrutiny to local security forces.
  • Police Rape in Playa del Carmen (February 12, 2013): Just days after the Acapulco incident, two municipal police officers in
    Playa del Carmen
    were charged with raping an Italian tourist. The officers allegedly demanded a bribe of 3,000 pesos to overlook a public urination offense; when the victim could not pay, they sexually assaulted her. This incident fueled widespread criticism of the "endemic problems of corruption" within local Mexican police forces. BBC

  • Impact on
    Puerto Vallarta
    : The violence included burning vehicles and roadblocks in
    Puerto Vallarta
    , a major tourist destination. The U.S. State Department issued a "shelter-in-place" advisory for Americans in the area as cartels conducted retaliatory attacks.
  • Current Travel Advisories: As of early 2026, many popular resorts like
    Cancun
    ,
    Cabo
    , and the Riviera Maya     are maintained at a Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) advisory due to crime and kidnapping risks.


I would wager it is fleecing because I doubt the unsubsidised costs of care are that expensive in Jamaica. There's a reason some people go to Mexico for plastic surgery or dental care, cost of labor is cheaper. Should be even cheaper in JA as well.

That being said, medical travel insurance is definitely a good idea! Especially getting flow out of town to avoid local hospitals, if possible.


I'll never go to SA or the Carib unless it's to one of those western-run British or US territory islands. Even then I won't trust the locals and I'm bringing a CO detector because these people can't even install a water heater correctly which ends up killing multiple tourists a year in their sleep.
Click to expand...
I just skimmed over this because we’re going out to dinner soon😀
But I’m missing the point of your post.
The OP’s post stated his sister needed medical care in Jamaica. For people traveling it is prudent to make sure you have health insurance outside of the USA.
 
alarmguy said:
I just skimmed over this because we’re going out to dinner soon😀
But I’m missing the point of your post.
The OP’s post stated his sister needed medical care in Jamaica. For people traveling it is prudent to make sure you have health insurance outside of the USA.
Click to expand...
I agree, get the extra health coverage, but it's more of a protection against being ripped off in some places or CYA if local care is subpar. My (supported) observation is that the poor lady was taken advantage of.
 
When the American president refers to xxxxhole countries, he's not far off. Since healthcare fraud is at play here at least with overbilling, maybe the card holder can dispute the charge and place it in suspense. Let the card company negotiate with the crooks at the hospital.
 
Last edited:
Owen Lucas said:
I agree, get the extra health coverage, but it's more of a protection against being ripped off in some places or CYA if local care is subpar. My (supported) observation is that the poor lady was taken advantage of.
Click to expand...
Well healthcare isn’t free when you’re in a foreign country. Whether you’re being ripped off or not, you have to pay so at least we agree on that point.

I was at the emergency room in the USA three times between September and October for an immune system problem where my face would blow up.
On each occasion, I was there for roughly an hour, which was pretty much to prescribe a steroid and make sure the swelling would stop and then sent on my way back home

The bill for each occasion was $2641.00
Thank God for Medicare😄 my cost was $83
 
alarmguy said:
Well healthcare isn’t free when you’re in a foreign country. Whether you’re being ripped off or not, you have to pay so at least we agree on that point.

I was at the emergency room in the USA three times between September and October for an immune system problem where my face would blow up.
On each occasion, I was there for roughly an hour, which was pretty much to prescribe a steroid and make sure the swelling would stop and then sent on my way back home

The bill for each occasion was $2641.00
Thank God for Medicare😄 my cost was $83
Click to expand...
Glad you are feeling better.

Yes, and if you were illegal, out of the US, I wonder how much that bill would be?

Our highly trained top-notch (unless you are seeing an NP who googles your condition) then they deserve the pay. Of course the hospital cartels and executives pad waay too much but that's what insurance agreements and premiums with insurance companies are for to figure out.
 
dishdude said:
Google $100 aspirin in US hospitals.
Click to expand...
There's a big difference between US and Jamaican hospitals; care, equipment, regulations, and training I presume. I doubt anyone pays that amount out of pocket, especially illegals, homeless, or foreign travellers without a $.01 to their name.

Didn't OP say that costs had to be paid upfront in Jamaica? Here it is illegal to do that, you take in everyone and provide care no matter what.
 
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