Healthcare in Uruguay: Public and Private

Hi, I’m Julia. Here’s how healthcare works in Uruguay — straight from experience and local conversations.

Public Healthcare

Public healthcare is free. Yes, completely free. But here’s the catch — wait times. If it’s not urgent, you might wait a while. Still, there are free clinics in almost every town, even the really small ones. No insurance or paperwork needed — just show up, register, and wait your turn.

For basic stuff — checkups, minor issues, tests — it works just fine.

Private Healthcare & Insurance

Many people, especially expats, go with private healthcare through insurance. It’s called a mutualista. You pay around $50 per month per person, and you get access to private clinics — faster service, shorter lines, better comfort.

Here’s how it works:

• Doctor visits – around $5 per appointment (with insurance)
• Medication – covered by insurance, but you pay about $10 each time you pick something up
• Serious procedures or surgeries – usually handled in regional hospitals, even if your clinic is nearby
• Overall quality – good, especially in the private system

You can also go to a private clinic without insurance, but it’ll cost a lot more out of pocket.

What I Do

I have insurance. For $50/month, I can book appointments with a general doctor, gynecologist, get tests done — all without long waits. I pay $5 per visit, $10 for meds — and I know I’m covered if something serious happens.