AnkyroCountriesDominican Republic
Health insurance in the Dominican Republic.
The residence visas for retirees and rentistas ask for a medical certificate, not an insurance policy. Public care is limited. Private care is good but costly.
The rules
What Dominican Republic asks of you.
Checked against official sources on 23 October 2026. Rules change, so the broker confirms them again before you apply.
- Pensionado: US$1,500 a month
The minimum monthly income for the pensionado (retiree) residence visa is US$1,500, or the same amount in Dominican pesos. You prove it with a certificate from the body that pays your pension.
Source: usa.mirex.gob.do - Rentista: US$2,000 a month
The minimum monthly income for the rentista visa is US$2,000. Salary income does not count. You show personal investment in your home country, such as property titles, bank statements or rental contracts.
Source: usa.mirex.gob.do - A medical certificate, not insurance
The consulate pages for both visas ask for a medical certificate saying you have no infectious or contagious disease. They do not list a health insurance policy.
Source: nld.mirex.gob.do - Report to Migration within 30 days
Once in the Dominican Republic, you have 30 days to report to the Dirección General de Migración.
Source: usa.mirex.gob.do - The visa is not guaranteed
Meeting the requirements does not guarantee approval. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs makes the final decision. The consulate advises not to buy non-refundable tickets before the visa is issued.
Source: usa.mirex.gob.do - Unpaid hospital bills can keep you here
The UK government warns that visitors who cannot pay a hospital bill have in some cases been stopped from leaving the country until it is paid.
Source: gov.uk - Legal residents can join the public scheme
Law 87-01 gives Dominican citizens and legal residents the right to join the Dominican Social Security System, including the Family Health Insurance (SFS).
Source: cnss.gob.do - Foreign employees are registered by the employer
A foreign worker with legal residence gets a social security number (NSS) through the employer. The employer then hands over a certificate so the worker can join a health insurer (ARS).
Source: tss.gob.do
Legal residents have the right to join the social security system. Its contributory part covers salaried workers and is paid by workers and employers. A subsidised part covers low-income self-employed people, the unemployed and people with disabilities, and is paid mainly by the state.
Source: cnss.gob.doLocal or international
We compare both. You keep the one that fits.
Private hospitals can be expensive, and unpaid bills can stop you leaving the country. A plan that pays private hospitals directly is worth checking for.
- Local plans
Plans sold in Dominican Republic. Often cheaper, sometimes required for your visa. Filed by a broker licensed in Dominican Republic.
- International plans
Plans that cover you in Dominican Republic and beyond, and stay with you if you move again. Filed by our international broker partner.
What it costs
Published prices in Dominican Republic.
List prices from insurers and official schemes. Your quote depends on your age, health and the cover you pick.
- SFS: 3.04% from the worker
Salaried workers pay 3.04% of salary to the Family Health Insurance. The employer adds 7.09%.
Source: tss.gob.do - Salary cap: RD$232,230 a month
SFS contributions stop at 10 minimum wages, which is RD$232,230 a month from 1 February 2026.
Source: tss.gob.do - Extra dependant: RD$1,970.42 a month
Each extra dependant, such as a parent, parent-in-law or child over 21, costs RD$1,938.18 plus RD$32.24 for the road accident fund. This applies from the October 2026 bill.
Source: tss.gob.do
What to look for
Choosing a plan in Dominican Republic.
Ankyro checks each of these on every plan, so you don’t have to read the fine print.
- Private hospital access
Check the plan covers the private hospitals near where you will live, and pays them directly where possible.
- Evacuation and care abroad
The UK government advises having access to funds for treatment abroad and repatriation. Check the plan covers both.
- Parents and older children
On the SFS, parents and children over 21 cost extra each month. Compare that with adding them to a private plan.
- Price at your age
The pensionado visa needs US$1,500 a month, and the premium comes out of that. Check the entry age and how the price changes as you get older.
Step by step
Getting covered in Dominican Republic.
- 01Get the medical certificate for your visa. The pensionado and rentista visas ask for a medical certificate saying you have no infectious or contagious disease. They do not ask for an insurance policy.
- 02Report to Migration within 30 days. Once you arrive, you have 30 days to report to the Dirección General de Migración.
- 03If you take a job, get your NSS. Your employer registers you in the SUIR system for a social security number. You then pick an ARS health insurer, and 3.04% of your salary goes to the SFS.
- 04Add your family. Your spouse and children under 18, or under 21 if students, join at no extra cost. Parents and older children cost a monthly fee each.
- 05No local job: sort private cover. The contributory SFS is for salaried workers and their employers. If you live on a pension or rent income, ask an ARS what you can join, or plan on a private policy.
Common mistakes
3 we see all the time.
- 01Skipping insurance because the visa list does not ask for it.
- 02Relying on public facilities, which are generally limited.
- 03Leaving with an unpaid hospital bill, which can stop you from leaving the country.
Real published prices, and the 6 things that move yours.
Questions
People also ask.
Do I need health insurance for the Dominican Republic pensionado visa?+
The consulate pages we read ask for a medical certificate, not an insurance policy. Check with your consulate, as requirements change.
How much income do I need for the pensionado and rentista visas?+
US$1,500 a month for a pensionado and US$2,000 a month for a rentista, according to the consulate pages.
Can expats join the public health scheme in the Dominican Republic?+
Legal residents can join the SFS. If you work for a local employer, they register you and 3.04% of your salary goes to it. Public facilities are generally limited.
Is private care expensive in the Dominican Republic?+
It can be. The UK government says private hospitals offer good care but can be expensive.
Other countries
Going somewhere else?
Most UK visas don’t ask for private insurance. You pay a yearly surcharge instead, and it opens the NHS. Here is what the surcharge buys, and what you still pay for.
02AustraliaMost visitors can’t use Medicare, and many visas carry condition 8501. Here is what each visa asks for, who gets Medicare, and what to check.
03Dubai and the UAEIn Dubai, no insurance means no visa. Your employer covers you, but not always your family. Here are the rules, and what the basic plan leaves out.
04PhilippinesThe retiree visa asks for a medical certificate, not a policy. The new nomad visa does ask for cover. Here is what each visa needs, and how PhilHealth works for foreigners.
05NetherlandsIf you live or work in the Netherlands, Dutch basic insurance is the law. A few people are exempt. Here is who must sign up, by when, and what it costs in 2026.
06CanadaEach province runs its own health plan, and some make you wait. The super visa has strict insurance rules. Here is how Ontario and BC differ, and what the super visa needs.
07Saudi ArabiaIn Saudi Arabia, no insurance means no iqama. Your employer pays for you and your family, and visitors need a policy too. Here is who pays, and what each policy covers.
08JapanIf you live in Japan, joining public insurance is the law. A private plan can only sit on top. Digital nomads are the exception.
09GermanyEveryone in Germany must be insured, and a residence permit needs cover equal to the public system. Here is how to choose, and what gets rejected.
10SingaporeThe national plan is for citizens and PRs. Hospital bills for foreigners are high, and families are often left out. Here is what to check.
11ThailandRetirement visas have hard minimums, the DTV has none, and public care is not free for foreigners. Here are the rules, and what to check.
12SpainSpain has the strictest visa insurance rules in Europe: a Spanish-authorised insurer, no co-pays, no waiting periods. Here is what passes.
13MalaysiaPublic hospitals charge foreigners full price, and work schemes only cover injuries at work. Here is what each pass asks for, and what to check.
14QatarMost visitors need a QAR 50 a month policy before Qatar issues a visa. The law covers expats too, but that part is still rolling out. Here are the rules.
15FranceThe public system is open to residents, but not on day 1 if you don’t work, and it only pays part of each bill. Here is how to cover the gaps.
16PortugalThe visa asks for travel medical cover. The public system opens once you are a resident. In between, and after, here is what to check.
17MexicoNo visa asks for it, so many expats skip it. Then a private hospital asks for payment first. Here is how cover really works in Mexico.
18ItalyWorkers join the public system for free. Retirees and nomads need private cover for the visa, then pay at least €2,000 a year to join. Here are the rules.
19South KoreaStay more than 6 months and you must join the national plan. Before that, and for your share of each bill, you need your own cover.
20VietnamOnly long local contracts come with public cover, and most expats use private hospitals anyway. Here is what the rules say, and what to check.
21Bali and IndonesiaMost Indonesian visas don’t ask for insurance. But hospitals ask for payment first, and serious cases fly to Singapore. Here is what to check.
22GreeceThe consulate takes travel cover for the visa. The residence permit then asks for full health cover. If you don’t work for a Greek employer, that means a private plan.
23ColombiaNomads and retirees need a private policy with exact wording. Residents who work must join the public EPS system. Here are the rules.
24Costa RicaResidents must pay into the Caja, whatever private plan they have. Nomads need their own cover for the visa. Here is how it fits together.
25USAThe US has no public plan you can simply join. Some visas set minimum cover. Others leave it to you. Here is what a J-1 needs, who can use the Marketplace, and what plans cost.
26SwitzerlandBasic health insurance is compulsory for everyone who lives in Switzerland. You have 3 months to sign up. Here is how it works, and what to check.
27IrelandNon-EEA students must hold private medical insurance. Everyone else gets public care once they count as living in Ireland for 1 year. Here is what to check.
29New ZealandStudent visas require insurance. A work visa of 2 years or more may open public health care. ACC covers accident injuries. Here is what to check.
30IsraelIn Israel, the public system is for residents. If your life is centred there, you join a health fund (kupat holim). If not, you need private cover.
31Hong KongPublic hospitals in Hong Kong are cheap for eligible persons. Many foreigners are not on that list. Here is who is, what the rest pay, and what to check in a plan.
32ChinaIf you work in China on an employment permit, your employer must enrol you in social insurance. That includes basic medical cover. Here is how it works, and what to check on top.
33ArgentinaEmergency care is open to everyone. For other care at national hospitals, foreigners without permanent residence must show insurance or pay first. The rules are new, so check them.
34IndiaWe found no official rule that ties health insurance to an Indian work visa. We also could not confirm a public scheme for foreign residents. So the plan is yours to choose. Here is what to check.
35TurkeyA residence permit application needs valid health insurance for the whole permit. Most new expats buy a private policy. The public SGK system opens later, after 1 year of residence.
36BrazilThe digital nomad visa needs health insurance valid in Brazil. The public system is open to migrants by law. Many expats add a private plan for speed.
37PanamaThe Pensionado visa asks for a health certificate, not an insurance policy. The public system is tied to the Caja. Private care is the main option for most expats.
38South AfricaStudy and exchange visas ask for proof of cover from a registered medical scheme. Public clinics offer free primary care. Here is what to check.
39KenyaKenya’s public fund is run by the Social Health Authority (SHA). A foreigner who lives in Kenya for more than 12 months pays into it. Shorter stays need travel health insurance instead.
40TaiwanTaiwan has one national health insurance. Foreigners with a residence certificate can join. If you have a job, you join through your employer. If not, there is a wait.