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"Your First 30 Days in Uruguay" — everything you need to know before and after you arrive, in a PDF you can take with you.
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ASSE or a mutual health insurance plan: how to enroll, what each plan covers, and how much it costs—everything you need to know about the Uruguayan healthcare system, explained in plain language.
Uruguay has one of the best healthcare systems in Latin America. It’s not perfect, but it’s accessible, functional, and much more organized than most in the region. As a foreigner, you have real options—both in the public and private systems.
The Uruguayan healthcare system is called SNIS (National Integrated Health System) and has two pillars:
The fund that coordinates access to health insurance plans is called FONASA. If you are formally employed in Uruguay and contribute to the BPS (social security), FONASA subsidizes the cost of your health insurance plan. Otherwise, you pay for it directly.
ASSE is free for Uruguayan residents who meet certain income criteria. As a foreigner, whether or not you are in the process of obtaining residency, you can enroll if your income is low.
ASSE is a good option if you're on a very tight budget or if you've just arrived in the country and need immediate coverage while you wait for your ID card to enroll in a health insurance plan. It works reasonably well for emergency care.
Mutual health insurance companies are private healthcare providers (HMOs) that operate like private health insurance plans. They have primary care physicians, specialists, home emergency services, and their own hospitals. For most expats and digital nomads, this is the recommended option.
The general consensus among the expat community is that CASMU and SMI offer the best balance of cost, coverage, and care. British Hospital is ideal if you need care in English, but it has an age limit for new members.
Before making a decision, consider these factors:
The monthly cost ranges from $5,000 to $12,000 UYU/month (~$100–250 USD), depending on the provider and age. This is one of the most significant fixed costs of living in Uruguay.
You can compare prices and coverage for all health insurance providers on the MSP’s official website: atuservicio.msp.gub.uy. Prices are updated regularly, so always check there before signing up.
The basic coverage included in all health insurance plans:
In Uruguay, doctor's visits and medical tests involve a cost-sharing fee known as a "ticket moderador" or "órdenes." It's a low fixed amount (~$100–400 UYU per visit) that you pay at the time of service. It's not like the copayments in other countries—it's symbolic. Some insurance plans have lower fees than others.
Keep track of these numbers from day one:
As soon as you join a health insurance plan, schedule an appointment with your primary care physician. It’s free with your plan, helps them get to know you, and gives you faster access to the system when you really need it.