ColombiaMedical
Two women from the Caribbean, a mother and her adult daughter, smile as a receptionist greets them at a bright clinic in Medellín

From Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire to Medellín, on your own schedule

Thousands of islanders already travel to Colombia for care, through an SVB or AZV referral or on their own. If your insurer won't cover or approve a treatment, or you'd rather not wait, get a written quote from a clinic in Medellín.

Get a free quoteHow it works

A route islanders already know

Hospitals and clinics in Medellín treated 1,344 patients from Curaçao and 1,019 from Aruba in 2024, according to the Medellín Health City cluster. In 2023 the SVB alone received more than 4,800 requests for medical referrals abroad, with Colombia among the usual destinations.

Wingo and SURA say Aruba and Curaçao together are the second-largest source of medical tourists to Colombia, growing 14% a year over the past decade. Wingo flies direct from Aruba to several Colombian cities, including Medellín, and from Curaçao to Bogotá and Medellín.

1,344patients from Curaçao treated in Medellín in 2024
1,019patients from Aruba treated in Medellín in 2024
4,800+requests for medical referral abroad to the SVB in 2023

Two routes: a referral, or paying yourself

Insurer referral

Your insurer decides. AZV, for example, approves treatment abroad only when it's medically necessary, widely accepted by doctors, covered by AZV and not available in Aruba. After approval, AZV arranges the appointments, travel, accommodation and, when needed, a companion.

We don't arrange referrals. For that, talk to your GP, your specialist or your insurer.

Paying yourself

For treatment your insurer doesn't cover or approve, or that has a long wait. You choose the clinic and the date, and you pay the clinic directly.

This is where we help: we connect you with clinics in Medellín and help you compare written quotes.

Get a free quote

Dental care

Implants, crowns, veneers and full-arch treatment.

Orthopedics

Knees, hips, shoulders and sports injuries.

Checkups and diagnostics

Executive checkups, MRI scans and lab work.

Eye care

Cataract surgery and laser eye treatment.

Surgery and second opinions

General surgery, and a second look at a diagnosis or treatment plan.

Cosmetic surgery

Procedures that insurance doesn't cover.

Other treatments

For orthopedics, checkups, eye care and surgery, we'll publish prices once we have a source and a date for them. Until then, the fastest way to a real number is a written quote based on your diagnosis.

Published dental prices in Medellín

Single implant with abutment and crown$800–$2,100
All-on-4, per arch$9,000–$16,000
Overdenture on 2 implants, per arch$4,000–$5,500

USD prices published by three Medellín practices (the overdenture price comes from one), listed in the sources below. Bone grafts, extractions, sinus lifts and travel usually cost extra. Your real price depends on your X-rays.

Andy, who runs ColombiaMedical and Colombia Dentist, has been through dental implant treatment himself. Ask him about it on WhatsApp.

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How it works

  1. Send what you have

    Your diagnosis, test results, X-rays or a short description. WhatsApp is fine.

  2. Get a written plan

    A Medellín clinic reviews your details and sends an itemized treatment plan and price. Ask anything before you agree to anything.

  3. Plan the trip

    Agree on dates with the clinic and ask how long you'll need to stay in Medellín after treatment.

  4. Treatment and records

    Bring copies of every report, image and invoice home for your own doctor.

Questions from the islands

Can you arrange my SVB or AZV referral?

No. Medical referrals go through your insurer. We only help with care you pay for yourself.

Will my insurer reimburse care I arrange myself in Colombia?

Ask your insurer before you go. Rules for care abroad without a referral differ by insurer and by policy.

Do the clinics speak Dutch or Papiamentu?

Clinics work in Spanish, and some also work in English. Tell us which language you speak and we'll ask before you book.

How does ColombiaMedical make money?

Clinics in our network may pay us a referral fee. Requesting a quote is free for you, with no obligation.

What happens to my information?

We share your request only with your permission, and with no more than three clinics in Colombia. Read our privacy policy.

Get a free quote

Tell us where you live and what you need. A Medellín clinic will reply with questions or a written quote. It's free, with no obligation.

Please don't include your Social Security number, VA file number or medical records here.

Sources

  1. Dominican Republic ranks third in Caribbean for medical tourism to Medellín (Dominican Today, June 20, 2025), citing the Medellín Health City cluster report
  2. Sharp increase in overseas medical referrals from Curaçao in 2023 (Curaçao Chronicle, June 19, 2025)
  3. Wingo y Sura se unen para impulsar el turismo médico desde Aruba y Curazao (Portafolio, April 14, 2026)
  4. AZV: overseas care follows strict criteria (Noticiacla, July 30, 2026)
  5. Dental implants (Colombia Care Dental, Medellín), accessed Oct. 5, 2026
  6. Cheapest dental implants 2026: US vs Colombia (Smile Dental Center Group, May 25, 2026)
  7. Costo de implantes dentales en Colombia (Dra. Carolina Macareno, Medellín; page dated May 10, 2025, listing 2026 prices)

Last checked October 5, 2026. Rules and figures change; confirm anything that affects your money or care with the agency directly.