ColombiaMedical
A couple at a routine checkup in Medellín; the doctor takes the man's blood pressure while his wife laughs beside him

Is your deductible bigger than the bill?

Average ACA marketplace deductibles jumped 37% in 2026, and a third of workers with job-based coverage have a deductible of $2,000 or more. If you'll pay most of a planned procedure yourself anyway, compare a written quote from abroad.

Do the math firstGet a free quote

Deductibles went up. Coverage went down.

Enhanced ACA tax credits expired after 2025, and enrollees' average premium payments jumped 114% (KFF). Paid marketplace enrollment fell 12%, from 21.8 million to 19.2 million people (KFF).

$3,786average ACA marketplace deductible in 2026, up from $2,759
34%of workers with job-based coverage have a single deductible of $2,000 or more
28%of adults skipped or postponed needed care in the past year because of cost

Sources: KFF, May 2026; KFF Employer Health Benefits Survey 2025 (53% at firms with 10 to 199 workers); KFF, September 2026.

Do the math first

Going abroad only makes sense if it's actually cheaper for you. Before you compare, find these numbers:

  • How much of your deductible is left this year
  • Your coinsurance and out-of-pocket maximum
  • The in-network price of the procedure at home
  • Flights, a place to stay and time off work
  • Follow-up care at home, and who provides it
  • Whether anything you pay abroad counts toward your deductible

If you've already met your deductible or out-of-pocket maximum this year, staying home is probably cheaper. And don't assume care you pay for abroad counts toward your deductible. Ask your plan.

Prices Medellín clinics publish

A few Medellín clinics and practices publish their prices. These are the ones we could verify, with the sources at the bottom of this page.

For anything else, a written quote based on your records is the number to compare against your deductible.

Published prices in Medellín

Executive checkup (Hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe)COP 1,632,316–4,659,972
LASIK, both eyes (Ópticas Lafam)COP 2,350,000
Single dental implant with abutment and crown$800–$2,100
Tummy tuck, starting price (Dra. Amy Barreto)from COP 20,000,000

Checkup range is for men, by plan; women's plans cost slightly more. Implant range from three practices. Check today's exchange rate for pesos. Travel isn't included.

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

Get my free quote

How a quote works

  1. Send what you have

    Your doctor's recommendation, test results or imaging. WhatsApp is fine.

  2. Get a written quote

    A Medellín clinic sends an itemized plan and price.

  3. Compare honestly

    Your quote plus travel, against what you'd pay at home after your deductible and coinsurance.

  4. Keep the paperwork

    Itemized invoices and records, in case your plan or HSA administrator asks.

Questions

Does care abroad count toward my deductible?

Ask your plan. Don't assume it does.

What happens if something goes wrong after I'm home?

Ask the clinic in writing what follow-up and complication care its price includes, and line up follow-up with a doctor at home before you go.

How do I check a surgeon or hospital?

Ask for the surgeon's credentials and the hospital's accreditation with your quote. We'll pass your questions to the clinic.

Is it always cheaper?

No. If you've met your deductible or out-of-pocket maximum, home is usually cheaper. Do the math first.

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.

Get a free, itemized quote

Tell us what you need and roughly what you'd pay at home. A Medellín clinic will reply with questions or a written quote. It's free, with no obligation.

Please don't include ID numbers, insurance member numbers or medical records here.

Sources

  1. What we know so far about 2026 ACA Marketplace enrollment, premiums and deductibles (KFF, May 19, 2026)
  2. ACA Marketplace enrollment is down by 3 million after big jump in premium payments (KFF, June 29, 2026)
  3. How has ACA Marketplace enrollment changed across states in 2026? (KFF, July 28, 2026)
  4. 2025 Employer Health Benefits Survey (KFF, Oct. 22, 2025)
  5. Americans' challenges with health care costs (KFF, Sept. 29, 2026)
  6. Chequeos ejecutivos (Hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe, Medellín), undated, accessed Oct. 5, 2026
  7. Exámenes pre-LASIK y cirugía (Ópticas Lafam), price stated for Bogotá, Medellín, Cali and Barranquilla; undated, accessed Oct. 5, 2026
  8. Dental implants (Colombia Care Dental, Medellín), accessed Oct. 5, 2026
  9. Cheapest dental implants 2026: US vs Colombia (Smile Dental Center Group, May 25, 2026)
  10. Costo de implantes dentales en Colombia (Dra. Carolina Macareno, Medellín; page dated May 10, 2025, listing 2026 prices)
  11. ¿Cuánto cuesta una abdominoplastia en Colombia en 2026? (Dra. Amy Barreto, Medellín, updated Mar. 27, 2026)

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

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