Verified Apr 15, 2026· source: SURA Panamá
Local insurerSURA Panama: full review 2026
Panama's cheapest local health insurance: Basic from $21/mo, Premium from $95/mo, fully digital and SSRP-licensed. Entry up to age 55. Prices by age, coverage and who it makes sense for.
Score Revisa24
4.4/10
Average of 2 plan(s) across 6 criteria, public methodology.
- Value5.3
- Coverage3.5
- Flexibility2.8
- Claims4.3
- Digital7.5
- Transparency5.3
Verdict: the lowest entry price in the regulated market, with a limited network and coverage
SURA is the right choice for healthy young people in Panama City on a tight budget and for companies with regional teams. For families needing maternity, interior residents or people over 55, ASSA, MAPFRE or PALIG fit better.
From
$21/mo
SURA Basic
Max coverage
$500K/año
SURA Premium
Max entry age
55
New contracts
Plans
2
Market share ~8%
What it does well
- Cheapest entry plan in the regulated market ($21/mo)
- Premium ($95/mo) is among the best local prices for outpatient + specialists
- App and online quotes: the most agile digital experience among locals
- Telemedicine included at no extra cost
- Multinational group backing and very competitive corporate plans
The real limitations
- Entry cutoff at age 55
- Smaller clinic network than ASSA and nearly absent outside the capital
- No real international coverage (limited emergencies only)
- The Basic plan is minimal coverage: not a substitute for full insurance
- Maternity and dental underdeveloped in individual plans
The 2 SURA Panamá plans
Verified Apr 15, 2026· source: SURA Panamá
| Plan | From/mo | Coverage | Deductible | Max age | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SURA BasicPanama only | $21 | $30K/año | $500 | 55 | 3.5 |
| SURA PremiumPanama + Central America | $95 | $500K/año | $500 | 55 | 5.3 |
- SURA BasicPanama only
- From/mo
- $21
- Coverage
- $30K/año
- Deductible
- $500
- Max age
- 55
- Score
- 3.5
- SURA PremiumPanama + Central America
- From/mo
- $95
- Coverage
- $500K/año
- Deductible
- $500
- Max age
- 55
- Score
- 5.3
Monthly price by age
| Age | SURA Basic | SURA Premium |
|---|---|---|
| 18-29 | $21 | $75 |
| 30-39 | $35 | $100 |
| 40-49 | $55 | $145 |
| 50-55 | $85 | $210 |
| 56+ | N/A | N/A |
- 18-29
- SURA Basic
- $21
- SURA Premium
- $75
- 30-39
- SURA Basic
- $35
- SURA Premium
- $100
- 40-49
- SURA Basic
- $55
- SURA Premium
- $145
- 50-55
- SURA Basic
- $85
- SURA Premium
- $210
- 56+
- SURA Basic
- N/A
- SURA Premium
- N/A
Verified Apr 15, 2026· source: SURA Panamá
Who it is for
Young, healthy Panamanian in Panama City on a tight budget
For $21 to $95 a month you get SSRP-regulated coverage and an app that works.
Employees of companies with a SURA agreement or LATAM regional teams
Uniform coverage across countries and volume pricing that individual contracts cannot match.
Anyone with CSS wanting a cheap private supplement
Premium gives immediate access to private clinics without public system waits.
Who it is not for
People aged 56 or older
SURA does not accept new policyholders over 55. MAPFRE and PALIG accept up to 65, PassportCard up to 64.
Families with planned maternity or prioritizing dental
ASSA MetroBlue and MAPFRE Elite cover both; SURA does not emphasize them.
Interior residents or frequent travelers
No own clinics outside the capital and no real international coverage. ASSA for the interior, PassportCard or Cigna for travel.
Who SURA is in Panama
Seguros SURA is the Panamanian subsidiary of Grupo SURA, the Colombian conglomerate present in Colombia, Chile, Peru, Mexico and Panama. In Panama it has operated since 1944 (formerly Banistmo Seguros) and today holds around 8% of the health market. Its proposition is clear: the lowest entry price in the regulated market and a fully digital experience, with online quotes, an app and telemedicine.
Where SURA is really strong is in corporate plans: regional teams across several Latin American countries get uniform coverage and volume pricing. For individual buyers, SURA competes on price and digitization, not on network: its clinic network is smaller than ASSA's and practically absent outside the capital.
Read carefully what $21 buys
The Basic plan is minimal hospital coverage. If you expect routine visits, specialists and lab work, the plan that compares with ASSA Blue or MAPFRE Superior is SURA Premium ($95/mo).
SURA versus ASSA and MAPFRE
- Price: SURA wins at the entry point ($21) and in the mid tier ($95 vs $120 to $150 for ASSA Blue).
- Network: ASSA wins with 850+ doctors and 18 own clinics; MAPFRE has a semi-open network; SURA relies on its directory and reference hospitals in the capital.
- Age: SURA and ASSA close at 55; MAPFRE accepts up to 65, the exception among locals.
- Digital: SURA completed its move to a fully digital platform in 2024 and is the most agile of the three for quoting and management.
- Maternity and dental: ASSA MetroBlue and MAPFRE Elite cover them; SURA does not emphasize them in individual plans.
Verdict: SURA Panamá 4.4/10
SURA is the right choice for healthy young people in Panama City on a tight budget and for companies with regional teams. For families needing maternity, interior residents or people over 55, ASSA, MAPFRE or PALIG fit better.
Frequently asked questions about SURA Panamá
What does SURA Basic cover for $21 a month?
Up to what age does SURA accept new policyholders?
Is SURA regulated in Panama?
Can I buy SURA as a foreigner?
How does SURA compare with ASSA?
Does SURA cover maternity?
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