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Curacao · Health System

Healthcare in Curacao

Partially verified Last verified June 15, 2026 Reviewed by Henry van de Vorming

Before you move to Curacao, the question that matters isn't "is the healthcare good" — it's "can I, on a temporary visa, actually use it, and what happens in an emergency?" Here's how the system works for a nomad, and where private insurance fits.

At a glance

System
Social health insurance (Bismarck)
Public access (nomads)
After registering as a resident
Emergency number
912
Private GP visit
—
Care in English
Widely available in English

How the system works

Curacao runs a mandatory national basic health insurance, the Basisverzekering Ziektekosten (BVZ), introduced on 1 February 2013 and administered by the Sociale Verzekeringsbank (SVB). It is a uniform scheme covering residents, financed mainly through income-based premiums deducted from wages, and it pays for GP care, specialist care on referral, hospital admission, pharmaceuticals (with a small fixed dispensing fee of Naf. 1), maternity, paramedical and limited dental care, plus treatment abroad when unavailable on-island. The system is built around a GP gatekeeper: a referral is needed for virtually all specialist and hospital care. Alongside BVZ sits a sizeable private market used by those not covered by BVZ and by expats/visitors. Curacao has one central modern hospital, the Curacao Medical Center (CMC), opened November 2019.

The private sector is well developed and the default route for most temporary residents and visitors, who are generally not enrolled in BVZ unless they work locally and contribute through payroll. Private care is described as high quality with modern facilities, shorter waiting times and English-speaking doctors; many physicians are Dutch BIG-registered. Visitor- and expat-focused providers such as MedPoint operate direct-bill clinics, with payment usually claimed back from health/travel insurance, and BVZ insurance does not reimburse such visitor clinics. Private clinics offer faster specialist access. Annual private insurance premiums from one of the more affordable providers were cited at roughly USD 770/year for a 35-year-old adult (2024 indicative figure). Entry/stay practice expects valid health or travel insurance covering medical expenses (a USD 15,000 minimum is commonly cited for short stays, though it is not a hard legal entry requirement).

Curacao's main hospital, the Curacao Medical Center (CMC) in Willemstad, opened on 15 November 2019, replacing the older Sint Elisabeth Hospital; it has about 300 beds and modern equipment, and reports working toward Joint Commission International accreditation. Its emergency department operates 24/7, 365 days a year. For highly complex cases not all specialist procedures are available on the island, and patients may be transferred (including by air ambulance) off-island, with medical evacuation costs commonly cited in the USD 15,000-25,000 range.

Good to know

  • National basic insurance (BVZ) since 1 February 2013, administered by the SVB, covers GP, hospital, specialists on referral, and medicines for residents
  • Free ambulance via 912; the central Curacao Medical Center (opened 2019) has a 24/7, 365-day emergency room
  • English (and Dutch) widely spoken in care; many doctors are Dutch BIG-registered, and expat/visitor clinics like MedPoint serve foreigners directly
  • Strong private sector with shorter waits and direct billing makes private/international insurance practical for nomads not enrolled in BVZ

Watch out for

  • Public BVZ access is tied to residence/permit status: workers with a contract and permit contribute via payroll and enrol, but pure remote workers, short-stay permit holders and 'hibernators' are not mandated into BVZ and rely on private or international cover
  • US and Dutch citizens can enrol in the SVB public scheme; commentary has flagged financial-burden implications of this broad access
  • Private/international insurance is the practical default for temporary residents; valid medical insurance is expected for entry/stay (a USD 15,000 minimum is commonly cited, though not a hard legal requirement) and BVZ does not reimburse visitor clinics like MedPoint
  • Public-system waiting times for specialists can be long, and complex procedures may require costly medevac off-island (commonly cited at USD 15,000-25,000)

🩺 Insurance you'll need

Because temporary residents largely can't lean on the public system, and the @HOME requires cover, private health insurance is part of the move — not an afterthought. We list the plans that plausibly meet Curacao's requirement, ranked by fit.

See qualifying plans for Curacao →

Healthcare in Curacao: FAQ

Healthcare in Curacao: FAQ

Can I use public healthcare in Curacao as a digital nomad?

In short — you can use the public system once you register as a resident; before that you rely on private care. The private sector is well developed and the default route for most temporary residents and visitors, who are generally not enrolled in BVZ unless they work locally and contribute through payroll. Private care is described as high quality with modern facilities, shorter waiting times and English-speaking doctors; many physicians are Dutch BIG-registered. Visitor- and expat-focused providers such as MedPoint operate direct-bill clinics, with payment usually claimed back from health/travel insurance, and BVZ insurance does not reimburse such visitor clinics. Private clinics offer faster specialist access. Annual private insurance premiums from one of the more affordable providers were cited at roughly USD 770/year for a 35-year-old adult (2024 indicative figure). Entry/stay practice expects valid health or travel insurance covering medical expenses (a USD 15,000 minimum is commonly cited for short stays, though it is not a hard legal entry requirement).

What is the emergency number in Curacao?

912. Call it for life-threatening emergencies; emergency departments will treat you regardless of insurance, but you may be billed afterwards if you're not covered.

Do I need private health insurance in Curacao?

Yes — beyond being prudent, the @HOME requires it (required (explicit)). See the qualifying plans for Curacao.

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