Most digital-nomad visas make health insurance a condition of approval — and the Ecuador Visa Nómada (Rentista) is no different. Here's exactly what's required, the plans that plausibly meet it, and what to check before you buy.
The requirement
- Insurance
- Required (explicit)
- Minimum coverage
- Not specified
- Required for
- Full visa period
The gob.ec tramite page explicitly requires a valid national or foreign health insurance covering the same period as the visa ('seguro de salud nacional o extranjero vigente por el mismo periodo del visado'); if contracted abroad it must provide coverage in Ecuador. No minimum coverage amount is published by the Cancilleria. Once a cedula is obtained, residents may also enrol voluntarily in the public IESS social-security health scheme.
Plans that meet the requirement
Ranked by requirement fit, then price. Qualification status is shown per plan — always double-check the policy certificate matches the consulate's wording before you apply.
SafetyWing (underwritten by SafetyWing Insurance I.I., Puerto Rico; Complete health portion by VUMI Group I.I.) · Nomad subscription
SafetyWing Nomad is a worldwide travel-medical plan that runs the full stay and covers Ecuador, matching the visa's accepted 'travel' type with no published minimum to clear; sold globally with no residency restriction.
- Subscription model: Essential auto-extends every 28 days (5-364 days per policy) and can be bought while already abroad; coverage in 170+ countries
- No deductible on either plan; Essential also includes travel benefits (lost checked luggage, trip interruption, evacuation from local unrest)
- Complete is full health insurance (USD 1.5M/year) including routine and preventive care, mental health, cancer treatment and limited maternity; renewable for life if enrolled before age 64
from €54.36 /mo
View plans (opens in a new tab)Genki UG (policyholder/agent); underwritten by Squarelife Insurance AG, Liechtenstein · Long-stay travel insurance
Genki Traveler is a worldwide long-stay travel policy (EUR 1,000,000/yr) that covers Ecuador for the visa period and is buyable globally regardless of nationality, satisfying the accepted 'travel' insurance type with no minimum threshold.
- Up to EUR 1,000,000 medical coverage valid in every country for up to 12 months, with monthly billing and cancellation possible after the first month
- Sign-up is possible while already abroad and up to age 69; insurance certificate for visa applications and border checks is issued immediately after the first payment
- 24/7 emergency assistance (MCI Assist) with direct payment for inpatient hospital stays and no deductible on inpatient treatment
from €63.90 /mo
View plans (opens in a new tab)Cigna Global Health Options – International Health Plans (Silver / Gold / Platinum)
Likely qualifyingCigna Healthcare (Cigna Global Insurance Company Limited) · International health insurance
Cigna Global is a worldwide international health plan (Silver $1M and up, no upper age limit) covering Ecuador, cleanly matching the visa's accepted 'international_health' type for someone relocating long-term.
- Three core tiers with annual maximums of $1M/€800k (Silver), $2M/€1.6M (Gold) and paid-in-full with no overall cap (Platinum)
- No upper enrollment age (18+); insurer states it does not terminate policies based on age
- Modular design: outpatient, evacuation & crisis assistance, health & wellbeing, vision & dental can be added; deductibles ($0-$10,000) and cost shares (0-30%) reduce the premium
from — /mo
View plans (opens in a new tab)Care Concept AG (Bonn, Germany) · Long-stay travel insurance
Care Concept Care Expatriate is a worldwide long-stay expat/travel plan (authority-recognised, outpatient+inpatient+repatriation) that covers Ecuador and fits the accepted travel/international-health types with no minimum to meet.
- Contract terms from 3 months up to 5 years; max entry age 74 (Care Expatriate); Germans/Austrians abroad can re-extend repeatedly until their 74th birthday
- Home-country visits insured: 30 (Basic) / 45 (Comfort) / 90 (Premium) days per insurance year
- Official insurer FAQ states products generally meet Schengen visa requirements; instant online confirmation issued at booking and products are recognized by German authorities (>EUR 30,000 coverage)
from €58 /mo
View plans (opens in a new tab)APRIL International Care France (health risk insured by Groupama Gan Vie; assistance/personal liability by CHUBB European Group SE) · International health insurance
APRIL MyHealth International is a worldwide full international health plan covering Ecuador and matching the accepted 'international_health' type, but eligibility depends on the max age 74 (60 in some countries) limit, so applicant fit needs checking.
- Four plan tiers with annual limits from EUR/USD 500,000 (Explore) up to unlimited (Extensive/Elite; capped at EUR/USD 2M-4M for treatment in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, USA)
- Enrollment from age 10 up to 74 in most countries; one-year contract with automatic renewal
- Hospitalisation, medical evacuation and cancer treatment at 100% on all tiers, with hospital direct billing and free unlimited 24/7 telehealth (Teladoc)
from €52 /mo
View plans (opens in a new tab)Foyer Global Health S.A. (Foyer Group, Luxembourg) · International health insurance
Foyer Global Health covers Ecuador worldwide and matches the accepted 'international_health' type, but the buyer must select a region that includes Ecuador and is not a US permanent resident (not insurable), so eligibility needs verification.
- No overall annual or lifetime limit on core medical cover in all three plans; unlimited inpatient benefits confirmed on the official plan comparison
- Insurer FAQ explicitly confirms cover in the home country as well as the country of expatriation; worldwide or worldwide-ex-USA regions
- Luxembourg-regulated insurer (Foyer Group); 24/7 medical assistance, evacuation, teleconsultation and second medical opinion included in all plans
from €80 /mo
View plans (opens in a new tab)Some links are affiliate links — see our disclosure. Rankings are based on requirement fit, never on commissions.
What to check before you buy
- 📄The certificate wording matches the visa requirement — name the country and the coverage period explicitly.
- 💶Coverage is comprehensive (inpatient, outpatient and emergency), since no fixed minimum is published.
- 🚑Emergency treatment, hospitalisation and medical repatriation are all included.
- 📅The policy runs the full stay you’re applying for — many travel policies cap the trip length.
- 🌍You’re actually eligible to buy it (some plans only sell to EU/UK/US residents).
- 🤝It pairs with how care works locally — see the health system page.
Insurance for the Visa Nómada (Rentista): FAQ
Insurance for the Visa Nómada (Rentista): FAQ
Is health insurance mandatory for the Ecuador Visa Nómada (Rentista)?
Required (explicit). The gob.ec tramite page explicitly requires a valid national or foreign health insurance covering the same period as the visa ('seguro de salud nacional o extranjero vigente por el mismo periodo del visado'); if contracted abroad it must provide coverage in Ecuador. No minimum coverage amount is published by the Cancilleria. Once a cedula is obtained, residents may also enrol voluntarily in the public IESS social-security health scheme.
Can I use regular travel insurance?
Long-stay travel medical insurance is among the accepted types for this program, as long as it meets the coverage minimums for the full required period.
Sources
- Government Concesion de visa de residencia temporal rentista para trabajo remoto (Visa Nomada) - Guia Oficial de Tramites y Servicios (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Law firm Ecuador: Temporary Residence Visa for Digital Nomads Available - Fragomen (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Law firm Residencia temporal rentista para trabajo remoto (Visa Nomada) - Sperber & Alvarez (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Media IESS Healthcare for Expats in Ecuador: Enrollment, Costs & Coverage - EcuaPass (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15