Dominican RepublicTravel Dominican Republic: Hospitals Bill Upfront, So Arrange Cover Before You Fly
The U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo is urging travellers to arrange travel health insurance before leaving the United States. It says Dominican hospitals often demand full payment up front and medical evacuation usually costs well over $10,000 USD.
Travellers heading to the Dominican Republic should arrange travel health insurance before they leave the United States, the U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo said in guidance published on 21 September 2026. The embassy warned that an unexpected illness or injury abroad can quickly become a costly problem as well as a medical one.
Key facts
- The U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo advises buying travel health insurance before departure
- Dominican hospitals often require full payment before treatment or discharge
- Medicare does not cover medical or hospital expenses incurred outside the United States
- Medical evacuation usually costs well over $10,000 USD and is not covered by most U.S. insurance
- The U.S. Department of State keeps the Dominican Republic at Travel Advisory Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution, due to crime
Why might my existing health insurance not work?
According to the embassy, domestic U.S. health insurance may not apply overseas. Some private U.S. insurance companies do pay for medical care received abroad, but usually only on a reimbursable basis — travellers must pay the bill first and then request reimbursement.
The embassy also noted that the U.S. government does not pay for medical care overseas, and that Medicare does not cover medical or hospital expenses incurred outside the United States.
How do hospitals handle payment?
Hospitals in the Dominican Republic often require payment in full before a patient is treated or discharged, the embassy said. Travel health insurance can help ease that cost burden, according to the guidance.
What about medical evacuation?
If a traveller needs to be medically evacuated for any reason, the embassy said this is not covered by most U.S. insurance and usually costs well over $10,000 USD. The guidance recommends reviewing further information on Travel.State.Gov and on the embassy's Medical Emergency page.
What this means for travellers
Travellers planning a trip to the Dominican Republic may want to check whether their existing health insurance applies overseas and consider arranging travel health insurance before departure. U.S. citizens needing emergency assistance in the country can call (809) 567-7775, listed by the embassy for emergencies inside and outside office hours.
The embassy directs readers to further details on Travel.State.Gov and its own Medical Emergency page for the Dominican Republic.
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