An English-speaking doctor in Puerto Rico, by video

Anyone on the island who would rather see a doctor in English:

• People who moved here, including Act 60 relocators and mainland transplants still finding their way around local healthcare.
• Military and remote-worker families living on the island.
• Students at Puerto Rico universities who come from the mainland or abroad.
• Tourists and cruise passengers: see care for visitors.
• Bilingual families, where some prefer English and some Spanish. The doctor can switch languages in the same visit.

Not a Spanish visit with an interpreter: the doctor takes your history, examines you on camera, explains what's going on and gives you instructions, all in English.

We evaluate, diagnose and treat; if needed, we give you a lab order for a lab near you. If appropriate, the doctor prescribes and we send your prescription to your pharmacy. We do not prescribe controlled substances. Dr. Nieves Castro is a general practice physician with several years of emergency-department experience, and she sees adults and children of all ages.

Request a visit online 24/7 — we confirm your time by email or text.

If your employer, university or your kids' school is on the mainland or works in English, the doctor can write your doctor's note in English. School, university and job forms can be completed in English at a forms visit. Want to share the visit with your doctor back home? Ask for your visit notes in English.

Ran low on a medicine your doctor in the States prescribed? A refill of a non-controlled medicine you already take is a US$49 follow-up visit, even if we've never seen you. Have the bottle or a photo of the label ready, ideally with the generic name, as the CDC suggests for travelers. If appropriate, the doctor prescribes and we send your prescription to a pharmacy in Puerto Rico.

We don't bill any insurance plan, whether it's an employer plan, a marketplace plan, Medicare or a military plan. On request, we give you an itemized receipt (superbill) to claim from your plan, HSA or FSA yourself. We can't promise your plan will reimburse you.

For Medicare, Puerto Rico is not "outside the U.S.", but private mainland plans set their own network rules. Read does Medicare work in Puerto Rico? before you call the number on your card.

We send your prescription to the Puerto Rico pharmacy you choose, and your lab order is for a lab near you on the island. At many pharmacies the store keeps longer hours than the pharmacy counter, so call ahead to check the counter is open and has your medicine.

The doctor holds a Puerto Rico medical license (number 24027), so the law requires you to be physically in Puerto Rico during the visit. If you're back on the mainland for a few weeks, we can't see you from there.

In Puerto Rico the age of majority is 21, not 18. For a patient under 21, including college students aged 18 to 20, a parent with patria potestad (parental authority) or a legal guardian stays on camera for the whole visit and shows photo ID.

Just arrived and don't have a doctor yet? The doctor can look after you over time by video. See virtual primary care. When you're ready, book a visit.

Puerto Rico uses 911 too. If you have chest pain, trouble breathing, signs of a stroke or a serious injury, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.