15 Expats Talk about Health Insurance and Healthcare in Costa Rica

"National health care may not provide a sufficient safety net - it may require a long wait for medical procedures. Private health care is recommended, but coverage for "pre-existing conditions" is generally not available except through national health care," said one expat.

"Costa Rica has excellent medical care with a two prong system, both public and private. All legal residents and citizens of Costa Rica are eligible to participate in the public healthcare system which is basically free although you have to be a member of the CAJA and pay a % based on the income level you declared when you applied for residency. A tip for expats is to show evidence of enough income to qualify for their residency programs but perhaps not to show all your income if not needed to qualify. (You have to show proof of a pension, annuity or government program that pays you at least $1000 per couple to qualify for their pensionado program). If you don't qualify by those means, you can also apply as a rentista, (renter), an inversionista (an investor) or as a foreign sponsored national with a work visa. You can also marry a Costa Rican... Keep in mind that there is also a private healthcare network available, which is often the preferred option to many expats. There is often a waiting time to get seen under the public system, even things like lab work might take longer than you want to wait. The private healthcare system is generally available immediately and insurance can be purchased to cover you in those facilities. You can also often offer to pay at the CAJA and be seen quicker than those not paying for service. In an emegency, the CAJA will take anyone. Costa Rica uses a local clinic methodology where they locate clinics nearly everywhere based on population needs. These clinics are referred to as the EBAIS clinics and can be found in nearly every town of any size. Major operations, whether in the public or private healthcare system, will likely be performed in San Jose. The private healthcare networks consisting of Clinica Biblica, CIMA and Hospital Mexico, offer great service for a fraction of the cost in the US. Clinica Biblica has an international medicine center, assigns patients a health navigator to help with things like language barriers and offers services that may not even be available in the states. I have had nothing but great experiences there, everything from blood work, orthapedics, dentistry, colonoscopy, endoscopy, stress test and EKG, bone density scans, lipids exams, urinalysis, hearing and eye tests, ultrasounds and more. I have stuff done that I could never afford to do in the states and pay a fraction of the cost I would in the US. The facilities are all impeccably clean and the doctors don't seem to be afraid of their patients and lawsuits. In our area in the southern Pacific region of Costa Rica, we have one of the newest CAJA hospitals in all of Costa Rica. The Hospital de Osa is an 88 bed, 80,000 square foot facility complete with emergency room, pharmacy and more. I recommend everyone should try the Costa Rican healthcare system to see what we are missing in the US," remarked one expat in Cortez.

"In Costa Rica, you must be a resident of the country to qualify for CAJA also know as the national socialized medicine. Additionally, this is not an option but a requirement of your residency here. The monthly fee is calculated based on your income. The local clinic also known as EBAIS is centrally located. If you are in the area, familiarize yourself with it's location. If you are not a resident, there are several private care physicians in the area and they are well educated and professional. If you do not speak Spanish, there are many that are bilingual. I know of at least one that has a 24 hour facility for emergencies. Additionally, specialists from the Central Valley visit these private care facilities on a monthly basis so if you need specialized care, it is available. At present, a general office visit in a private care facility is $40-$45," remarked one expat living in Playa Jaco.

"Costa Rica has a comprehensive healthcare system that provides a wide range of services to its citizens and foreign residents. The public healthcare system is funded by the government and is available to all citizens and legal residents. The quality of public healthcare is generally good, with modern facilities and well-trained staff. Foreign residents have access to the public healthcare system, although they may need to pay a fee for some services. Expats in Costa Rica can use the public healthcare system, but they may need to pay a fee for some services. Expats can also opt for private healthcare, which is more expensive but offers more comprehensive coverage," said one expat living in Costa Rica.

"Residency to obtain public health care (CAJA) seems to be taking about 18 months, so you will have to use private care until you obtain residency (if that is what you plan on doing). Even with CAJA, many people continue to use the outstanding private facilities available in and around San Jose (possibly in other areas, but I am only familiar with San Jose). There are many expat health insurance plans available and I highly recommend obtaining one if you are under 70. There may be some available over 70; I don't know. I presently do not have any insurance and have been paying out of pocket for some serious medical issues. I suggest you have a fund of $6-10,000 tucked away if you don't have private insurance or have a high deductible," mentioned one expat in Grecia.

"Costa Rica offers a wide range of medical services, including both public and private healthcare. The public healthcare system is free for all citizens and legal residents, and is generally of a high quality. Private healthcare is also available, and is often more modern and efficient than the public system. Costa Rica is home to a number of world-class hospitals and clinics, offering a range of treatments and services. Many of these facilities are staffed by highly trained and experienced medical professionals, and offer the latest in medical technology. Costa Rica is also home to a number of specialized medical centers, offering treatments for specific conditions such as cancer, heart disease, and neurological disorders," remarked one expat living in Costa Rica.

"I moved here in the middle of a 5 year treatment plan. I retired early, and had no medical insurance. To stay on my treatment, I was able to buy the medication OTC for $60 a month," said one expat living in Florencia.

"Healthcare in Costa Rica is generally considered to be of a high quality and is relatively affordable compared to other countries. Health insurance is also available in Costa Rica, but it is not mandatory. The cost of health insurance depends on the type of coverage and the provider, but it is generally more affordable than in other countries," said an expat in Costa Rica.

"There is a CAJA (public hospital) in our town Grecia which is about a 20 minute drive from my house. I have not heard anything good about it. I have heard good things about the public hospital (Hospital Mexico) in San Jose and the private hospitals in San Jose (about 45 minutes from us) are all excellent," mentioned one expat in Grecia.

"We are located almost across the highway from the Hospital de Osa in Cortez. It is a public hospital, 80,000 square feet and offers everything we need for the entire region," commented one expat who moved to Cortez, Costa Rica.

"45 minutes to a private hospital, 1 hr 30 minutes to a public hospital. Local ambulances provide local emergency care although severe medical issues may require 45 minutes or more to a hospital," remarked one expat living in Tamarindo.

"We have been to CIMA and Catolica. Both these facilities are excellent! The physicians were profesional, thorough and well educated. The care was better than what we experienced stateside. The physician followed up with us after our care for several weeks. And we were given private cell phone numbers to contact in case of complications. My husband spent three nights at CIMA in Escazu near San Jose. He had a private room (all rooms in this facility are private!) with attached private bathroom. There was a sofa in the room which turned into a bed so that I was able to spend the day and evenings there. The hospital cafeteria was excellent! Yes that's a surprise and gives an upscale meaning to hospital food! This is one instance where we decided to have treatment at a private facility vs. the socialized medicine. Be aware that at these facilities, you will need to submit a credit card or private health care card in order to be treated. The cost was dramatically less than if this procedure was done stateside. It is very common for residents to use the socialized medicine for some issues, private health care for others (which means you pay out of pocket) and also have another health insurance policy for others health issues," said one expat living in Playa Jaco.

"Expats generally seek private medical attention when they need specialists to deal with emergencies. If I had to treat a serious health problem, I would return to my country, since the system there seems more reliable," mentioned one expat in Santa Ana.

"Costa Rica has a wide variety of medical specialists located throughout the country, however the cities of San José, Cartago, and Liberia are known for having some of the best medical professionals in the nation. Additionally, the areas of Alajuela and Puntarenas are well-regarded for their large concentrations of highly-skilled medical specialists, making these locations ideal for those seeking specialized medical attention," commented one expat who moved to Costa Rica.

"If you go private (and either pay through insurance or out of pocket), specialists are easy. They're everywhere and fast, friendly appointments are normal. If you're in the public system, specialists are often where the system breaks down the most. Everybody is assigned to a local clinic, and these are fine, but most local clinics don't have specialists. To see a specialist you're sent elsewhere, and this can take multiple visits simply to make an appointment (you actually need appointments to make appointments) and then when you finally get an appointment, it can be up to a year later. I've also had the clerk lose my file and tell me I needed to start all over again, although in fairness I once saw a specialist on the same day I was sent. Anyway, seeing specialists is often the weakest link in the public health system chain, and many locals just pay private at this point. But sometimes seeing a specialist in the public system is easy. It's a crap shoot," remarked one expat living in San José.

"If you are enrolled in the CAJA (socialized medicine), prescriptions are free at the local clinic after being prescribed by the CAJA physician. Sometimes generic forms of the medicine are available. If you are on a very specialized prescription, you may need to purchase this at a local pharmacy (farmacia) and you would be required to incur the expense but generally most medicine is available thru the CAJA. If you choose to purchase your prescriptions outside of the CAJA system, there are at least ten farmacias in Jaco and the surrounding area. You will not need a prescription for most any medicine with the exception of intense narcotics. If you need something of that degree, a private care physician can prescribe them for you. Some prescriptions are higher costing than the US such as Allegra, simple asprin, etc. Generally speaking if you can purchase it stateside in a bottle of (for example) 365 pills it is less expensive to do so as packaging here is by individual blister pack pills. Other meds are dramatically less expensive than the states. Resident discounts are generally offered in the amount of 10% at farmacias for local residents," wrote one expat.

"The public system dispenses generic medicines free, and getting them is easy. But on the advice of a private doc, I pay retail for a name brand pill too. It costs me about a third or less the cost in the US. No prescriptions are necessary for most meds, and even when they are, you can sometimes sweet talk your way into buying them in a drug store without a prescription. Probably the cheapest drug store is La Bomba, and it won't budge on selling meds it's not supposed to, but most meds that require a prescription in the US don't need one here. For meds that the drug stores really aren't supposed to sell without prescriptions, I go to a more full service drug store and pay a little more. Specifically, I keep a supply of antibiotics on hand that by law need a prescription but I buy without one. Also, just in the way the system works, I know a drug store that sells the morning after pill, even though it's really not suppose to in a Catholic country," commented one expat who moved to San José.

"Most are available locally at a nearby pharmacy. Most are available without a prescription, except narcotics. Generic "prescription" drugs are lower cost but typical OTC drugs seem to be more expensive (ibuprofen, aceotminophen)," said one expat.

"Medicines prescribed in the public sector are received at your care center, at no cost to the patient. In that sense, the availability of drugs is always high. I do not need prescription drugs. If you have to buy a drug and pay for it yourself, the cost is high in the country," remarked one expat in Santa Ana.

"Yes, common prescription medications are available in Costa Rica. Most pharmacies in the country carry a wide variety of medications, including those that require a prescription. However, it is important to note that some medications may not be available in Costa Rica, so it is best to check with a local pharmacist before traveling. Additionally, some medications may require a doctor's prescription in order to be purchased in Costa Rica," remarked one expat living in Costa Rica.

"Playa Jaco has a Red Cross station in addition to local public clinic. In the event of illness or injury, you will be treated at the local clinic and transportation to a higher level of medical care is provided. There are also many private physicians in the area which will provided specialized medical care. I have found the level of care to be excellent. The Central Valley is only 90 minutes by vehicle and this area of Costa Rica boasts the highest level of care in the country and in many cases Central America," wrote an expat living in Playa Jaco.

"Costa Rica is considered to have very good medical care. Medical facilities are well-equipped, with many hospitals and clinics offering advanced medical technology and treatments. The country has attracted a number of foreign patients in recent years, particularly those looking for affordable medical services in a warm, welcoming environment. Costa Rica is also home to many highly trained, experienced medical professionals and the government is invested in providing quality health care for all its citizens. As a result, Costa Ricans enjoy and depend on access to excellent medical services," said an expat in Costa Rica.

"You will not be covered by the socialized health system until you have gained Temporary Residency which is presently taking over a year. Then, you will have to pay at least $220 per month for healthcare, even if you don't use it. Most expats chose to purchase additional insurance," said an expat in Costa Rica.

"I am eligible to enroll in the public health system. To do so, the expat must have their legal residence. The amount of the voluntary insurance is about US $ 40 a month (US $ 480 a year), and the registration process is simple. Generally, expats insure themselves, since it is an advantage to have a fairly wide network of public hospitals. Pre-existing conditions are covered. The quality of the public health service is debatable, as the times to get medical appointments are sometimes very long," commented one expat living in Santa Ana, Costa Rica.

"My experiences with the local healthcare system in Costa Rica during the pandemic have been generally positive. The government has taken proactive steps to ensure that the healthcare system is well-equipped to handle the influx of patients, including increasing the number of hospital beds and providing additional resources to medical personnel. The government has also implemented strict safety protocols to protect both patients and healthcare workers, such as mandatory mask-wearing and social distancing. Additionally, the government has provided free testing and treatment for those who are infected with the virus. Overall, I am impressed with the way the Costa Rican government has handled the pandemic and the level of care they have provided to their citizens," commented one expat living in Costa Rica.

"Mandatory masks, vaccines given to teachers, healthcare workers and the elderly. I am not hearing of anyone refusing the vaccine," wrote one expat.