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Costa Rica | Are healthcare and health insurance expensive in Costa Rica? | Digital Nomad Exchange
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Are healthcare and health insurance expensive in Costa Rica?

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William Russell
William Russell
William Russell
William Russell

When we asked expats in Costa Rica if healthcare and health insurance are expensive in Costa Rica, they wrote...

"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," remarked another expat in Costa Rica.

"I was paying around $100 a month for my INS policy, but crossed into the next age bracket plus filed a few claims and my premium doubled. It was still a good deal, but too much for me. The Caja tax is around $100 a month for a pensionado, unfortunately much higher for rentistas. It's set by your income, and most expats just pay according to the income requirements of their residency type. Caja services, including generic prescription meds, are 100% covered, so you never pay more than your monthly tax. Private docs are realistically $80 a visit. You hear of lower prices, but if you go to a specialist (including an internist) plan on $80. As a rule of thumb, pretty much everything else is around 1/3 the price it is in the US," said a member in San José, Costa Rica.

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About the Author

Joshua Wood Joshua Wood, LPC is one of the Founders of Digital Nomad Exchange and serves as Co-President of Expat Exchange. Prior to Expat Exchange and Digital Nomad Exchange, Joshua worked for NBC Cable (MSNBC and CNBC Primetime). Joshua has a BA from Syracuse and a Master's in Clinical and Counseling Psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Mr. Wood is also a licensed counselor and psychotherapist.

Some of Joshua's articles include Pros and Cons of Living in Portugal, 10 Best Places to Live in Ireland and Pros and Cons of Living in Uruguay. Connect with Joshua on LinkedIn.

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