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Healthcare in Costa Rica — An Ex-pat’s Experience

by Jeanne in Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a popular destination for ex-pats—families, singles, and retirees with its low cost of living, relaxed lifestyle, and beautiful beaches. But what about healthcare? Ex-pats in Costa Rica can expect to receive quality medical care at reasonable prices.

Healthcare in Costa Rica is both affordable and reliable. The country's excellent public healthcare system provides free or low-cost services to all citizens and legal residents. In addition, private healthcare facilities offer quality care at far lower rates than in most North American countries.

From preventative care to urgent treatment, ex-pats can access good healthcare for substantially less than they would pay in the US or Canada. Out-of-pocket expenses can run no more than most deductibles in the US, making it possible for ex-pats to keep their medical costs down without sacrificing the quality of

care.

Get Access to World-Class Healthcare and Save Money

World-class healthcare is available in several larger cities, with excellent preventative and emergency medicine offered in almost all towns. For ex-pats living in Costa Rica, healthcare is provided through the public system or private health insurance.

While the public system provides free universal health care for all residents, private health insurance is often more comprehensive and can provide access to better facilities. Both systems offer a range of treatments and services, from general medical checkups to specialized care. Ex-pats can also take advantage of prescription discounts, such as MediSmart, home visits from doctors, and a wide range of other benefits.

Our Ex-pat Healthcare Experiences

We’ve had the visit a few doctors during our time here. We’ve seen an emergency room doc, a dermatologist, an ophthalmologist, and a primary care physician. With every experience, we have been more than satisfied with the doctor, the treatment, and the price.

1. Emergency room visit

A stomach bug that wouldn’t go away and was only getting worse. We went to the emergency room at Hospital Metropolitano and saw a doctor within 10 minutes. We were out within 45 minutes with three medications: antibiotic, probiotic, and anti-nausea.

Cost — $78.00 out of pocket

2. Annual physicals for baseline health assessment

Breast mammogram and ultrasound, thoracic x-rays and ultrasound x 2, Pap test, prostate ultrasound (no glove!), complete blood panel.

Cost — $600.00 total out of pocket.

*BONUS – We sat with the doctor for 1.5 hours to review every test and outcome. He

took us through what he saw, any recommendations, and a schedule for follow-ups.

Cost — $15.00

3. Ophthalmologist (not optometrist) – full eye exam + glasses.

Cost — $150.00

4. Dermatologist (we go to the doctor bi-annually for skin cancer screenings)

Complete body check for both of us. Removal of skin tags and pre-cancerous spots.

Cost— $350.00

The care we experienced, the time taken with us, the friendly service provided by everyone, and the cost have made our visits better than any medical treatment we experienced in the U.S.

Highly Trained Medical Professionals and Modern Facilities

Costa Rica has highly trained medical professionals who can provide the best possible care for patients, including being certified in advanced life support techniques. Also, the country boasts some of the region's most modern hospitals and clinics, with state-of-the-art equipment, techniques, and services that rival those found in North America and European countries.

Healthcare in Costa Rica is well-organized and designed to provide quality medical care to its citizens and residents. All citizens and legal residents are entitled to the same level of healthcare regardless of

their nationality or income through their social system, Caja.

*NOTE— Caja, short for Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS). The Costa Rican social security insurance program for wage-earning workers and their dependents. Membership includes payment of a % based on income levels.

The country has an extensive network of hospitals, clinics, and medical centers offering access to a wide range of specialists, sophisticated equipment, and affordable, comprehensive treatments. In addition, many medical professionals speak English well, so communication between patients and doctor is easy and effective.

Hospitals, Clinics, and Insurance

When moving to Costa Rica, proximity to good healthcare was one of our criteria for choosing where to live. We are in the Guanacaste region, the top northwest of the country. Our immediate area has excellent pharmacies (farmacias), clinics, and hospitals.

The closest big city, Liberia (the second largest city in the country after San Jose), has some of the best, more prominent hospitals for more extensive care. We chose to purchase International Insurance because we travel and want to ensure we’re covered wherever we are. We will reassess this insurance once we become residents of Costa Rica and can be members of Caja.

A Final Word

In Costa Rica, you get excellent care and are treated with kindness and professionalism. The medical staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and English is widely spoken throughout the country and in the medical industry.

Overall, Costa Rica's healthcare is an excellent option for those looking for quality medical care that won't break the bank. So, if you’re considering moving to Costa Rica, good healthcare is probably at the top of

your list, as it was for us. Costa Rica has excellent healthcare.

To your good health!

Pura Vida! 🌺