Costa RicaTopic Title: Concerned about CAJA 13% premium
Author lindyluvsCR
Date Posted: 3/29/2017 7:33 PM
Amen Pacific Lots!!! We could NOT afford Obamacare. And my husband worked 60 hours a week.
And I do not know where this 13% amount came from, but my husband and I do not pay that much, and it is based on my soc sec which is not much more than $1000 per month. We only pay about $44 per month which is not 13%.
Author Kohl
Date Posted: 3/29/2017 6:22 PM
There has been small increases about twice a years since then, however it hasn't been reported in the media.
Unfortunately you won't know what your premium will be until the final step of the application process.
In an emergency situation, you will think the premium is worth it...
Author idegopg06
Date Posted: 3/29/2017 4:53 PM
Hello
I'm new so here is the dumb question:
The last posting to this subject was in 2014. Is there any recent news since then?
Author naturechild
Date Posted: 1/20/2014 1:40 PM
Pacific Lots, you may be unaware that your 'Health Care in Costa Rica" website page, is still quoting the old CAJA rates, of 2010 "... all expats must enroll and contribute to the CAJA system (about $37 - $55 per month per person, depending on age"
I see you have stated a more recent cost above, but sadly, it has risen a further 17%.
Author tecolote
Date Posted: 1/16/2014 10:34 PM
I have to shake my head: After spending many, many hours over the past several years thinking seriously of moving to CR, reading books, forums, and more, the CAJA "premium" that expats are now being charged -- whether they want the service of not -- is quickly drawing a line through CR as a viable retirement destination for my wife and me.
The previous year's 13% of reported income is clearly variable at the discretion of the interested party, the government.
This fact makes retirement planning too uncertain for many: After the considerable expense of moving to CR, perhaps buying property, living through the time-consuming chore of an international move, it's very possible that in a few years, or less, the percentage charged to expats may rise and outdistance our means, or our willingness to pay through the nose for a service we don't want.
Costa Rica is being very short-sighted in their exploitative willingness to dig deeply into expat pockets for a medical service perhaps relatively few wish to have at the cost they must pay.
For my wife and me, the writing is on the CR wall, and we are reluctantly drawing a line through our Costa Rica dream.
Author Kohl
Date Posted: 1/16/2014 9:52 AM
Article this morning in the TicoTimes, which doesn't clear up questions...or provide answers.
http://www.ticotimes.net/2014/01/15/change-in-calculation-of-monthly-deductions-confuses-cajas-insurance-holders
Author Kohl
Date Posted: 1/16/2014 8:59 AM
On the local news yesterday, it was mentioned by a leading candidate for the upcoming election, that fixing CAJA's woes, is #2 on the election agenda.
It was also stated in a email to those also receive a CCSS IVM pension, that more of these large increases will occur of the next few years due to many not paying what they should.
Author Kohl
Date Posted: 1/13/2014 1:43 PM
If you are ALREADY in the system, the cost has increased by almost 17%.
It is IMPOSSIBLE to say 'exactly' what percentage, people will be charged, when they are eventually able to affiliate with CAJA, as the percentage rate, based on their income declaration, 'is all over the place'.
Author jwil1634
Date Posted: 1/13/2014 1:02 PM
To echo Sherman's question, please clarify: Did the premium increase TO 17% or did it increase BY 17%??
Author jwil1634
Date Posted: 1/13/2014 1:02 PM
To echo Sherman's question, please clarify: Did the premium increase TO 17% or did it increase BY 17%??
Author Kohl
Date Posted: 1/13/2014 9:06 AM
Since there was no article explaining the increase, all we have been able to find out is that Residents with existing accounts with CAJA, is that they have risen, just under 17% as of January 1st.
Author shermanwc
Date Posted: 1/13/2014 9:01 AM
Just to make sure I understand: the Caja premium has increased by 17% meaning 1.17 x 0.13 = 0.152. i.e. the new rate is 15.2% of income vs 17% of income?
Author Kohl
Date Posted: 1/13/2014 8:28 AM
Sorry to say, there is no link announcing the raise. ...but on many forums, and by discussions in person, the fees have risen, just under 17%.
A new resident who received his resolution and cedula, as of Dec, paid one payment, then in Jan, his too, had gone up by the 17%.
Author Junebug
Date Posted: 1/12/2014 6:19 PM
Kohl,
I'm a little confused by your statement. Are you saying the CAJA has gone up another 17% for those who already pay into the system? Can you post a link to this info? That would be very helpful. We know about the 13% which for us, as future rentistas, would be $325 (for a couple). Pretty steep. Another increase would probably be prohibitive for us in terms of living in CR.
Thanks.
June
Author positivlysmb
Date Posted: 1/9/2014 2:20 PM
Under the ACA (affordable care act), I pay $36.85 per month, a one-time $500.00 deduct. After deduct., no charge for any medical service. I have decided against CR, and will now consider Panama. Please stay in CR.
Author Kohl
Date Posted: 1/7/2014 8:06 AM
Increase this month, to already established CAJA rates, have gone up, reportedly another 17%.
How this will effect a new resident, I have no idea.
Author LanaCR
Date Posted: 1/4/2014 4:25 PM
For us in our late50th, private INS insurance is $100 for man and& 120 for a woman
Now some examples from the life Without any insurance in CR:
For example, I had to have blood work in July in a private lab 2 km from our place $ 80.00. Chest XRay &26, ECG- $ 20, including interpretation within 30 minutes. Small dermatological surgery the same day as appointment all together $200.
Dental is much cheaper then Canada or USA
For example, root canal $300 vs$ 1,000
We really believe that quality of services we have received also so much better and faster.
Author bluewind
Date Posted: 1/3/2014 6:25 PM
I was considering a move to CR, but with this having to pay into a system that I will never use certainly makes a difference, especially in a country where the cost to live there keeps going up. Panama is now considering placing a tax on foreign earned income also. Looks like CA has decided a way make a lot of money is to sock it to expats. Really sad, because both countries are beautiful, but if I have to watch every dime I spend to just get by, it just isn't worth it.
Author shermanwc
Date Posted: 1/3/2014 5:56 AM
You have valid concerns. Dealing with health insurance was one of our most difficult tasks when we moved to CR in May of 2013. We've opted for a global private insurance policy with a high deductible that has limits or exclusions for several pre-existing conditions for my wife and I (but includes coverage in the USA). We will self-pay most costs for now, using the policy only for "major medical". We will not be eligible for Medicare for two more years, so we will likely re-evaluate when we can get Medicare.
We have applied for residency and will eventually have to pay into CAJA. We still plan to have private insurance, but some things that CAJA can be used for effectively are: prescription drugs (if approved), lab tests such as blood work, and emergency care.
CAJA is a bit like Social Security & Medicare in the USA in that you are required to pay into the system. But I agree that it is frustrating to be forced to pay for generally ineffective medical services, outside of emergency care.
I think that CR sees expats as a source that can be tapped for extra income into their system.
Author tecolote
Date Posted: 1/3/2014 12:58 AM
Thanks for the replies.
From what I've read about CAJA, its long waiting times, aging facilities, etc., it's hard -- at least from my perspective -- to justify having to pay nearly $300 a month, for a couple, for insurance my wife and I would not likely use.
Since we're retired, we need to compare what we presently pay for health coverage here in the U.S.: a little over a hundred a month each for Medicare, and zero premium for a Medicare Advantage plan that covers virtually everything with very low copays ($0 to see a primary care doctor, $20 for a specialist, $0 for lab work, no deductible, Rxs from $4/mo for Tier 1 drugs, etc.)
Of course there's a great deal more to life than health insurance, but it is undeniably one important factor, especially for retirees.
Costa Rica's decision to force all expat permanent residents to pay 10-13% of their stated incomes is, for us, and I think for a good many would-be expats, not an incentive to move there.
I wonder if this policy is due to CR's wish to limit the number of new expats. If not, it's going to accomplish that to some extent.
Author Kohl
Date Posted: 12/19/2013 9:57 AM
Even if you have multiple pensions, you are only required to use what you declared for residency. And the percentage is from 10 -13%, so you can hope for the best...
CAJA in an emergency situation is a great thing to have even if you wish to use private facilities for your general health care.
Author PacificLots
Date Posted: 12/19/2013 9:09 AM
sorry got cut off,
our policy with a $10,000 deducible (each person) has a monthly premium of $625. That policy does not pay a dime until I had to spend $10,000 in health care coverage. (okay so that will be the cost of having my blood pressure checked and looking down my throat) but do realize the cost of the Caja is SUPER CHEAP when you realize it includes healthcare. Go back to the states and see what you have to pay under Obamacare!
Author PacificLots
Date Posted: 12/19/2013 9:06 AM
It is 13% of the amount of income you specified when you applied for residency in Costa Rica. So if you showed income of $1000 per month per couple when you applied for residency, it is $130 per month to the Caja. If you showed $2000 per month, it is $260 per couple to the Caja. My Blue Cross Florida Blue policy is in front of me right now, covering two of us, in our 40's and 50's non smokers, with a
Author PacificLots
Date Posted: 12/19/2013 9:05 AM
It is 13% of the amount of income you specified when you applied for residency in Costa Rica. So if you showed income of $1000 per month per couple when you applied for residency, it is $130 per month to the Caja. If you showed $2000 per month, it is $260 per couple to the Caja. My Blue Cross Florida Blue policy is in front of me right now, covering two of us, in our 40's and 50's non smokers, with a
