Healthcare in Costa Rica > Costa Rica Healthcare & Health Insurance FAQ > Does CAJA in Costa Rica cover pre-existing conditions?
Summary: Does CAJA cover pre-existing conditions?
In a thread about CAJA - national health care, an expat in Costa Rica answered these questions, "You are required to be a legal resident of Costa Rica. Once the application process is almost complete, it is mandatory that you become affiliated with CAJA. This process may take a year or more. Existing conditions and most Rx's are covered, although some are generic, however getting appointments with specialists and surgery can take a long time. Most expats also use private doctors/facilities."
Even after you become eligible for CAJA, many expats use a combination of CAJA and private medical care covered by private expat health insurance. This gives them the flexibility of seeing private doctors for more urgent or specialized treatment and using CAJA for more routine care.
Expats living in Costa Rica interested in expat health insurance should take a minute to get a quote from our trusted expat health insurance partner, CIGNA.
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Betsy Burlingame is the Founder of Expat Exchange. She launched Expat Exchange in 1997 as her Master's thesis project at NYU. Some of Betsy's more popular articles include 6 Best Places to Live in Costa Rica, 12 Things to Know Before Moving to The Dominican Republic and 7 Tips for Obtaining Residence in Italy. Betsy loves to travel and spend time with her family. Connect with Betsy on LinkedIn.
Updated On: Apr 27, 2019
First Published: Apr 27, 2019
Expatriate Health Insurance
Get a quote for expat health insurance in Costa Rica from our partner, Cigna Global Health.
Get a Quote
Healthcare in Costa Rica
Costa Rica is has both public and private healthcare systems. When you become a resident, you must enroll in the public healthcare system (CAJA). Many expats use the public system for routine healthcare and have private expat health insurance for specialists, surgeries and emergencies.
8 Things to Know Before Having a Baby in Costa Rica
Expats discuss their experiences giving birth in Costa Rica. Topics covered include public (CAJA) hospitals vs. private hospitals,high C-section rates, maternity coverage, dual citizenship, permanent residency for expat parents with babies born in Costa Rica, baby stores and formula options.
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Expats living in Costa Rica discuss health insurance and quality of medical care in Costa Rica.
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Answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about healthcare and health insurance for expats in Costa Rica.
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Additional information about healthcare and health insurance for foreigners in Costa Rica.
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Read recent healthcare reports submitted for: Grecia, Tamarindo and Cortez.
Answer Questions about Healthcare in Costa Rica
Help others moving to Costa Rica by answering a set of questions about health insurance, public healthcare in Costa Rica, prescription medicine, quality of medical care and emergency services.
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An expat mom in Costa Rica talks about her experiences finding a doctor, at the hospital, during childbirth and more.
If you're an expat parent who had a baby abroad, write a report about your childbirth experiences to help other expecting expat parents.
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