Insider's Guide to the Health System in Costa Rica

Costa Rica has a public and private healthcare system, both of which are available to foreigners. The public healthcare system is called Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS) and is used by both locals and foreigners. It is generally recommended for minor medical issues, but for serious medical emergencies and major surgery, people usually opt for private hospitals. Public hospitals in Costa Rica are generally well-equipped and staffed, but the wait times can be long.

Costa Rica's Public Healthcare System Costa Rica's public healthcare system is called Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS). It is available to both locals and foreigners, and is funded by taxes and contributions from employers and employees. It covers a wide range of medical services, including doctor visits, hospital stays, and prescription drugs. The cost of public healthcare is relatively low, and there are no additional fees for foreigners.

Costa Rica's Private Healthcare System Costa Rica's private healthcare system is used primarily by expats and expats and digital nomads. Private hospitals are well-equipped and staffed, and offer a wide range of medical services. The cost of private healthcare is higher than public healthcare, but the wait times are usually shorter. Private hospitals are recommended for serious medical emergencies and major surgery.

Costa Rica's Top Hospitals Hospital CIMA San José: Private hospital located in San José. Hospital Clínica Bíblica: Private hospital located in San José. Hospital La Católica: Private hospital located in San José. Hospital Nacional de Niños: Public hospital located in San José. Hospital San Juan de Dios: Public hospital located in San José. Hospital San Rafael Arcángel: Private hospital located in Alajuela. Hospital Médica Bíblica: Private hospital located in Heredia. Health Insurance Companies in Costa Rica The most popular private health insurers in Costa Rica are Blue Cross, Blue Shield, and Mapfre. These companies offer a wide range of health insurance plans, including plans for expats and expats and digital nomads. Expats and digital nomads typically use these companies, rather than specialized expat health insurance providers.

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Insider Tips from Expats in Costa Rica: How to Navigate the Health System I've lived in Costa Rica for a few years now, and I can tell you that it's definitely possible to live on $3,000 a month while still enjoying modern amenities. However, you'll need to be mindful of where you choose to live and make some adjustments to your lifestyle. Living in popular tourist destinations like Tamarindo or Manuel Antonio can be quite expensive, especially when it comes to housing and dining out. I'd recommend avoiding these areas if you're on a tight budget. On the other hand, more affordable locations include smaller towns like Grecia or Atenas, which are both located in the Central Valley. These towns offer a lower cost of living while still providing access to modern amenities like high-speed internet, supermarkets, and healthcare facilities. To make your budget work, you'll need to make some sacrifices. For example, you might need to rent a smaller home or apartment instead of a large house. Eating out at restaurants can also be quite pricey, so you'll want to cook at home more often and shop at local markets for fresh produce. Additionally, you might need to limit your travel within the country and opt for more affordable activities like hiking or visiting local parks instead of expensive tours. Overall, living in Costa Rica on $3,000 a month is doable, but you'll need to be mindful of your spending and make some adjustments to your lifestyle. By choosing a more affordable location and being conscious of your expenses, you can enjoy a comfortable life in this beautiful country, said one member living in Costa Rica.

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Still working on the local insurance. Today I go out of pocket. Still less expensive than US, commented one expat living in Nosara, Costa Rica, Costa Rica .

Medical and dental care are easily obtained, efficient, professional and relatively inexpensive here, mentioned one member living in Costa Rica.

We currently don't have healthcare insurance in Costa Rica, so we pay out of pocket for doctors and prescriptions. It is less than we were paying for deductibles in the United States. I have Medicare/Medicaid and would fly home for treatment, if needbe. However, we have applied for residency in C.R. and will be fully covered once we're approved, said an expat in Costa Rica .

The caja is randomly assigned and not really a great value for what you get, private care is better and expat insurance isn't inexpensive. I do better to have my home health insurance and pay cash for services in CR however the providers here are excellent, remarked one expat in Costa Rica .

I haven't had to use or access any medical services here (except for a Covid antigen test to fly back to the States administered by a private lab). Some medications are cheaper here and are OTC, but for the most part things are the same or more expensive here as they are in the States regarding medical coverage and cost of procedures (especially when you take into account the required Covid insurance rider set by the Costa Rican government), said one member living in Costa Rica.

Options are not centralized. Seems word of mouth is the only way to learn options, commented one expat who moved to Costa Rica .

Insider's Guide to the Health System in Costa Rica

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