ExPats Enjoy Excellent Health Care Options

Health Care Overview

Costa Rica has earned a solid reputation as having some of the best healthcare in Latin America. There are two systems available to expats including the government-run universal healthcare system, Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social, known as Caja, and the private system. Both health systems are continuously being upgraded with new equipment and improvements in staff training. Costs are lower in comparison to those in the United States and even some European countries. Many doctors speak English, particularly in private practice, and have received training in Europe, Canada and the U.S.  Medical Tourism continues to be a popular draw due to positive perks like location and reputation. Costa Rica is an internationally acclaimed tourist destination.  

Public Health Care

The Costa Rica Social Security System or Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social in Spanish is in charge of most of the nation’s public health sector. As the administrator of health institutions here, it plays an important part in the national health policy making. Its services are available to all citizens and legal residents. Obligatory services include both preventive, like vaccination and fumigation,  and healing such as surgery, radiation therapy and clinical services.

Private Health Care

Costa Rica’s private hospitals and clinics offer high-quality medical care and generally cost less then in the U.S. Private insurance plans are available through the government-owned insurance company called INS.  These plans include dental work, optometry, well-visits and annual check-ups. 80% of the costs are covered for prescription drugs, certain medical exams, sick visits and hospitalization. Surgeon and aesthetician costs are covered at full cost. The four largest private hospitals in Costa Rica are CIMA in the suburbs of San Jose, Clínica Biblica in the center of San Jose, Clínica Católica and Hospital Clinica UNIBE in the suburbs of San Jose.

Medical Tourism

Costa Rica is a popular destination for medical tourism because of the beautiful surroundings, low costs, and medical reputation. Generally speaking, costs are reportedly 45-65% lower than what you would pay for equivalent services in the U.S. About 8.5 million people come every year to have some kind of procedure here. Dental Tourism and Cosmetic Surgery are part of this niche.

People who have cosmetic dentistry in Costa Rica are usually in awe of the personal care they receive. Specialists like including Orthodontists, Cosmetic dentists, Endodontics, Oral surgeons, Periodontics, Prosthodontics, Pedodontics—are well trained so you have peace of mind. All have sufficient experience, are members or affiliated to International Dental Institutions.

Plastic surgeons in Costa Rica usually study in some of the most prestigious plastic surgery schools in countries like the United States, Mexico, Europe and Brazil. Once they are back in Costa Rica they establish themselves with state-of-the-art technology and plush luxurious clinics. These clinics are sometimes integrated within the top private hospitals of San Jose like CIMA, Clinica Biblica and Clinica La Catolica. Most of the staff in these hospitals speak English and are used to dealing with foreign patients.

Imagine having a medical procedure done then taking time to recover in a lush rainforest setting or at a tropical beach with waterfalls nearby.