The Costa Rica Real Estate Expert

Last updated February 12, 2008 

Costa Rica has an excellent healthcare system that consists of private and public (government run) medical facilities.

Here is an ever-expanding list of medical facilities throughout Costa Rica:

Cartago

Clinica Biblica (satellite site)
Phone:  506-551-0511

Doctor on site, as well as a pharmacy. 

Heredia

Clinica Biblica (satellite site)
Phone:  506-260-4959

Doctor on site, as well as a pharmacy.

Jaco

Clinic CARE
Phone:  506-643-4300
Email:  emergenciascare@racsa.co.cr

This is a private clinic intended primarily for emergency care, also offering ambulance transport services to larger facilities in San Jose.

Clinica Hospital Santa Catalina (satellite site)
Phone:  506-643-5059
Email:  info@gruposantacatalina.com
Website:  http://www.gruposantacatalina.com/eng/index.php
Location:  400 este Pops Jacó, Puntarenas

This is a satellite facility of the much larger Clinica Hospital Santa Catalina located in San Jose.  This facility boasts many English speaking, qualified dentists and doctors

San Francisco de Dos Ríos

Clinica Biblica (satellite site)
Phone:  506-218-0035

Doctor on site, as well as a pharmacy.

Clinica Hospital Santa Catalina (satellite site)
Phone:  506-218-1717
Email:  info@gruposantacatalina.com
Website:  http://www.gruposantacatalina.com/eng/index.php

Location:  San Francisco de Dos Ríos, del parque Okayama 50 sur

This is a satellite facility of the much larger Clinica Hospital Santa Catalina located in San Jose.  This facility boasts many English speaking, qualified dentists and doctors

San Jose

Clinica Biblica (main facility)
Phone:  506-522-1000 or 800-911-0800
Fax:  506-258-7184
Email:  info@clinicabiblica.com
Website:  http://www.clinicabiblica.com
Insurance:

• Blue Cross/Blue Shield
• Cigna International
• Aetna Global
• United HealthCare
• Prudential
• Humana
• Secure Horizons
• See more…
• Expects to be affiliated with Medicare in 2008

Staffed with highly trained doctors.  Facilities include an ER, maternity ward, MRI equipment, and a lab.  The hospital is currently adding a large, new wing. 

Clinica Biblica also has an International Department to specifically provide excellent customer service tailored to the foreigner.  They also have a corporate partnership with HomeWatch, which provides specialized home care services for the elderly, patients recovering from surgery, people recovering from plastic surgery, and a host of other situations.  Check with your long term care insurance plan to see if they will cover the services from HomeWatch.

Clinica Catolica (a.k.a. Hospital La Catolica)
Phone:  506-246-3000
Fax:  506-283-6171
Email:  info@clinicacatolica.com
Website:  http://www.hospitallacatolica.com/eng/indexeng.html
Location:  Guadelupe, suburb of San Jose.

Complete hospital and emergency services 24/7. 

Clinica Hospital Santa Catalina
Phone:  506-250-5059
Website:  http://www.gruposantacatalina.com/eng/index.php
Location:  Costado Este de la plaza de deportes de Gravilias, Desamparados, San José

This private hospital provides emergency services, dentistry, opthalmic services, gynecology, dermatology, cardiology, and a number of other medical services.  They also boast a medical imaging center and a pharmacy which is open 24/7. 

Clinica Hospital Santa Catalina also has satellite offices in San Francisco and Jaco.

Hospital CIMA San Jose
Phone:  506-208-1000
Fax:  506-208-1001
Email:  cima@hospitalcima.com
Website:  Click here to view the English version of CIMA’s website, translated by Google.
Location:  Escazu of San Jose.  See map.

CIMA is the most well known medical facility in all of Costa Rica, and for good reason.  It was built around 2000 and is affiliated with Baylor University in Texas.  CIMA has all the modern conveniences of a hospital in North America, with high tech equipment and well trained doctors and nurses.

CIMA provides emergency services, surgeries, laboratory services, psychiatry, physiotherapy, medical imaging, a pharmacy, and numerous other services.

San Pedro

Clinica Biblica (satellite site)
Phone:  506-283-6058
Location:  San Pedro mall

Doctor on site, as well as a pharmacy.

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Have you ever heard of the term medical tourism?  If you haven’t, I wouldn’t be surprised if you hear about it very soon in the media.  Medical tourism is a somewhat new phenomenon - new, within the last 5 years - where many people are choosing to travel overseas for medical treatment that would otherwise, pardon the pun, cost them an arm and a leg at home.

Sounds crazy?  Maybe not so much, especially when many people in the US cannot afford costly procedures without health insurance.  Or in Canada, maybe they can’t wait months for a lifesaving - or lifestyle-saving - surgery.  With medical tourism, they now have other options that may be a better fit for them.

Costa Rica’s High Quality Healthcare

In the many articles that I have read about medical tourism, Costa Rica is often mentioned as one of the countries that many people travel to for medical treatment.  It is one of the favored countries because of it’s high quality of medical care.  Many of the doctors are trained abroad and return to their country.  They do not get paid as much as they would if they worked in the country where they received their medical education, but the cost of living is much lower, as are medical insurance expenses.

There are also many modern private medical facilities in Costa Rica, some with affiliations to US schools or businesses.  For example, CIMA in the community of Escazu in San Jose, is affiliated with Baylor University Medical Center in Texas.  Interestingly, CIMA will accept most major US and European health insurance plans, though you can pay cash for medical services.  Even when paying cash, it’s still reasonable.

Incredible Cost Savings

Many people who do travel abroad for medical treatment do so for plastic surgery or even dental work.  Patients can get these treatments at a fraction of the cost of what they would spend in the US - even after airfare and lodging.  Other medical tourists choose their treatment abroad because the treatment they want may not be available in their home country, or just too exorbitantly expensive.  Medical tourists can see savings of 15% - 85%, and they are happy with the work.

Medical Tourism Presents Business Opportunities

In my opinion, the growth that is being seen in the medical tourism industry presents some unique opportunities for entrepreneurs.  Facilities are needed for medical tourists for pre- and post-treatment care.  There are opportunities for providing these facilities, as well as medical office buildings for the growing industry.  If you are an investor, developer, or entrepreneur, give me a call and let’s chat about these possibilities!

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Costa Rica is a Latin American paradise.  Bountiful with breathtaking beaches, exotic flora and fauna, friendly people, and an endless list of activities and unique sights, Costa Rica can satisfy almost any adventurer’s desire.Over the years, many North Americans have come to visit and fall in love with Costa Rica, finally choosing to retire or move there.  They not only loved this tropical paradise, but they also loved the lower cost of living, the comfortable environment, and the ease of attaining long term residency.

There is also another reason why they chose to retire in Costa Rica - high quality, inexpensive healthcare.

High Quality Healthcare

When most people consider buying foreign real estate, the thought very soon crosses their minds as to the quality and accessibility of healthcare in the foreign location.  This is a VERY important concern, as no one wants to get sick away from home and have to worry about the medical care that they will receive. 

Well, the good news is that Costa Rica’s healthcare system rates highly among the healthcare systems of the world - in fact, it is rated above America’s healthcare system!  The Costa Rican government directs large amounts of money into their healthcare system so that everyone can obtain affordable healthcare.  The proof though, is in the pudding - Life expectancy is high at nearly 77, and infant mortality rates are low at 10.6 for every 1000 births.

The Best of Both Worlds - A Hybrid Medical System

In Costa Rica, medical care is provided at either public or private facilities.  Both provide high quality medical care, but you oftentimes have to deal with a fair amount of red tape at the public facilities.  The private facilities are typically more modern, though the current system is currently undergoing some expanding and modernizing all over Costa Rica.

Medical Insurance

It is possible to purchase medical insurance through a Costa Rican government agency called the Costa Rican Instituto Nacional de Seguros (INS).  This insurance is inexpensive compared to most American policies, running from $600 a year for men up to age 59, to $1350 a year for women ages 60-75.  This allows the insurance holder to choose their own doctors and get their care at private facilities, with the INS covering 70% of the medical bill.

Of course, another option is that foreigners can sometimes use private insurance from their home countries.  However, some research is required to determine whether your insurance plan can in fact be used in Costa Rica.  For the most part, most private medical facilities in Costa Rica do make a concerted effort to work with international insurers.

A final option is to use no insurance at all, and to opt instead to pay cash.  This really isn’t a bad option, as prices for medical care are a fraction of what they are in the US.  For example, prices for one night in a single room with adjustable bed, cable TV, phone, a daybed for a companion, and nursing care at the top 3 private medical facilities in San Jose range from $115 to $182.

Prescription Drugs

Prescriptions are easy to fill as pharmacies are plentiful.  Though, you should make sure that your prescription is for a generic drug, instead of a brand name.  Oftentimes, some drugs do not even require a prescription, unless they are an antibiotic, narcotic, or psychotropic drug.  And here is something different - pharmacists oftentimes will even diagnose you and recommend appropriate treatment!  Of course, that would be for minor, non-life-threatening ailments!

No one wants to have to visit the doctor or go to the emergency room when they are away from home, but knowing that your healthcare needs are attended to when you are abroad brings peace of mind and allows you to enjoy yourself worry-free.  And that’s what Costa Rica is all about - Pura vida!

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