Costa Rica Health Insurance for Expats

International Health Insurance for Expats in Costa Rica

Expats looking for an extended relocation to Costa Rica can benefit from the country’s well-invested public and private healthcare sectors utilizing both the public and private health insurance scheme.

If you are moving or traveling to Costa Rica, learn more about the country’s healthcare and your health insurance options in Costa Rica in this practical summary by Pacific Prime. Read on to learn more, or click the button below to obtain a no-obligation, free quote.

Recommended International Health Insurance Plans for Expatriates Living in Costa Rica

Overview of the Healthcare System in Costa Rica

Costa Rica has a strong public and private healthcare system that works in tandem to provide medical services for the residents of the country. It is one of the top performers in health outcomes in the region, and healthcare coverage is highly comprehensive, covering 92% of the population.

The relative affordability of healthcare in Costa Rica is also a major draw for expats to relocate to this beautiful nation. If you are looking to relocate to Costa Rica, learn more about the country’s public and private healthcare system below.

Public Healthcare System in Costa Rica

Costa Rica has a solid public healthcare system that has been well-invested since the 1940s. Public healthcare is fully covered by the country’s public insurance and has a strong emphasis on primary community and family healthcare.

Public healthcare in Costa Rica can be divided into three levels: primary, secondary, and tertiary. Different healthcare facilities provide different levels of care.

Primary healthcare is provided at local health centers staffed by Primary Healthcare Teams (Equipos Báscios de Atención Integral en Salud or EBAIS), consisting of physicians, nurses, and technicians.

Health centers and EBAIS generally provide primary preventative and curative care as well as carry out health promotion and medical outreach activities.

Secondary healthcare in Costa Rica includes specialized consultations, hospitalization, and medical and surgical treatment for basic ailments in specialized fields. Secondary care is generally carried out by hospitals (peripheral and regional) and some health centers in Costa Rica.

Tertiary healthcare involves specialized services and complex medical and surgical treatment. Tertiary healthcare is carried out by general and specialized national hospitals, including specialized hospitals for women, and children, geriatric care, psychiatry, rehabilitation, and ambulatory care.

Costa Rica has outstanding health coverage and outperforms many of its Latin American neighbors in terms of physicians and medical staff per 1,000 population.

The country has 2.8 medical doctors per 1,000 population and 3.1 nurses and midwives per 1,000 population, which gives it a favorable comparison to many of its neighbors

The system, however, still has long waiting times due to outdated infrastructure and limited triage capability, prompting some patients to seek private healthcare with shorter waiting times, especially for services like diagnostic testing and elective procedures.

Public healthcare is also less flexible when it comes to which physicians you can see as you may not be able to choose physicians that see you at all.

Public Hospitals in Costa Rica

Hospital San Juan de Dios
Telephone: (506) 2547-8000
Address: Paseo Colón, Merced. San José

Hospital Mexico Hospital
Telephone: (506) 2242-6700, (506) 2232-1285, (506) 2242-6680
Address: Uruca. San José.

Hospital Dr. Rafael Calderón Guardia
Telephone: (506) 2212-1000, (506) 2212-1100, (506) 2212-1227
Address: Avenue 7-9th,15 -17th St Barrio Aranjuez, San José

Hospital Nacional de Niños Dr. Carlos Sáenz Herrera
Telephone: (506) 2523-3600, (506) 2256-0093, (506) 2223-1601
Address: 20th St, Ave 0, Paseo Colón, Merced. San José

Private Healthcare System in Costa Rica

Costa Rica has a strong private as well as public healthcare sector. Many expats find them to be a perfect complement for one another as private healthcare can provide speedy service where its public counterpart can’t.

For expats and Costa Ricans who can afford it, private healthcare can save time when it comes to things like diagnostic tests or elective procedures, which can take a long time at public hospitals.

Private healthcare also offers more flexibility when it comes to choosing which specialists or physicians you want to see. Major private healthcare providers will also have English-speaking staff to cater to expats who do not speak Spanish.

Another draw for private healthcare in Costa Rica is their modern and usually more comfortable facilities, compared to its public counterpart.

These are why you may find many expats opt to have the best of both, affordable primary care at health centers and speedy tests and procedures at private facilities.

Private Hospitals in Costa Rica

Hospital Metropolitano
Telephone: (506) 2521-9595
Website: https://metropolitanocr.com/en/en-hospital-metropolitano/

Hospital La Católica
Telephone: (506) 2246-3000
Website: https://hilc.cr/

Hospital Clínica Bíblica
Telephone: (506) 2522-1000
Website: https://www.clinicabiblica.com/es/

Hospital Cima
Telephone: (506) 2208-1000
Website: https://hospitalcima.com/en/

Hospital San Rafael Arcángel
Telephone: (506) 2690-5500
Website: https://www.hcsanrafael.com/en

Expat Health Insurance Options in Costa Rica

Expats who are looking for an extended relocation to Costa Rica will have the option of both public and private health insurance in the country. Many do not even choose. Many expats opt for a mixture of both as they generally can complement each other perfectly.

Costa Rica has a public universal healthcare system called ‘Caja’ which provides 100% coverage for all medical services received at public health facilities. Many expats use this for free primary care or initial consultation at local health centers.

Meanwhile, private health insurance can speed things up when it comes to diagnostic tests or specialized care at private facilities.

In this section, learn more about public and private health insurance options in Costa Rica, as well as the pros and cons of both.

Public Health Insurance in Costa Rica

Costa Rica boasts a universal healthcare system called Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS), commonly referred to as the “Caja.” This system offers 100% coverage for all medical procedures and prescription drugs, through the public hospital and clinic system, to all legal residents.

You must become a member of Caja if you are a permanent resident of Costa Rica. You are also automatically required to contribute to Caja if you are working for a Costa Rican employer.

All individuals employed in the formal sector will contribute to Caja via their payroll at the rate of 5.5% while employers and the government will contribute another 9.25% and 0.25% respectively.

Pensioners will have their Caja contribution calculated based on their pension incomes. Individuals who are independently employed can enroll via the Voluntary Health Insurance regime and contribute to Caja at the rate of 10.25% of their declared income.

Expats can enroll in Caja by bringing the following documents to the nearest government regional office:

• Proof of residency
• A passport
• A photocopy of the passport ID page
• A photocopy of your passport page that contains your entry into Costa Rica
• A registration request form filled out by your employer if you are working for a Costa Rican employer

Please note that while your Caja membership is being finalized, you must shoulder your own medical costs. This is why many expats opt to secure a private health insurance plan on top of the public health insurance option.

Certain limits to the Costa Rican public health insurance include:

• Long waiting times at public facilities
• Limited ability to choose your physician
• Only generic drugs and drugs made in Costa Rica are covered by Caja

Private Health Insurance in Costa Rica

Many expats find private health insurance to be a great supplement to public health insurance in Costa Rica. Expats often find comfort in knowing that they will always have access to English-speaking staff in private facilities.

Private health insurance can cut your waiting time short for most services that will generally require long waiting times at public facilities, such as diagnostic tests or non-emergency procedures.

Private health insurance can be exceptionally helpful while expats wait for their public health insurance membership to be finalized as they are likely to experience coverage gaps in the meantime.

For short-term and temporary visitors to Costa Rica, private health insurance will be crucial as the public scheme provides coverage for emergency medical services only.

How to Find the Best Private Health Insurance in Costa Rica

Pacific Prime, with over 20 years of experience in the insurance industry, is ready to assist travelers and expats in finding the best private health insurance plans that suit their needs and budgets.

If you are constantly on the move, you might need something more flexible and with greater coverage like international health insurance. If you are packing for a short trip, travel insurance, with dedicated coverage for travel mishaps, might be what you need.

Contact our insurance experts for a free, no-obligation plan comparison today, or read below for some recommended plans from top insurers we work with.

Best International Health Insurance Providers in Costa Rica for Expats

Allianz

Allianz offers comprehensive insurance plans for all expats’ needs. Riders are available to be purchased and attached to any basic policy that Allianz approves. These riders can offer coverage for accidents and other risks.

Some of the basic coverage for their plans includes:

AXA

AXA Global Health Insurance offers both short-term and long-term plans for expats and travelers, with comprehensive coverage for any medical needs.

Some examples of shared coverage by all AXA insurance plans include:

Cigna Global

Cigna Global provides flexible insurance plans to expats. They offer their members 24/7 access to a customer care team and access to any private hospitals and private clinics. Their plans are both customizable and comprehensive.

Cigna has a Silver, Gold, and Platinum plan with different levels of coverage. All three of these plans share several common key coverage benefits:

GeoBlue

Geoblue offers an Xplorer health insurance plan that comes in essential or premier. These plans were created for expats traveling from the United States for business, leisure, or study trips. Expats can choose plans that include the United States in their coverage or not.

Both plans have several deductible options. The annual medical maximums are $1,000,000 for Xplorer Essential and unlimited for Xplorer Premier.

Some shared features across all levels of plans are:

No matter what your budget is or what your requirements are, our professional consultants can match you with a policy that best fits you with a wide range of optional benefit packages including outpatient, inpatient, maternity, dental, specialist consultations, and many more.

Contact us today for a free consultation.

Health and Travel Advisory in Costa Rica

Costa Rica, in general, is considered very safe for expats and tourists. However, you should not overlook necessary precautions, especially when it comes to possible crimes and prevalent insect-borne diseases like Chaga’s Disease, Dengue, and Malaria.

Insect-Borne Diseases

Chaga′s Disease, Dengue Fever, Leishmaniasis, and Malaria are all insect-borne diseases. To prevent these sorts of diseases it is advised that insect repellent is worn, and mosquito nets are put over your bed at night.

Yellow Fever Vaccination

Proof of yellow fever vaccination is required if you are arriving in Costa Rica from countries in South America and Africa with reported risk of yellow fever virus transmission such as Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.

Recommended Vaccination

Apart from routine vaccinations, visitors are recommended to get vaccinations for COVID-19, Chikungunya, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Malaria, Measles, Rabies, as well as Typhoid for their visit to Costa Rica.

Crimes

Crimes, violent and petty, have been reported across Costa Rica, ranging from pickpocketing in popular tourist areas to armed robbery, murder, and sexual assaults. Visitors should always maintain situational awareness and avoid traveling to isolated areas as well as public displays of wealth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is healthcare free for foreigners in Costa Rica?

Permanent residents, as well as foreign workers formally employed by Costa Rican employers, can enroll in the Costa Rican public health insurance scheme (Caja) and receive free healthcare from public healthcare facilities.

Do I need health insurance to enter Costa Rica?

Health insurance is not legally required to enter Costa Rica, though it is prudent to have one. Costa Rican public healthcare provides free services to travelers only in case of medical emergencies, and medical repatriation can be expensive.

Is Costa Rica safe for expats?

Costa Rica is generally safe, though expats should be mindful of petty as well as violent crimes in the country. Petty crimes like pickpocketing are common in tourist areas, and there have been reports of violent crimes including sexual assaults and murders.