Costa Rica is a very healthy country. Costa Rica’s health status is comparable to that of developed nations. The country’s private health clinics have international fame and attract people from around the world for everything from dental care and ocular laser surgery to major cosmetic surgery and life extension treatments.
Costa Ricans are proud of their nation’s achievements in the field of health care. Their up-to-date, affordable, state-run “cradle to grave” health care system reaches all levels of society by offering the same medical treatment to the poor as those with greater resources. Hospitals, clinics and complete medical services are available in all major cities and some small towns. More than 90 percent of the population is covered by the Social Security System.
Hospitals have the latest equipment, and laboratories are excellent. You can feel safe having most operations without returning to the United States or Canada. Most surgical procedures cost only a fraction of what they do in the United States. For example, a heart bypass operations costs about a third of what it does in the United States.
Most Costa Rican doctors are excellent and have been trained in Europe or North America. If you don’t speak Spanish, you don’t have to worry. Many local doctors speak English, but most receptionists and nurses do not. Doctor’s fees for office visits vary. A good private specialist usually charges between $30 and $40 for each visit, although some doctors charge a little more and others a little less.
If you have to enter a private hospital, costs will generally be well under a $100 a day. This includes a spacious private room with bathroom and cable TV with English channels. Private and semi-private rooms often have an extra bed or sofa bed so a relative may spend the night, if necessary. It is important to know that the doctor’s bill will always be separate from the hospital bill.
Costa Rica’s health care system is available to retirees (pensionados and rentistas) and other foreign residents. Residents may join the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (Costa Rican Social Security System) and enjoy the same inexpensive medical coverage as most Costa Ricans do. There are clinics all over the country. At a low cost of no more than $60 monthly, the Caja is a good deal for foreigners.
The quality of dental work in Costa Rica is equal to that found in Europe, Canada or the United States. On the average, dental work costs about 25 to 30 percent less than in the United States. Most dentists charge about $35 for an initial exam. The approximate costs of the most common cosmetic procedures are: wisdom tooth surgery $175, single root canal $150, new crown $250, implants $750, fillings about $30 per tooth, and regular tooth extraction $40.
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