Costa Rica Health Insurance

The Republic of Costa Rica is known as the Switzerland of Latin America due to its stability and safety. However, unlike the Swiss, Costa Rica has had no army since it was constitutionally abolished in 1949. The Central American nation borders Nicaragua and Panama, and consistently wins awards for its environmental awareness and high quality of life indicators, recently ranking first in the New Economics Foundation’s Happy Planet Index. As a former colony of Spain, Spanish is widely spoken in Costa Rica and is an official language along with indigenous languages Mekatelyu and Bribri. Costa Rica’s proximity to the equator give it a tropical climate, although temperatures vary depending on topography, which includes several peaks over 3,000 metres.

Consistent with its high quality of life rankings, Costa Rica’s health care indicators are generally strong. Life expectancy at birth for men is 77 years and 81 years for women. Costa Rica’s total annual per capita health expenditure is USD1,165, which makes up about 10.5 percent of its GDP. Costa Rica’s high quality of life, warm climate and relatively low cost of living have made it an increasingly attractive destination for retirees from North America and Europe. Its lower health care costs have also attracted medical tourists, mostly from North America. Costa Rica’s publicly funded health care system is considered adequate for basic care, but private clinics provide a higher standard of care similar to that of more developed countries. Tourists and expatriates may require an international health insurance plan.

Costa Rica Health Insurance & Health Care Indicators

Like in many advanced economies, the burden of disease in Costa Rica has shifted from communicable to non-communicable diseases, such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease, which now make up the majority of the burden of diseases. In terms of communicable diseases, malaria is still prevalent, but only in limited pockets of the country. The HIV infection rate is less than half of the global average, with 3 cases per 10,000 adults and tuberculosis afflicts 11 of every 100,000 Costa Ricans, which is about one twentieth of the global norm. Thanks to concerted efforts and focused investment in public health, Costa Rican women enjoy universal access to skilled health care professionals for childbirth. As a result, the maternal mortality rate of 44 per 100,000 live births is about one sixth of the global figure. Public health infrastructure investment also extends to the provision of clean drinking water, which is now almost universally available, even in rural areas. Similarly, improved sanitation facilities are available to nearly all Costa Ricans.

With Costa Rica’s strong economic growth has come a rise in the obesity rate, with about one fourth of Costa Ricans now classified as obese. Tobacco smoking is also a problem, particularly for men, one quarter of who are smokers. While Costa Rican hospitals and clinics are adequately staffed by global standards, with 13.2 doctors and 9.3 nurses per 10,000, they are far below the Americas averages of 22.5 doctors and 61.5 nurses. This is due to many talented physicians and nurses leaving the country in search of greater opportunity abroad. The World Health Organisation operates two collaborating centres in Costa Rica: one in San Jose focused on geriatrics and gerontology, and one in Heredia focused on research in epidemiology and toxicology. Health care is universally available in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica Health Insurance for Tourists and Expatriates

Costa Ricans are justifiably proud of their lifestyle, commonly described as “pura vida”, or “pure life”. Costa Rica has become increasingly popular as a beach holiday destination, particularly for surfers. But the fastest growing demographic group is retirees from North America (and to a lesser extent Europe). While Costa Rica is regarded as the safest country in the Americas, it is not without risks to health. Visitors should ensure that routine vaccinations are up to date, including rabies vaccines for those who plan to visit rural areas or caves and interact with wildlife. As mentioned, malaria remains prevalent in certain areas. Preventative measures including anti-malarial prescription drugs may be necessary depending on the traveller’s itinerary. Due to the powerful negative side effects of many anti-malarial drugs, consult with a physician to assess the malaria risk on your itinerary before taking pills.

More commonplace health concerns for travellers include diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting, as well as traffic accidents. Many of these illnesses are easily preventable and treated. Dengue fever and other insect borne illnesses are fairly common, as are health problems associated with sun exposure and heat. For serious medical emergencies, air lift evacuation may be required. This expensive procedure is not covered by local Costa Rica health insurance and will usually require an international health care plan.

Costa Rica Health Insurance International Health Care Plans

While the standard of basic health care in Costa Rica is generally quite high and inexpensive, there are many cases where it would be advantageous to have an international health care plan, including for emergencies, surgeries or terminal illness. However, with so many international health care plans available on the market, choosing the best option for you, your family, your company or your tour group can be challenging. Fortunately, the experienced advisors at Expat Medical Insurance are available to ensure that you, your loved ones and your colleagues receive the care they need, especially when the unthinkable happens. Expat Medical Insurance representatives are available 24 hours a day. Give your family the peace of mind they deserve and call Expat Medical Insurance today for more information.