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CathyM
Joined: 05 Jan 2005 Posts: 8 Location: Atlanta, GA USA
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Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2005 3:03 pm Post subject: Costa Rican Health Insurance |
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Can an ex-pat get health insurance in Costa Rica? Does I need insurance which covers pre-existing conditions. THanks for any info you can provide.
Cathy |
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CathyM
Joined: 05 Jan 2005 Posts: 8 Location: Atlanta, GA USA
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Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2005 2:34 pm Post subject: Getting health insurance in Costa Rica |
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I've done some more research on this and thought I would post my findings. If you need health insurance to cover you for a pre-existing condition seems like the best bet is to get on Costa Rica's public health insurance (CCSS). I am told the cost is only about $20/month and it covers medical, hospital, prescriptions, optical, dental incl. all pre-existing conditions. The downside is you can only use the affiliated doctors and institutions. You are assigned a general practitioner and only he can recommend a specialist, if one is required. Also, there are often long wait times for non-life threatening surgeries. And you don't get the individual time and attention you would at a private institution. But this is the only option that will let me get care for my pre-existing condition.
I am also going to pay a few hundred dollars per year for a supplemental private insurance through INS - Costa Rica's largest private insurance company (they have a website through which I found an insurance agent). That way if I need medical care for something UNrelated to my pre-existing condition I can choose my doctor, go to a private institution, etc. |
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CathyM
Joined: 05 Jan 2005 Posts: 8 Location: Atlanta, GA USA
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Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2005 4:33 pm Post subject: Change in policy about Costa Rican health insurance |
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Just found out that the policy has changed with regard to the CCSS - public health insurance in Costa Rica. Seems it is now only available to Costa Rican citizens, legal residents and refugees. |
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