Costa Rica Health Insurance

Private Medical Insurance for Foreigners Living in Costa Rica

Several health insurance options are available to expatriates, and choosing the right health insurance for foreigners in Costa Rica is an important part of protecting your well-being abroad. A global medical plan offers key advantages, most notably coverage for healthcare anywhere in the world, including your home country.

With international coverage, you gain access to a wider network of private healthcare facilities, often with shorter waiting times and higher standards of care. In short, a global medical plan helps ensure you receive high-quality treatment and dependable financial protection if you become ill or injured.

Best Health Insurance for Expats Living in Costa Rica

For all nationalities, Cigna Global is our most popular plan.

The Cigna Global Health Plan is a comprehensive, annually renewable plan for Costa Rican expatriate health insurance. This plan provides three plan levels: Silver, Gold, and Platinum.

The Platinum plan provides unlimited coverage, is renewable annually, and includes coverage for doctor office visits, prescription drugs, maternity, surgery, hospitalizations, diagnostic testing, lab work, emergency medical evacuation, repatriation, etc.

This plan will cover you worldwide, and you can choose to include or exclude U.S. coverage.

Best Health Insurance for US Citizens Living in Costa Rica

If you are looking for health care insurance for U.S. citizens living in Costa Rica, the BCBS Global Solutions Worldwide Premier Plan is a great choice.

This premier coverage offers comprehensive benefits, a global network of doctors, and access to the USA’s Blue Cross Blue Shield network of doctors and hospitals.

Best Insurance for Students in Costa Rica

International students in Costa Rica have a few options for coverage while in the country. You can review the travel visa insurance requirements and show proof of international student insurance plans for more information.

The Student Secure plan from WorldTrips is a great option for most students studying abroad.

Medical Insurance in Costa Rica – An Overview

For a small country, Costa Rica is mighty in healthcare. Costa Rica’s universal health insurance program routinely ranks among the upper 25% of the world’s top healthcare systems.

It’s also considered to have the best public health program in all of Latin America. Add in the gorgeous countryside, beautiful weather, and easy connections to North and South America, and it’s easy to see why foreigners living in Costa Rica love it!

For additional peace of mind, make sure you have health insurance in Costa Rica in case you need care.

Things To Know When Considering Insurance for Living in Costa Rica

We are often asked: Can I get health insurance in Costa Rica? Private medical insurance is an important tool for all foreigners living in Costa Rica.

Residency papers can take up to 18 months to be processed. You can’t be part of the Costa Rican healthcare system until you have your papers. It’s important to have your own independent coverage while you are waiting.

While researching expatriate insurance plans for Costa Rica, you might hear expatriates also speak about health discount plans.

Sometimes the two terms are used interchangeably, but health insurance plans and health discount plans are distinct.

Many physicians who work in the public Costa Rican healthcare system run their own part-time private practices. Because the public health system does not cover private practice visits, there is a cost associated with them.

A health discount plan is a budget-friendly tool that allows patients without INS or other private insurance coverage to plan out their costs of Costa Rican private healthcare.

You get a certain number of discounted appointments, blood tests, and X-rays each year in exchange for a monthly fee.

For patients who don’t have private insurance but still use private facilities, a discount plan can help them manage their medical costs.

How Much Does Costa Rica Health Insurance Cost?

The pricing for international health insurance plans in Costa Rica will vary based on a number of factors – your age, the benefits you select, deductibles, and other lesser factors.

The cost of health insurance can start as low as $100 per month and increase from there. The more expensive plans cost up to $1,000 per month and include comprehensive benefits with no deductibles.

The average cost of an international medical insurance policy in Costa Rica is between $300 and $700 per month.

Example costs:

• For a 30-year-old living in Costa Rica, a Cigna Global plan with the Outpatient module included costs between $321 and $648 per month, depending on the plan level.
• For a 30-year-old living in Costa Rica, an IMG Global Medical Insurance plan costs between $152 and $589 per month, depending on the plan level.

This pricing includes coverage in the USA, Costa Rica, and the rest of the world. Rates were last updated on April 10, 2024.

Coverage in Costa Rica, excluding the USA, will save you money.

• If you exclude medical care in the USA, an IMG Global Medical plan costs between $115 per month (for catastrophic coverage) and $475 per month.

Local plans, if you are eligible, will be less expensive. These plans will also be more limited in the number and range of doctors and hospitals you will have access to.

Local plans generally do not cover benefits outside of Costa Rica.

Costa Rica’s National Healthcare System

Universal health insurance and social security have been a part of Costa Rican society since the 1940s. The system is often referred to as “La Caja.”

This is a short form of “Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social” or the “CCSS”. The Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social is funded primarily through payroll taxes based on individual income. This usually amounts to 7%-11%.

In addition to La Caja, there is also “INS”. This is short for “Instituto de Seguro Nacional”. It is a form of private health plan run by the Costa Rican government.

INS coverage includes dental work, optometry, and annual check-ups. It also covers visits to private hospitals and clinics.

The government continues to invest in both systems, including funding new private hospitals, equipment, and staff hires.

Pros and Cons of Using the Local Health Insurance System

Costa Rica’s public medical program, La Caja, is popular and well-regarded for a good reason. The costs are low, and the system is well-managed. There is a strong emphasis on preventative care and community wellness.

Expats and Costa Ricans alike often opt to use a mix of public and private insurance programs. Certain procedures and treatments can have long wait times in the public system.

Thankfully, the public and private systems work well together. For instance, patients can have diagnostic imaging at a private facility to avoid long wait times. The results can be sent to their public doctor for follow-up.

And as the La Caja system covers prescriptions, private doctors will write prescriptions for La Caja pharmacies so patients can save money.

How Expats Living In Costa Rica Can Qualify For Medical Insurance

All legal citizens and those with residency papers are part of the Costa Rican public health insurance system. Note that there is a difference between simply residing in the country and having residency papers.

You have to be a legal resident in a residency program, such as a pensionado or rentista. North American “snowbirds” who fly south for a few months each winter to escape the cold might think of themselves as living part-time in the country.

However, that doesn’t mean they are eligible for residency. Like all visitors, they are eligible only for limited emergency care at a public Costa Rican hospital if they lack the means to pay.

Even if you’re certain, you’ll be using private insurance all the way; being part of the La Caja system isn’t optional.

Since 2010, it’s been mandatory for all residency applicants to become members of the La Caja system. And that’s not a bad thing.

Being part of the public system gives foreigners flexibility and options. For instance, there are no payments associated with public hospital emergency room visits.

However, some private Costa Rican hospitals want large cash payments up front just to be admitted.

What You Need To Know About Processes

As all international citizens know, the first step in any overseas process is paperwork! In Costa Rica, that means registering with your nearest government regional office.

They’ll want to see proof of your residency status. They’ll then direct you to your nearest EBAIS clinic.

You’ll have to register with them as well! But the steps are worth it, as they issue you your “carnet”, which works similarly to an insurance card.

How Routine Doctor Visits Work

For many Costa Ricans and long-term residents, a routine doctor visit doesn’t start with a doctor at all. In non-emergency situations, they simply visit the neighborhood pharmacy.

In Costa Rica, pharmacists are often referred to as “doctora” and are afforded a high level of respect. They are authorized to consult with patients and make recommendations.

If they suspect an underlying emergency or recommend a non-medication form of treatment, they’ll tell you where to go.

For everyday medical care, small community clinics known as EBAIS handle most non-emergencies. Many EBAIS clinics have an online appointment booking system. For those that don’t, appointments are made the old-fashioned way. You have to get up early and stand in line!

Costa Rica is a rare country where house calls remain a significant part of the medical system. Teams from the EBAIS visit different houses in the community to provide medical treatment to people who need it.

These are comprehensive visits that include everything from checking up on the patient’s vaccination records to assessing the health of their pets. Preventive care is everything in Costa Rica!

How To Find a Costa Rican Family Physician

In Costa Rica, the doctor finds you! Everyone is assigned to a local clinic based on geographic location. At your clinic, you’ll likely see the same practitioner for most visits, but other doctors might sub in from time to time.

Hospitals Accepting Health Insurance in Costa Rica

Clinica San Miguel
250 meters west of the Juan Santamaría Museum. 3rd Avenue, 6th and 8th Street, Alajuela, Costa Rica
Contact: +506  2442-5958

Clinica Santa Rita
Av. 8, González Lahmann, San José, Costa Rica (near the Supreme Court)
Contact: +506  2221-6433 / 2255-1618

Clinica Unibe
200 metros al este del ICE, San José, Tibás, Costa Rica
Contact: +506  2297-6300

Hospital Cima
Autopista Próspero Fernández, San José, San Rafael, Costa Rica
Contact: +506  2208-1000

Hospital Clinica Biblica
Av. 14, Laberinto, San José, Costa Rica
Contact: +506 2522 1000

Hospital Metropolitano
Merced, San José Province, San José, Costa Rica
Contact: +506 2521 9595

Hospital Cristiano Jerusalem
218 Hospital Jerusalén, El Alto de Guadalupe, 2.º piso Consultorio #1 Guadalupe San José CR, San José, 10801, Costa Rica
Contact: +506 2216 9191

Hospital Hotel La Catolica
Pilar Jiménez, San José Province, Guadalupe, Costa Rica
Contact: +506 2246 3000

Recommended Insurance Plans for Costa Rica

The Best Global Medical Plans for Costa Rica

Below are three of the most popular plans offering coverage to foreigners, expats, and retirees living in Costa Rica. Each one has different costs, benefits, and plan designs.

Once you request a plan, we will send you a quote along with a comparison of the other plans that best fit your needs, budget, and circumstances.

Costa Rica Travel Insurance

If you are just visiting Costa Rica, you must have travel health insurance.

These plans are strongly recommended to cover basic emergencies, medical evacuations, trip interruption, and other contingencies.

Before your arrival in Costa Rica, review your travel insurance options and purchase coverage that meets your needs. A few considerations include:

1. Does your travel insurance plan meet Costa Rican requirements for travelers?
2. Will you be participating in any adventure sports activities?
3. Will you be visiting for one week or several months?
4. Do you have a pre-existing medical condition?

Required Coverage for US Citizens Traveling to Costa Rica

For U.S. citizens and residents visiting Costa Rica, the BCBS Global Solutions Single Trip Platinum plan is ideal, especially if you need coverage for a pre-existing medical condition.

Coverage for International Citizens Visiting Costa Rica

The IMG Patriot Platinum plan covers all nationalities visiting Costa Rica. It covers COVID-19 like any other sickness and meets the requirements for entry into Costa Rica.