Medical insurance in Costa Rica

The answer to your first question depends upon the conditions set by your specific BC/BS plan. Some provide no coverage outside the U.S. Others will cover emergency care only. Ours provides emergency care outside the U.S. only for U.S. residents, not for residents of Costa Rica (which we are). Other plans may provide coverage, but you’ll probably have to pay cash for your care and submit your bills for reimbursement. So contact your BC/BS plan for the answer to this question. Then contact CIMA to see if they’ll bill directly.

Non-residents and legal residents can obtain health insurance from INS. Generally, INS will not cover pre-existing conditions, but in some cases they will with a hefty surcharge. You’ll have to apply to find out.

Once you are a legal resident of Costa Rica, you can enroll in the national medical care system, the CAJA. It will cover pre-existing conditions, but you must obtain your care from the CAJA’s clinics and hospitals. CIMA Hospital is not a CAJA provider. What’s more, you will find that not all medications are available from the CAJA pharmacies and there can be long waits for specialty services and elective surgeries.

A fourth alternative is to obtain international coverage from one of the many companies which offer it. These plans can be expensive and restrictive and nothing prevents them from denying your claim or disenrolling you if you make too many claims.

INS rates are determined by your age; I have the info if you would like.
Male and female premiums are different.
Do not have all the details on CAJA, however, in some cases your cost is based on individual or family income.

Harvey

Male – 58 is $1112 per yr; at age 60 is $1402.
Female-49 is $971, but increases to $1131 at age 50!

Rates before any surcharge for pre-existing conditions are applied.

Harvey

Once you turn 55, the rate for the CAJA actually goes down! We pay $40 per month for the two of us.