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My wife and i had an appt. with their version of a lyme disease doctor, an infectologist..on the phone the consultation was supposed to be $56 after we finished the person collecting the money(receptionst) charged us 40,000 colones which was about $72 bucks..I tried to give her a 100 bill and she had no american dollars change..when she gave me back colones it seems the bill now was closer to $76 …we got a receipt and i will take it up with the doc next visit..the doc wanted us to get the lab(blood)test there or at a list of other places we were provided with..my landlady told me to go locally it would be cheaper and that the doc was probably getting a commission on the tests..the cima pharmacy wanted $38 bucks for the meds..a local place in heredia $32….it seems true that there are two prices for everything in this country a TICO PRICE and a GRINGO PRICE.. having a good tica landlady helps
It is common knowledge – as your landlady confirmed – that the pharmacy at Hospital CIMA charges more than most local pharmacies. This applies to everyone, it is nothing whatsoever to do with Tico and Gringo prices…
I have been in and out of CIMA Hospital with both of my parents on a number of occasions and my lady spent quite some time there after a serious fall early last year which resulted in surgery. For the most part, the people at Hospital CIMA has been very good to us…
Scott Oliver – Founder
WeLoveCostRica.comThank your lucky stars they ONLY charged you the “gringo” price… if they charged you the American Medical care/Lab test/Drug price…. you’d be looking for a mortgage to pay it off! LOL
According to my American board-certified endocrinologist who is based at CIMA, clinical laboratories in Costa Rica are not regulated in the same manner as those in the U.S. They may be licensed, but there is no quality assurance program that’s administered by the government or any other outside entity. The endocrinologist asserts, however, that CIMA’s lab has its own very strict quality assurance program.
So while it is obviously true that your local lab may be a few dollars cheaper for any given test, what is not clear is the accuracy of their findings. In my own experience, my local lab here in Grecia returns results from A1c testing (used to manage diabetes) that is consistently half a percent lower than CIMA’s lab’s results.
Half a percent may not sound like much, but in the management of diabetes it is.
I have been to CIMA a few times myself, best hospital experience ever. Even the food in the restaurant was quite decent. I certainly saved a few thousand dollars and the care and personal attention from the doctors was numero uno!
I, too, give the ‘thumbs up’ to CIMA. At least at either of the private hospitals down town you usually get the results with a few hours, which is not so at other clinics. Then you just go back up to discuss the results with the doctor, which is include in the cost. And as mentioned, no ‘gringo’ pricing at either CIMA or Biblica.
If you price was quoted a few weeks ago, the dollar fluctuation would result in the higher price.
Meds can be picked up at your choice as many offer cash discounts.can’t complain about the price of tests..had 17 tests done on one vile of blood came out to be about $170 bucks in heredia..the landlady says the docs get a kick back from the labs they send you to..i don’t know i’m new here…don’t mind paying a little more for convience…just don’t like being taken for a chump…new yorkers are like that lol..ANYWAY , who can be sure ..maybe yes maybe no..still love the country and it beats the crap out of how we were treated in NEW YORK.. about THERE i could REALLY tell you horror stories
. . . and I’m confident that your landlady can back up her allegations with some objective evidence, right?
We have been using CIMA since they opened almost 8 years ago and have been thru child births, serious emergencies, minor surgeries and routine visits. They have been more than pleasant, professional and reasonable. While prices have risen over the years what prices haven’t? Yes pharmacy is more expensive, I use my local, blood work isn’t that much more than the lab in Santana so depends what it is to warrant driving back and forth. I am thankful we have it here at a price I can generally afford to pay cash… could never have in the states for 2 emergencies we had. In many instances (not at an establishment such as CIMA) the gringo price is generally for those who don’t say NO and walk away… thing is here you bargain… it’s fun 🙂 Kind of like China Town, offer back a little less than half… your sure to arrive at a good price for both… having a copy of Attorney Roger Petersen’s book “The Legal Guide To Costa Rica” is also a great help to the newcomer for understanding the wages for different professions so you can then figure what labor cost should be etc…
Cheers!
are you saying that AFTER you go to a hospital you can negotiate the price..but YOU CANNOT do that at cima? is this for office visits too?
My husband and I both ended up going to CIMA for emergency situations this year, and we really are 1000% thrilled with the medical care, hospital cleanliness, friendliness and cost. I know folks who come to Costa Rica especially FOR health care, and I can see why.
It’s easy to get a little indignant over Gringo vs Tico pricing, but if you ever try to run a business Tico style, with Tico customers and what they can afford based on their incomes, you can see easily that the dual price schedules are quite fair and we have no complaints. Minimum wage in Costa Rica is several times lower than in the U.S.
All the best, Katalan
Could somebody tell me the best insurance to get in CR or is it best to have Global emergency…of course, Global doesnt include anything BUT catastrophic with air evacuation……..we moving there soon and have been told about the great socialized medicine BUT now its time to leave and we are hearing otherwise…do we need the states/cananda insurance? HELP and THANX
Things to consider: You cannot enroll in the national health system (the CAJA) unless you are a legal resident or citizen.
Your U.S.-based Blue Cross/Blue Shield may very well afford you coverage in Costa Rica although you’ll have to pay the bills and be reimbursed.
INS’ health insurance plans are age-based and they generally do not cover pre-existing conditions. Some exceptions may come with a hefty surcharge.
If you buy a health insurance policy from an international insurer, who will enforce the terms of the policy? What court will you sue them in when they reject a claim or cut you off?
The recently-enacted CAFTA enabling legislation will open up the Costa Rican health insurance market to companies other than INS, but so far no other company is doing business here (at least none that I’m aware of).
Hopefully it should open up soon David, I own the following domain names:
http://www.CostaRicaCarInsurance.com
http://www.CostaRicaHealthInsurance.com
http://www.CostaRicaHouseInsurance.com
http://www.CostaRicaLifeInsurance.com
http://www.CostaRicaMedicalInsurance.comThe sites are not operational yet but I can’t wait to get my teeth into a new project …
Scott Oliver – Founder
WeLoveCostaRica.comPS. There is another Panamanian insurance company that has gone through the process to sell insurance here but now that I think of it, I cannot remember their name…
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