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Following the discussion about some emergency cardiac treatment at [ https://www.welovecostarica.com/members/cfmbb/messages.cfm?threadid=A4778832-24E8-5ED2-F1F44D69D2443F28 ]
Has anyone investigated the availability and cost of catastrophic medical insurance in Costa Rica? What I’m thinking about would be an “inpatient only” policy that might have (say) a $5,000 or $10,000 deductible.
Obviously, paying the first $5k or $10k would be a hit, but it would be better than Sue and Chris’ experience which, had there been complications, could have been worse still.
Excellent questions David. We checked with Scott’s “most recommended” insurance guy before arriving and of course found out that pre-existing conditions are non-starters with everything he carried. Plus, with the INS there appeared to by a one-year exclusion, but INS doesn’t cover us when we are back in the States. This will continue to be a wretched problem even when we qualify for CAJA. We are not yet age-qualified for Medicare and won’t be for a few years.
Sigh……still prisoners of health insurance! It never seems to end.
[quote=”sueandchris”] but INS doesn’t cover us when we are back in the States. [/quote]
I understand that there is a INS policy for both “Regional” (Latin America), and “International” (worldwide). Of course they both still have the pre-existing exclusions.
Although we are full time residents here in process (entramite) for temporary residency as pensionados, I have initiated a new travel policy:
1. we are generally heading to either Tampa or Atlanta so we travel on JetBlue to Orlando, and this is “key” to the overall plan because the cost is so low.
2. if necessary (see #6 below) I start by purchasing a one way ticket from SJO to the States.
3. then I buy a round trip ticket on the dates we want to return to CR, and a date several months forward for about the time we think we may want to go back to see the grandkids in the States. Generally, the price for the flight that far in the future is pretty cheap on JetBlue. (note: this plan also takes the risk out of the CR immigration saying you have no “return ticket”.)
4. And, here is the “sizzle” – at the time I buy the round trip ticket I also buy “trip insurance” for about $18-$20, covering the dates between my return to CR and the “projected return date” to the US. Included in the trip insurance has been $75,000 emergency medical treatment while in CR, [u]AND[/u][b][/b] emergency medical evacuation insurance to the hospital of my choice in the US.
5. So, for the $18-$20 cost of the flight insurance plus the cost of the return portion of the air ticket to Orlando (generally about $125 SJO to Orlando) I get a 3-4 month “insurance package” including medical insurance PLUS the medical evacuation insurance.
6. The “insurance package” including emergency & evacuation coverage calculates to a cost of about $5-$6/month if I use the return trip to Orlando as scheduled, or $15-$20/month if I pay a change fee to change the date for the flight back to Orlando, and about $30-$40/month if I just forget that return ticket and book a new flight.
In short, it is the cheapest health insurance I have had in a long, long time! And before all of the naysayers suggest that “flight insurance” never pays off – yes, I did have to use it and yes they paid with no hassle at all….and much less papework than my old health insurance or my current Medicare Advantage policy.
By the way, for the past year Medicare Advantage covers policy holders while out of the US for up to 60 days, and something I just got from them says that it now offers “international coverage”. I haven’t fully read that yet to determine what it covers and for how long, but the front page says it is a “new” coverage.
I hope this offers you some ideas on both insurance and a method to increase insurance coverage for those visiting this beautiful country.
You know, Bill, I bought trip insurance once when heading to the States for three weeks. Only after reading the fine print (which came available only after my credit card was already charged) did I learn that the company cannot sell their insurance to anyone who lives outside the U.S. I contacted the company, explained that we’re only residents of C.R., told them of our official Florida mailing address, and pleaded all to no avail. No coverage!
And in about eight short weeks, we had our refund.
Are you buying this insurance when you purchase your airline tickets, or do you do it in a totally separate transaction? If the latter, how’s about some more details?
Hi David, I thank you once again for your insight. I’ll be sure to read the fine print, but my situation may be different. I still have property in the US that is our “official address” for legal matters, social security, medicare, etc., and I buy the “flight insurance” only for the round trip portion of the flights that originate in the US, and I buy it at the same time as I book the tickets. Hopefully that makes it different from your experience, but as I said, I will (as always) take your sage advice and read the small print!
BTW, what happened to the plans for the MIXER!
crb[quote=”costaricabill”]
BTW, what happened to the plans for the MIXER!
crb[/quote]My ostrich supply dried up.
Gee whiz! No ostrich? Let’s fall back on peacocks…or guinea fowl.
BTW: thanks for the extra thoughts on insurance possibilities. We also maintain a US address.
When I bought my INS International insurance I was told I could avoid preexisting conditions by providing 2 years of payments to my former insurance which I did. You
may want to ask about that. I like the travel insurance idea, too[quote=”DavidCMurray”]Sue, you just don’t understand . . .[/quote]
Well, truer words were never spoken, but what are the details THIS time??!
[quote=”stevezim”]When I bought my INS International insurance I was told I could avoid preexisting conditions by providing 2 years of payments to my former insurance which I did. You
may want to ask about that. I like the travel insurance idea, too[/quote]Steve, are you saying that you paid two years worth of premiums on your U.S. health insurance policy to INS? Or did you prepay your U.S. policy for two years?
[quote=”sueandchris”]Steve, would you mind giving the name of the agent you used for the INS??[/quote]
Juan Carlos Calero is based at ARCR. His English is perfect and he’s very accommodating. You can reach him at: 2222-1722.
[quote=”sueandchris”][quote=”DavidCMurray”]Sue, you just don’t understand . . .[/quote]
Well, truer words were never spoken, but what are the details THIS time??![/quote]
The ostrich’s purpose is to provide a basis for comparison. With all those naked people around, everyone should be able to feel like they’re better looking than somebody.
This is not unlike including the ostrich whenever I do a wedding in the nude.
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