Prexisting Conditions & drug costs

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  • #175960
    drummerdaveb
    Member

    I badly want to move to CR, but the biggest obstacle I have at this point is that I have a fairly serious pre-existing condition that I dont believe I’ll be able to get health insurance to cover.

    This brings in the problem of drug costs.
    Im on a drug now (in the US) that costs approx $1000/month, and well… without insurance, there’s no way I could afford it. But I cant go without it either.

    So here are my questions:
    1) Are there any health insurance options for pre-existing conditions?
    2) Is there a way to tell what drug costs are like in CR? Any websites or anything?
    3) IF I were on US disability, does anyone know if I would be able to move to CR, or would that lead to it being revoked?

    #175961
    maravilla
    Member

    If you get enough in benefits on SSDI you can qualify for residency in Costa Rica. Most drugs or a generic version of them are available in Costa Rica. You didn’t list the drug you were taking so I can’t tell you how much it will cost in Costa Rica, or if it’s even available. Just the ONE drug costs you $1000 a month?

    #175962
    wmaes47
    Member

    Military disability or common citizen disability???

    If you are on Medicaid in the States as a common citizen, then Medicaid will not work in Costa Rica.

    If you are retired Military, then you have the advantage of using Medicaid in Costa Rica.

    #175963
    DavidCMurray
    Participant

    Once you have legal residency, which does not entail a physical examination but does have income requirements, then you can enroll in the Costa Rican Social Security system’s CAJA medical program. CAJA does cover pre-existing conditions and it provides the drugs it provides as part of the benefit. CAJA, however, does not cover every drug. I take one for my diabetes which is not provided.

    If you e-mail me at daveandmarcia@racsa.co.cr, I will ask my local pharmacist about the availability and cost of the $1,000 per month drug you take. Please be sure to give me the name, generic name, strength and frequency of administration. I’m assuming this is orally administered, right? And maybe he’ll know if the CAJA program provides it.

    #175964
    drummerdaveb
    Member

    That’s right. $1000/month.
    I have good insurance now, so it only costs ME $20/month, but if I didnt, well, you can imagine how bad that would suck.

    #175965
    drummerdaveb
    Member

    You have an email David.
    Thanks

    #175966
    drummerdaveb
    Member

    wmaes47:

    Common citizen.
    Im not on disability now, but in the future it’s almost a certainty.

    Edited on Apr 20, 2006 10:01

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