Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
[quote=”cfoutz”][quote=”Imxploring”]
Simple one word answer would be “LOTTERY”! LOL
Unfortunately my friend you were given some ideas. No one is going to come up with a complete business plan for you that only requires that you place your name in the blanks and watch the money roll in and your life magically transport itself to the land of Pura Vida.
Visit Costa Rica, get some ideas of your own on a possible business… something creative… something lacking here currently… something that people want and need. Working here in a job is NOT really an option… not looking to put a downer on your dreams… just being honest.
quote]
My Friend, maybe you could share those ideas that were out there. There is no fill in the blank for anyone including you. Maybe you are missing the point here. I want ideas for people to share on how to make it in other countries. Not just me. If you have an idea share it. If not….
[/quote]
Here’s an idea… start writing Kindle books on the field you work in or a hobby you’re good at. Or if you’re really the creative type work on a fiction novel.
You can work from anywhere and share something you enjoy with others while generating an income. Not really an internet business but pretty close and rather flexible.
[quote=”Scott”]As the owner of this site and a legal permanent resident of Costa Rica I have to be a cautious about certain topics…
For obvious reasons I can not be seen to encourage people to work in Costa Rica illegally or, to visit Costa Rica under false pretenses.
You mentioned that you wished you could retire but did not make it clear why you are “not to that point yet.”
By that do you mean you do not have enough money to retire on?
If I were in your position, my one and only goal would be to develop some kind of online business that you can run from and make money from anywhere in the world.
Within the next 3-4 weeks I will be showing our VIP Members the new online business I have invested in. I am very excited …
Scott
[/quote]
Some of us were wondering what you’ve been up to! Looking forward to reading about your new adventure!
[quote=”cfoutz”]I started another post on this but everyone got off on the NSA and smoking and bored us all to death so no one would read the thread but those few. So let’s concentrate on the subject at hand.
This was supposed to be trying to help me get ideas of how I can get to Costa Rica legally and become part of a community I can enjoy.
All of you brought up good points (politically for another thread) that I would like to weigh in on but that is not helping me or any of the others reading this on creative ways to become a part of a country they love.
Again I don’t need any suggestions on why I CAN’T come (costaricafinca) I already know all of those reasons.
Let’s get creative here and help each other and other readers. And Scott where are you?
I am in my 40’s, with wife and child, and wish I could retire but I’m not to that point yet and want to get to Costa Rica. HOW?[/quote]
Simple one word answer would be “LOTTERY”! LOL
Unfortunately my friend you were given some ideas. No one is going to come up with a complete business plan for you that only requires that you place your name in the blanks and watch the money roll in and your life magically transport itself to the land of Pura Vida.
Visit Costa Rica, get some ideas of your own on a possible business… something creative… something lacking here currently… something that people want and need. Working here in a job is NOT really an option… not looking to put a downer on your dreams… just being honest.
The residency issue is a whole other issue. Not too many legal ways of working around that. Without a pension of some type providing a monthly income ($1000)… you’re limited to the other two types of applications… both require a sizeable wad of cash to make happen. So saving up a pile of cash while working in the US is one route to work on NOW.
Keep reading about how others are making a go of it. But remember some are not really doing it the legal or correct way and the “dream” often ends with an unpleasant wake up!
Best wishes on making your dream a reality!
[quote=”waggoner41″][quote=”Imxploring”] Glad she’s doing well Les… but unfortunately many cancers are among the leading causes of death worldwide and are also the illnesses who’s treatment result in the highest medical costs. Having lost family to cancer I can confirm both those facts.[/quote]
She is doing well and has been cancer free for two years now.
Talk about expenses…she gets a cancer checkup every four months and is allowed to see her cancer doctor without appointments. All she has to do is appear at his office and he invites her in. It is an unusual situation but much appreciated.Her family has the worst gene pool imaginable but CAJA has been generous in treating fibromyalgis, diabetes, heart attacks, skin conditions, gout and I am sure I have not remembered all she gets treatment for.
If we were getting our medical care in the States we would have been bankrupt some time ago. When you get this kind of care you have to have a great appreciation for it. I certainly do.[/quote]
Les, It sounds as if your wife has been treated very well after being dealt a rather lousy opening (genetic) hand in the game of life. That’s wonderful news and truly a blessing, continued best wishes to her health and treatment. You have been very fortunate in those you have encountered in your experience and I know that you must appreciate it!
While I surely don’t wish you any harm I guess only time will tell should you be confronted with a serious medical issue wheather or not you will place your life in the hands of the public system in CR. Only then will this issue be resolved.
Having witnessed several folks return to the states when confronted with such a predicament (had lunch with a couple Sunday before last that were doing just that… had been longtime residents of CR) I’m confident in playing the odds.
As much as those of us that have made the commitment to CR really love the place (hence the name of this site) it is not a place where everything is perfect and unfortunately in the last few years changes have been made that have made that even less the case. The hope is that the trend does not continue.
[quote=”sweikert925″][quote=”Imxploring”]So in a little over a year her CAJA costs have gone up over 40% and she doesn’t find that troubling? [/quote]
Well given that the very fist sentence of that blog post is [i]$61.00 per month — this is the amount we pay for health insurance in Costa Rica, and this is one of the main reasons we stay in Costa Rica.[/i] then the answer would seem to be “apparently not”.A 40% increase would be alarming if the number being increased was already large but in this case – and in the case of a few others whose experience we have now learned – it wasn’t.
If my CAJA assessment was $1 and it increased to $10, would your reaction be “Oh My God! a 900% increase!” Or would it be what most sensible people would conclude – “Hey, you sure are getting a bargain compared to what others have to pay!”
Or how about this: My PRIVATE HEALTHCARE INSURANCE copay for medication went up a couple of years ago from $20 to $40 – a 100% increase! Should I be alarmed about that or should I concentrate on the fact that I’m still only paying $40 for medication that might otherwise have cost me thousands of dollars if I had to pay for the entire cost?
[/quote]It’s funny Steve…. when we discussed the idea of CAJA premiums being set as a function of a precentage of declared income the issue of it being set as such wasn’t a big deal to you.
But now that we’re talking about CAJA monthly premiums being increasing by over 40% in just over a year you use the dismissive argument that your “copay for medication went up a couple of years ago from $20 to $40 – a 100% increase!”. Let me ask…. how long had they been fixed at $20? Have they increased in the “couple of years” since? And how about your actual health insurance PREMIUMS…. have they increased by 40% in just over year? I’m guessing as a healthy guy that the increased medication copay resulted in less than a $50 increase in your annual out of pocket expense…. feel free to correct me. And might not have even resulted in an increased cost at all!
I guess this whole CAJA issue comes down how you will react when you’re relocated and living in Costa Rica and you’re told your wife has stage 2 ovarian cancer, or breast cancer, or that you have advanced prostate cancer (God forbid any of those situation)… how confident will you be rolling the dice on CAJA then? I’m confident that Expedia.com (for that trip back to the states) will be the first website you hit when you get back from the clinic.
BTW…. While Gloria is currently getting a “deal” compared to what I, or new residency applicants, would be required to pay for CAJA perhaps that taints her perspective on the issue… she’s not paying alot so she doesn’t have high expectations. On the other hand if she were paying $800/month she might not be so “pleased” with her return on investment.
On another issue. The idea of, in any way, comparing the cost and service of the public health system in Costa Rica with that provided in the US or Canada is a non-starter and ridiculous to ANYONE that has experienced both. To use the term “same coverage” comparing the two is rather disingenuous.
[quote=”sweikert925″]One of my other main sources of information about all things related to relocating to CR is the blog that Paul and Gloria Yeatman publish and their most recent article on CAJA can be found [url=http://retireforlessincostarica.com/2012/01/paul%E2%80%99s-monthly-tip-to-live-for-less-in-costa-rica-join-the-caja-costa-rica%E2%80%99s-national-medical-system/]here.[/url]
I think we can ALL agree that having the widest possible range of opinions and as many facts as possible is vital to making an informed decision about relocating to CR.[/quote]
Steve I checked on Gloria and Paul’s[size=][/size] article. Good information. I did find it troubling that they acknowledged a 23% increase in their CAJA premium in late 2012 and also an additional 17% increase in January 2014! I calculated the second increase using information in the story and one of the dated replies Gloria posted to a question someone posted at the bottom of the story.
So in a little over a year her CAJA costs have gone up over 40% and she doesn’t find that troubling? I think most people would be rather concerned with an increase of that size in such a short period.
[quote=”sweikert925″]One of my other main sources of information about all things related to relocating to CR is the blog that Paul and Gloria Yeatman publish and their most recent article on CAJA can be found [url=http://retireforlessincostarica.com/2012/01/paul%E2%80%99s-monthly-tip-to-live-for-less-in-costa-rica-join-the-caja-costa-rica%E2%80%99s-national-medical-system/]here.[/url]
I think we can ALL agree that having the widest possible range of opinions and as many facts as possible is vital to making an informed decision about relocating to CR.[/quote]
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the folks running Costa Rica just came up with a basic pricing system for CAJA where one could know what the price would be before applying for residency instead of being confronted with the tab at the VERY END of the process during a rather subjective “interview”? Seems to be an issue that one must seriously consider.
Perhaps the government HAS adopted a Gringo Pricing system where they can get you for as much as possible for CAJA after you’ve already committed serious time and money to applying for residency?
It sounds as if the prices can vary quite wildly with no discernible methodology to their setting. Just doesn’t seem right…. perhaps as the new laws are defined and tested we’ll have a straight answer.
[quote=”costaricafinca”][b]Imxploring,[/b] sorry, it wasn’t directed at you …. and I will ‘fix it’.[/quote]
No problem. Have a wonderful day! 🙂
[quote=”costaricafinca”]Wait until you have to pay another increased CAJA fee… though at this point in time you probably have never entered a CAJA facility… and you think you wont object to paying more, and then find the medical procedure you [u]need[/u] is not available to you for 2-3 years, so chances are you will opt to pay for private care.
Maybe there is a surgery they can perform to remove some of your outlandish ideas…:roll:[/quote]
Costaricafinca…. I hope that wasn’t directed at me. I’ve been in CAJA facilities… and as good as the basic care is it is no match to the private system or care in the US. I agree with you that the new requirements and rates that new applicants are being asked to pay are far out of line for the services provided. The rate increases that folks that got in under the old rates are also quite troublesome.
Time will tell how this works out. I found a recent comment attributed to an official in CR quite enlightened… the idea that they (CR government officials) found tourist much more desirable than foreign residents (expats)…. for all the obvious reasons….. income versus expenses! At least we know there’s ONE honest politician in Pura Vida land!
[quote=”waggoner41″][quote=”costaricafinca”]There are 52 across the road from where we used to live…with more planned.[/quote]
The question I have is who is building them. Is it ICE or is it some private company?[/quote]
Many of the wind farms in the Tilaran mountains up my way around Lake Arenal are private companies on some type of contract or concession agreement. I have to say it looks rather futuristic going out on the deck in the morning with a cup of coffee looking at windmills lining the mountain ridge across the lake! I don’t think it ruins the view at all… it a wonderful mix of nature and the future…. one that doesn’t poison or destroy the environment!
[quote=”waggoner41″][quote=”Imxploring”] Yet another reason the rates CAJA are charging expats are a bit out of line. As in your example above… if faced with a life threatening (and subsequently expensive cost to the insurer) illness many folks will either go private or go back to their home country for treatment thus relieving CAJA of the major expenses.[/quote]
What constitutes a “life threatening illness”?
My wife has been treated for cancer twice. The first time was immediately after joining CAJA and the second 3 years later.
Cancer doesn’t appear to be on the list of “life threatening illnesses”.[/quote]Glad she’s doing well Les… but unfortunately many cancers are among the leading causes of death worldwide and are also the illnesses who’s treatment result in the highest medical costs. Having lost family to cancer I can confirm both those facts.
Steve… one of the main purposes of this site is to exchange information and provide assistance and information to folks interested in visiting, investing, and relocating to Costa Rica. You’re right…. none of us are “forced” to relocate to CR. But at the same time people reading this forum should be WELL AWARE of the issues and costs that they will be faced with should they make that move. Some (costs) that are REQUIRED as part of the deal in being allowed to stay legally in CR.
The fact is that because many people look at CR as not only a beautiful and peaceful place but as one with a lower cost of living this becomes an important issue they should be fully aware of before making an informed decision.
This factor will only become more acute in the future as baby boomers retire and don’t have the resources to live comfortably in the US.
The point is Steve that folks (including yourself) that have dreams of relocating to Costa Rica and HAVE to “place all there eggs in one basket” and must apply for residency because they can’t or won’t be able to leave the country every 90 days (it gets expensive and tiresome) should be well aware of the REQUIRED cost and possible future cost increases of CAJA.
Since many folks seeking to live in CR are doing so because of the lower cost of living (all relative and based on lifestyle… but there are numerous websites, books, articles, and tour operators that promote the advantages of the lower cost of living in CR) many do not have the resources to maintain a stateside residence, or to travel in and out of CR as required for non residents. That makes this issue important… perhaps not to me but the folks viewing this website.
They should also keep in mind the possible need to seek better treatment outside the public plan (Private in CR or returning to their home country) should they face a serious health issue. It comes down to, as is often the case in life, money!
Those that think they’ll just sell their house in Costa Rica and move back to the US or Canada should they be hit with such an unfortunate event may very well be in for a rude shock!
[quote=”sweikert925″]If you don’t like the price then don’t buy the product.[/quote]
So true Steve. Unfortunately CR is forcing folks that have to put all their eggs into one basket when relocating to CR to buy the product. Fortunately I don’t have to do so… but I empathize with those that will be forced to give up a good precentage of their retirement income for CAJA.
