[johnklein56]

Where exactly did you get your information?
You’re so wrong that I can’t begin to answer.

I’m sure your government would like you to believe that.
There are a million ways to distort the case with statistics. Longevity, etc are all polluted with crime, traffic accidents, etc.

All I know is that when my family has been seriously ill, there are in surgery the next day. Never a wait, ever. I know plenty about the others from living there to know that is not remotely true in Canada or the US>

[johnklein56]

Really nothing new here, as that was the stated plan all along.

Obama, Pelosi, Reid and all their minions have been challanged since Day 1 of this debate as to whether they will be taking on the same system. They have clearly said “No, we have insurance already”.

Our problem in the US is that most people who vote should not be allowed to. They never think or delve deeper than the sound bites. That’s why we end up with a “man child” as a President.

Here are other tough questions that usually get an “Obama BS Filabuster”:

1.) If this was so important and needed to be decided in March 2010, why is it that most benefits don’t start until 2014?

Seems conveniently designed to jury rig the Congressional Budget Office estimates of expense versus revenue. ie. the alleged budget surplus. It is also conveniently after the next Presedential election.

2.) If this plan is so great, why aren’t you taking it?

See above.

3.) Since there will be 10 years of increased taxes, but only 6 years of benefits (2014 start date) where will the extra money go?

Would you care to bet that spending will continue to increase, and that money will not be availabe to pay for health care?

4.) If there is, as you claim, $500 billion in waste in Medicare today, and Social Security is bankrupt, how do you convince me that you can run health care efficiently? And by the way, who is responsible for those government run messes?

I can’t say that this works any better elsewhere. I just read an interesting article on CR healthcare on page 39 of the Tico Times called “Blessed Event Marred By Caja Indifference”. This is the exact level of low performance I saw in Europe and Canada when I lived there.

Most people who think government health care is a good idea have never been sick enough to seriously use it. Rush and his freinds may be coming to CR for care, but it will be for private care and not public. Those with money get preferential treatment. It happens everywhere.

[johnklein56]

Scott,

I have studied this page, but I don’t see how this would help me.

There are about 3-4 attorneys quoted in the body of the text. Most seem to be San Jose oriented.

I don’t see any of the publications speaking to references. They all appear to be law oriented.

[johnklein56]

I am glad you Canadians are happy with your health care system, but please don’t tell us what we need in the USA.

I also don’t want your 50% income tax and 15% sales tax either. You’re paying, but you just don’t realize it. Your Corporations are getting a free ride. The CAW advertised this directly to try to win work for Canadian factories (which was not successful). Your system puts the burden on the people, where ours is primarily on our employers. Typically they pay 75% of our premiums. My monthly family contribution is $250. Chaulk that up against the 20-30% more tax you pay on your base income (in additiona no deductions for home mortgage, etc.)

Most Canadians believe they have the best health care because they have never experienced the best. Although we have a problem with about 20 million people having access, the other 250 million do rather well. I can see a specialist in a day or two without going first to a GP. My wife was analyzed with a brain anuerisym, and was in surgery the next day, utilizing the most advanced techniquest on the planet.

I lived in Canada for 3 years, and I don’t pretend to be an expert, but that service would not be typical for Canada health care.

I have also personally witnessed:

1.) Doctors maxing out on their income and heading to Florida for 3 months, therefore denying access to their patients. When I tried to return people to work after a Work Comp issue, we couldn’t find the doctors to give them a release.

2.) Doctors in large numbers refusing to accept new patients. Becasue of the caps, they have no incentive to be more productive or work harder and longer hours.

3.) Cities competing for doctor’s with “off book incentives” (cars, offices, expense accounts) that don’t count against their annual income limits. Gee what happens to the poorer communities that can’t come to the table?

4.) Two personal friends who almost died waiting almost a year for basic care.

5.) Incompetent doctors who cannot be sued because they are essentially a government employee.

Your newspapers scream weekly about the poor quality and access to care, and that the Canadian system is underfunded. I know, I read them daily.

I’m glad to hear it’s working for you, but I know the shortcomings of Canadian Health care as well.

The US needs to fix health care for about 20 million, not destroy it for 250.

[johnklein56]

I am not currently living in CR, but I have some experience with electronic fences and training collars.

I’ve done it both ways with equal result. You can buy “do it yourself kits” for electronic fences, provided that you want to bury the cable yourself. It has to be a “closed loop” i.e. starts and ends at the base unit. These work great, but are not very mobile. I had mine professionally installed, and this gets expensive quick. The DYI units run a couple hundred dollars.

I now have electronic dog collars from Innotek. You have to spend some time with your pet as you manually need to beep or shock them when they go too far. My unit handles two dogs with a beep or 10 levels of shock which can be remotely adjusted by the hand held unit. To some this may sound cruel, but you can set it at “tingle” and get a good result. The good part is you can move or travel with it, and use it at a dog friendly parks. After initial training, they have never had to wear the collars again. Or, I have them wear it in the “off” mode. You would be surprised how quickly they know.

I don’t think either is viable for leaving your dog outside unsupervised for long periods of time. Hunting dogs just bear down, and endure the shock until they are past the field, and then they can’t get back in. If you’re gone, I suggest better containment.

Hope this is helpful.

[johnklein56]

So what do you think will happen to the cost and availabililty of health care in Costa Rica if a large percentage of Americans start doing this?

My guess is that:

1.) Doctors will take a higher percentage of private buisness (Americans) versus government (citizen) patients. This will reduce availability and increase wait times for those on the government plan.

2.) The best doctors will be the most marketable with expatriate patients, and this would encourage them to move away from government health care to take advantage of USD chasing their skills. As a result, less competent doctors will be more highly concentrated in the public system.

I could be wrong about all of this, but this phenomena sounds entirely like the coastal real estate market. USD have driven prices so high that most citizens cannot afford to buy into the desireable areas any longer.

I hope I’m wrong.

[johnklein56]

Be careful about relying upon a gold or platinum credit card for your insurance.

First, my Gold AMEX does not cover every major agency. Only 3 are covered. I believe Hertz, Avis, and Budget. I only found out about this after making a reservation with Dollar, and then confirming with AMEX afterward. I could have cancelled and reserved with one of the “big three” but now the rental rates for my time period have increased 250%+. It will be cheaper to add insurance than change agencies. They quoted about 12-14 USD per day.

The other issue I found renting in Detroit. The collision was covered, but many companies include a “loss of use” clause that will charge you the car’s daily rental rate during the period of time the car is under repair. This was not covered by my credit card at the time, and it become a big number quickly. Luckily my company reimbursed me on expense, but recreational travelers won’t have that option. I don’t know if this is an issue in CR, but one should ask questions in advance.

[johnklein56]

Andrew,

Thanks for your reply. I just bought the 765t this week.

Which CR map are your referring to?
I don’t see one on the Garmin site.
NAVSAT sent me some more screen shots, and they even show dirt roads.
That looks like the way to go, unless you have another recommendation.

Thanks again,
John

[johnklein56]

My wife and I will make our first visit to Costa Rica in late November. We’re exploring the Nicoya coast, and most of the beaches mentioned above appear consistently in books and posts. We will start from Playa Hermosa and work our way south over about 7 days, probably overnighting in 3 distinct locations

Samara is definately on our list. Can you recommend how to connect with the expat community there? In every locaton we want to get a flavor for “beachfront”, developed commuwnities, ocean view at altitude to see what that offers in person.

Also, any suggestions for accomodations? We’re not 5 star resort people, but at the same time not primitive. We’re really not too worried about on site services (except perhaps a good restaurant) as we will be roving around outside the facility all day.

Thanks for anything you can offer.

John

[johnklein56]

Does a concept similar to “escrow” exist in Costa Rica? Or,can you through the contract specify “progress payments” contingent upon those itemize issues being completed?

I’m just getting started in my learning process, but from the books and posts I have read the Real Estate market in CR is a dangerous reef that one needs to navigate carefully. I can see where it would be easy for new residents to trust based on the protections they have in their home country.

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