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Love this forum. Thanks David – great way to deal with bills, transfers, etc. Scott: What do you mean by “extremely careful”? On 60 Minutes, even the heavy hitters at Symetech said they were having a horrific time keeping up with these internet security breaches. The security teams said that the regular malware, virus systems, etc. that are available to the average user are very vulnerable. Do you contract with a special security organization? I know that you manage several big accounts, so your expertise and information would be very appreciated! Sue
Here is another wrinkle regarding banking back and forth between Costa Rica and the U.S. Now that we can actually “see” our arrival date in Costa Rica, we are trying to figure out how to manage our U.S. accounts from Costa Rica. 60 Minutes (last night) had a big segment on the immense and growing problem with giant hacking programs that are infecting vast numbers of computers. The big computer security firms can no longer stay on top of the speed with which these theft viruses are invented, uploaded and implemented. In other words, ordering, banking and accessing your accounts is no longer secure. Essentially, the segment said that really, no matter what firewalls, anti-virus programs, etc. you have on your computer – you are probably still vulnerable.
Can some of the forum members give some ideas regarding how they manage their US accounts while living in Costa Rica??? This is a headache I didn’t expect! Also, is it really an immense pain to open a new Costa Rican bank account?? Thanks.
David: This was a very interesting response. We have thought of keeping my husband’s Blue Cross Blue Shield policy, but it is pretty expensive ($600/mo). This policy was in force before the heart attack and therefore has no restrictions. It may be that he can go in and out of that policy without any restrictions – we are waiting to find out. If you let your BCBS plan in the states lapse – couldn’t you just get another Medigap plan if you returned? I believe that these plans can’t exclude you. Are prescriptions more expensive in Costa Rica than in the States?
Can you clarify the general costs (in dollars) for your INS insurance? You note that you also participate in CAJA…is this a kind of fall-back position?
We would be legal residents under the pensiando system. I think it is probably pretty important for us to get started early on that process to help solve some of these issues!
Thanks,
Sue
Thanks Scott:
Oh boy, do we ever savor our lives more! Thanks so much for the names of cardiologists. We have also talked with your recommended international insurance provider.
But I am also very much hoping that folks who have retired there with a “non-insurable, pre-existing condition” might also respond with their stories and how they made decisions to give up stateside insurance when they moved to Costa Rica.
Love this site – I always get the nicest responses! Sue
I second Tom’s preference. I live and die by my (specialized) dental hygienist. She has completely brought my gum issues not only under control, but has entirely improved the health of my gums (essential to overall good health).
I had a series of dentists and surgical dental specialists over the years who never achieved this goal. Their work included root planing and bone grafts – which are just a BUNCh of fun! My hygienists very specialized training allowed her to bring me to health with the correct kinds of cleanings and regular treatments. I see her three to four times per year at a cost of $500 – $800 dollars per year. This has been a killer savings over the past cost of treatments.
One of my concerns about moving to Costa Rica has been losing her outstanding and expert services. I’ll bet there are others besides myself who have had this experience and would be looking for an English speaking hygienist.
So there….. Sue
This forum seems to have become a tough place for some of the new members. Perhaps these folks are just moving to Costa Rica because they think it would be a great place to raise a child, not to have an “anchor baby”. When I first joined the Forum, it was just an unsurpassed place for finding answers to all my questions. I felt welcomed and excited to find all the kind people who were so knowledgeable about Costa Rica, its laws and customs. In the last few months, the tone of responses to some of the new inquiries have seemed harsh and unwelcoming. What is going on?
Ah, you silly forum members! Drink enough good whiskey and everything tastes like ambrosia. For shame casting aspersions on the drink of the gods. I tasted haggis once….perhaps it was a bad recipe or prepared by someone NOT the proper Scot (good pun). But the darlin’ whiskey……. And this is a kind of torture for all those of us not lucky enough to be there for the celebration of the Burns.
This financial devastation is grotesque, but hardly unprecendented. One need only look at the end of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth to find equal calamity. Consumerism has certainly infected us, but I believe the patient will eventually recover.
Character is what we display in terrible, not easy times. We were appalled by the way we were represented by the last administration. We were utterly and completely opposed to the war. But our only child was already in the military, serving in harm’s way in both theaters of war. Her honorable service in impossible situations was an indicator of her character.
We see small and persistent acts of quiet heroism all around us. We also think that financial bad times aren’t the worst things than can happen.
We love Costa Rica and hope to live there someday. But it isn’t our Plan B to bail during these tough times. I hope in my small way to have something to contribute going forward. We are about to be challenged as individuals and as a country in ways we never imagined. We are being given the finger by the departing “financial masters of the universe” as they exit stage left – carrying their bonuses AND our bailout money. What they need is a good butt-kicking, but short of getting my hands on them, I can at least strive never to BE them.
We think we’ll hang out here for a while and do our best to contribute. I guess I’ve always wondered how I’d behave if I had to deal with some of the things my parents did. Here’s my chance, huh?
Hardly….I am one of those Boomers so often disparaged on this site as greedy and entitled. I’m not sure what Boomers are being discussed. Everyone I know have worked their tails off all of their adult lives. Almost all of us are self-made and further have parents and grandparents who all survived the Depression and passed on the values learned during impossible circumstances. Certainly very few of us will emerge from this crises better off than when we started. My confidence in my peers comes from my experience of them. They work hard for their families, their local and larger communities and serve in one or more charities. We have raised children who are smart, innovative and pretty tough.
The Dark Ages – please…let’s get this crisis in context…of course it will end. While the how and when are not clear, this is not a crucible that will destroy the United States. Here is a good plan B….rely on ourselves, our friends and our larger community. Serve more, not less. Be better, have more honor. This isn’t optimism, just the same belief system that has carried me through difficult times throughout my life.
Au contraire…..I don’t see rioting on the horizon. What I meant is that the severe contraction in new building will mean a big need for new construction at the beginning of the recovery. And while things are going to get very bad, there will be an eventual recovery and hence, real opportunity for new housing investment.
As much hysterical hype as there was about the “economic good times without end” there will now be more of the same about the “end of the world as we know it”. This is going to be a long, tough haul, but doable. The Americans who are my friends and neighbors have just as much grit and guts as their parents and grandparents. We are hardworking, innovative and stubborn. We might be a little worse for wear when we get through, but we’ll get through.
I am in the AZ market, albeit a very small and desirable area and my work is also in your field. But I do see the beginnings of some opportunities. There is still a lot of big and intact (real) money in our area and my competitors are going down like flies. I absolutely agree that this mess is far, far from done. But – fortunes both large and small have always risen from ashes. I am being very agile and coloring way outside of the lines professionally and stayin’ alive!
With no new building going on and a continuing population growth – at some point……..
Scott:
I am also perplexed about this young couple’s legal status. Since you featured them on the site, could you perhaps elucidate? We will be in CR in the next couple of years and are looking at our best residency options, but we are near retirement and will have guaranteed income.
I continue to be interested in how people are “working” in Costa Rica, whether part or full time. Are they telecommuting back to the States? Are they selling real estate there? Do they have rental income from a Costa Rican property. Sometimes, the above income streams are referenced on the site, but their legality under Costa Rican law is not explained. It would be very helpful to have your insight.
