Costa Rica Medical Care And Tourism: World Class Accredited Hospitals And Care
With more and more people losing their health insurance, more than 25,000 people, overwhelmingly Americans, board a jet or cruise ship and travel south for medical care in Costa Rica every year. And, more and more travelers are taking vacations to this little Latin American country that include medical tourism. Why? Because they are finding that medical care in Costa Rica is now equal to that of the best hospitals in the States but at a fraction of the cost. It is shameful that their own country has not stepped up but at least there is now a viable option.
Ever hear of Joint Commission International (JCI) Accreditation? It is what the cream of the crop hospitals are awarded. There are thousands of hospitals around the globe but only the finest hospitals are certified and have Joint Commission International Accreditation, providing assurance that they meet the highest international benchmarks for hospital standards and patient care. A JCI accredited hospital in Europe, Asia, and Australia is every bit as good as a similarly accredited hospital in New York City.
Three Costa Rica hospitals are certified and have Joint Commission International Accreditation. They are La Catolica, all in or very near to San Jose. Each has a wide range of medical services and Board Certified doctors.
It is no secret that American health care is the costliest in the world—by a huge margin. And, for the nearly fifty million Americans without health insurance, injury is added to insult because hospitals charge uninsured patients much more for services than folks who have good insurance. This is where Costa Rica medical care comes in for thousands of suffering American tourists. Why? Because they can find savings of up to 65% in Costa Rica for the identical surgical care they would receive in the United States-if they could afford it.
Here is an example of the difference in costs. For patients who do not have medical insurance, total knee replacement surgery in the U.S. can cost $25,000-$35,000 or more. That same surgery at Clinica Biblica is less than $12,000.
Lasik eye surgery that can run up to $5,000 in the U.S. is often under $2,000. The accredited hospitals of Costa Rica and many board certified doctors—many who have studied and trained in the United States and at other world renowned medical schools-typically charge about $3,200 for breast enlargement. Increasingly, women seeking plastic surgery are medical tourists. Instead of getting a facelift for $10,000, they hop a plane for Costa Rica where for about $3,000 or so, they can have the same procedure as back home while recuperating in a tropical paradise on a Costa Rica vacation. Then, as an added bonus, they go home with money in their pocket. And remember the rule of Costa Rica: what happens here stays here!
Besides the three JCI accredited hospitals, there are three clinics in San Jose accredited by the American Association for the Accreditation of Ambulatory Facilities. They are UNIBE (Universidad de Iberoamerica) which offers ambulatory and surgical care; Sonrisa Por Todo (Smiles for Everybody) providing dental care; and Pino Plastic Surgery Clinic.
About a third of Costa Rica medical tourists come for dental care. They, too, find great savings. Implants that sometimes cost up to $3,000 in America cost $500-$750 in Costa Rica. Periodontal surgery that is at least $2,500 in the U.S. is about $400.
Like everywhere else, prices, of course, vary by provider so get a quote. Clinics in more upscale neighborhoods with lots of Americans may have different unspoken pricing tiers than clinics typically catering to the local population. And, always ask if there is a cash discount if you pay in dollars, not via credit or debit card. Finally, consider this. Many health insurers cover medical or dental care in Costa Rica so, make it a point to contact your carrier and Costa Rica service provider before your treatment.
Victor Krumm writes about sunny Costa Rica in his excellent Costa Rica Vacations site. Check out more Costa Rica Medical Tourism info, too.
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Tags: cosmetic surgery, costa rica, costa rica medical tourism, costa rica plastic surgery, costa rica vacations, Dental Surgery, destination, medical care in Costa Rica, medical tourism, plastic surgery, tourism, travel, vacations