Costa Rica Scores High In Recent Expat Healthcare Survey

Nowadays, affordable quality healthcare is a priority for would-be expats, especially if they’re looking to retire rather than work.

The subject of healthcare costs as against the often inflated charges for private medical insurance is now at the top of many would-be retirees’ lists, especially as an increasing number of retirement destinations are now requiring private insurance before granting long-stay visas. With increasing numbers of pensioners now looking to retire to warmer climes with cheaper costs of living, finding a suitable country with quality healthcare at a less than exorbitant cost seems now almost impossible.

Given the massive healthcare charges common in the USA, it’s no surprise older Americans are heading south for retirement, with the Central American country of Costa Rica now one of the favourite destinations. Set in the long strip of land joining North and South America, a recent healthcare survey ranked it third best in the world and is likely to attract even more retirees, both from the USA and other first world countries. Its two systems – private and public healthcare – can both be accessed by legal residents and are regularly upgraded to ensure the best possible treatment for a reasonable cost.

Public healthcare is obtained by becoming a legal resident and contributing between 7 and 11 percent of reported income to the country’s universal social security system. The selection of private medical insurance policies are reasonably priced, and many expats opt for a combination of the two systems. For those choosing to pay out-of-pocket, savings as against the same procedures in the USA can be as high as 90 per cent.