Year to year, more than 25,000 people, mostly Americans, board a jet or ocean cruise ship and head south for medical care in Costa Rica. And, increasingly, folks are taking vacations to this little Latin American country that include medical tourism. Why? Because they have discovered 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.
There is an increasingly threadbare urban myth that American health care is the best in the world. Perhaps that was once so. Of course, there are thousands of hospitals around the globe that do not measure up to the standards of many American hospitals, but today there are many that do so. The finest hospitals in the world are today certified and have Joint Commission International Accreditation, providing assurance that they meet the most rigorous international benchmarks for patient care and hospital standards.
JCI hospital accreditation is the exception, not the rule in the world. Few hospitals in the world can meet the stringent requirements and standards to become accredited. But, three Costa Rica hospitals are certified and have Joint Commission International Accreditation. They are Cima, La Catolica, and La Clinica Biblia, all in or very near to San Jose. Each provides a wide range of medical services and Board Certified doctors.
American health care costs are soaring. Increasingly out of reach for many people, they are threatening not only men, women, and families, but the nation itself. American medical care is the most expensive in the world—by a huge margin. And, for the nearly 50 million Americans without health insurance, injury is added to insult because most care givers and hospitals charge uninsured patients much more for services than their neighbors having good insurance. This is where Costa Rica medical care comes into play. While American politicians dither and the country slides downhill, thousands of suffering American travelers are becoming Costa Rica medical tourists because they want to get great care and save money. Many find savings of up to 65% in Costa Rica for the identical services they would receive in the United States-if they could afford it.
This example illustrates the savings. For patients lacking health insurance, total knee replacement surgery in the United States can cost them more than $25,000. Often, that same surgery at Clinica Biblica Hospital with a board certified surgeon is less than $12,000.
The three San Jose accredited medical hospitals and board certified doctors—many of whom have studied and trained in the United States and at other world renowned universities-typically charge about $3,200 for breast augmentation. Lasik eye surgery that can run up to $5,000 in the States is often under $2,000 in the little Latin America country. Increasingly, women wanting plastic surgery are medical tourists. Instead of getting a facelift for $10,000, they pack their bikini, shorts and sun tan lotion and board 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.
Great medical care in Costa Rica does not have to take place in a hospital. There are many, many clinics, too. 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. Like the hospitals, these clinics have board certified physicians or dentists.
Aesthetic surgeries account for about-% of all Costa Rica medical tourism and more than one third of all Costa Rica medical tourists come for dental surgery or implants. Implants costing up to $3,000 in America are between $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. One more thing. Many medical and dental insurance companies pay for 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 lovely Costa Rica in his beautiful Costa Rica Vacations site. Check out more Costa Rica Medical Tourism info, too. Get a totally unique version of this article from our article submission service
Tags: 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
