H. Asanté S. Says:
I am planning to move to Costa Rica, but I will start kidney dialysis soon. What are my options for this in Costa Rica?
IL Costa Rica Correspondent Bekah Bottone Says:
Hi Asanté,
The first thing to consider is that getting your residency in Costa Rica is a process, and you are not covered by the Caja public health system while in the process. So starting treatment at a private clinic may be necessary if you plan on coming before your residency is approved.
I recommend starting your residency as soon as possible (a lawyer could guide you on the legal aspect) and connecting with private hospitals to hear what they offer. I would also talk with a private doctor and see how to move over to the Caja system if you start in the private sector.
Because you will need regular access to high quality hospitals, living in the Central Valley is a must.
Here are the three private hospitals you should talk with to learn more about your specific medical case, including the appointment availability and treatment costs:
- Hospital La Catolica
- Hospital Cima
- Hospital Clinica Biblica and sign up for a free quote here
The number of patients with chronic kidney disease on dialysis has been increasing in Costa Rica. You can find more information on the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social.
As I mentioned above, working with a lawyer is valuable when figuring out residency, especially if you are not fluent in Spanish. I use the law team at Themis Legal. You can contact Jimena García Aguilar at 506 8852 5372 for more information.
The good news is that with its comfortable climate and proximity to city life, beaches, volcanoes, and rainforests, you can find the perfect location in the Central Valley close to the facilities you need.
Our up-to-date Costa Rica All Access videos, which gives a full rundown on the options that make the most sense for you, including how to qualify and what the costs are,might be a great resource for you…
Good luck and let us know how it all goes.
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