Robin M. Says:
Can you get private healthcare in Costa Rica if you only live there part time?
IL Costa Rica Correspondent Bekah Bottone Says:
Hi Robin,
Yes, you can have private insurance in Costa Rica—even if you live here part time. And there are many excellent options for private insurance.
The only tricky part would be if you want to use your Costa Rican health insurance outside of Costa Rica. In that case, you will need to prove that you live here for at least six months out of the year.
If you only want to use it in Costa Rica, then there is no issue. You don’t need to spend any particular amount of time in the country each year.
There are a number of well-known international insurance companies operating in Costa Rica. Each will of course have different terms and conditions that come with their policies, so it’s important to know how each offering relates to your personal situation.
There are also opportunities to get a plan and benefits from services like MediSmart.
Personally, I used an insurance agent to find my plan. His name is Roberto Merino, and you can contact him here if you wish.
Costa Rica has excellent healthcare. While private insurance is more expensive than merely relying on the publicly available healthcare through the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS), it’s still comparatively cheaper than what you would pay in the U.S.
Bear in mind that if you apply for residency here in Costa Rica, you must be enrolled in the Caja public health system, even if you decide to take out private health insurance.
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