Healthcare in Costa Rica - Perspectives from a Medical Doctor

Рет қаралды 2,982

Күн бұрын

The healthcare system in Costa Rica is often cited as one of the best in the world.
In this video we interview Dr. Giselle Preinfalk a Costa Rican cardiologist for perspectives on the Costa Rica healthcare system.
Content of this Video
0:00 Introduction
0:55 Medical practice in Costa Rica
0:1:33 How does medical care in Costa Rica compare
0:2:36 Overview of the Costa Rica healthcare system
0:5:03 Emphasis on preventive care
0:6:07 Public healthcare structure and access
0:9:11 Emergency and waiting lists in public healthcare
0:10:18 Access to private doctors and hospitals
0:12:10 Using public and private healthcare options
0:13:59 Example of an emergency admission in the public system
0:15:37 Admission to a private hospital
0:17:07 Access to medical care in remote areas
0:17:41 Assigned medical clinics in the public healthcare system
0:18:26 Medical costs and insurance in Costa Rica
0:21:20 What is the secret to longevity in Costa Rica
The Costa Rica public healthcare system is run by the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social commonly referred to as "La Caja". In addition we have a private hospital network with hospitals such as: 1. Hospital Cima 2. Hospital Clinica Biblica 3. Hospital Metropolitano 4. Clinica La Catolica
For more information about living in Costa Rica visit our website: costaricalaw.com/

Пікірлер: 43

@puravida5683 2 жыл бұрын

I'm a permanent resident of Costa Rica. I am also enrolled in the government Caja. My monthly enrollment cost is only $44.00. This covers everything from meds to surgeries. Being a U.S. military veteran. I also use free VA Healthcare in Costa Rica, under The VA Foreign Medical Program; in private Costa Rican hospitals.

@CostaRicaLaw 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing that information. I personally was not aware of how the VA healthcare program worked outside of the US until the Doctor mentioned that she had several patients that are vets and use the VA Foreign Medical Program as well.

@Surfer-727 10 ай бұрын

The VA will only pay for service connected disabilities overseas.@@CostaRicaLaw

@Surfer-727 10 ай бұрын

The VA will only pay for service connected disabilities overseas.

@hawtdawg6030 4 ай бұрын

Facebook?

@ZarpeParadise 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Roger for this informative interview with Dr. Preinfalk. She was very insightful.

@CostaRicaLaw 2 жыл бұрын

Teri. Dr. Preinfalk and I appreciate your feedback and thank you for watching and commenting.

@ZarpeParadise 2 жыл бұрын

@@CostaRicaLaw such great information, I shared with my friends! Thanks again.

@CostaRicaLaw 2 жыл бұрын

@@ZarpeParadise Thank you, I appreciate you sharing the information

@kandyman2705 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much Roger

@CostaRicaLaw 2 жыл бұрын

You welcome

@Kattywagon29 Жыл бұрын

This is great info and summarizes all the things that I have been reading online nicely!

@CostaRicaLaw Жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching and I appreciate your feedback so we can continue to produce more videos.

@kandyman2705 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent information Roger. Much appreciated

@CostaRicaLaw 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching and giving me your feedback.

@vettytv2501 Жыл бұрын

This was very instructive. Thank you so much for sharing all of this information!

@CostaRicaLaw Жыл бұрын

Glad you found the information helpful and thank you for watching the video.

@johnway9853 2 жыл бұрын

Hey Roger, Thanks again for another great video.

@CostaRicaLaw 2 жыл бұрын

Hi John. Good to hear from you and thank you for your continued support of the videos.

@1aday580 2 жыл бұрын

Great Video, very informative. Thank you for all the information

@CostaRicaLaw Жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching and your feedback

@sanisidrocr 2 жыл бұрын

The socialized healthcare in costa rica forces private companies to be more competitive with services and prices which is great. For some services like childbirth without complications or vaccinations the caja is wonderful. Overall its best to be avoided and more akin to a backup option you hope you never have to use. Even many struggling ticos with caja will simply pay out of pocket for private healthcare due to how bad the service/care in the public hospitals. Private clinics and hospitals here overall are great if you don't need a specialist to diagnose a complicated problem and you are fairly sure what needs to be done.

@CostaRicaLaw 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching and commenting. I think you are right on point with your observations between the private and public healthcare system.

@thomass2935 2 жыл бұрын

thanks, good video!

@CostaRicaLaw 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for your feedback and comment much appreciated.

@moa3008 6 ай бұрын

I read somewhere that in 1948; Costa Rica abolished their military; used the money to fund their universal healthcare system; the medical students were sent to the United States; Europe to further their medical education; and returned home to serve the healthcare system!

@CostaRicaLaw 6 ай бұрын

Hi and thank you for watching and commenting. Yes, the army was abolished after the civil war of 1948. Costa Rica does have a universal health care system run by the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social - CCSS. It is funded by contributions from the government, Employer payroll contributions and employee payroll contributions. Yes in the early days Costa Rican doctors were trained in the United States, Europe and Mexico and it was mandatory for them and any other local doctor to serve in the public health care system for a set period of time.

@alanashaffer633 Жыл бұрын

i have needed a prolapse repair and have been 3 different times to the caja... cannot even get an appointment for an exam. Its been since July 23 I have been waiting... We have paid over $22,000 for -0- service from caja...in less than 20 years here. it is a broken system. The mandatory payment does not give one any advantage. The private pay is excellent, and we have used it several times as neccessary. Even our caja Doctor would have had to wait 4 years for a neccessary opperation in order tokeep working withing the caja system.

@CostaRicaLaw Жыл бұрын

Hi Alana thank you for watching and sharing your experience. The current government often talks about the need to eliminate the extensive surgery backlog in the system. However, we have not seen any concrete plan to actually do so. Combining the private system for medical visits is very feasible and quick and hence the growth of private medical facilities in Costa Rica.

@marytica123 2 жыл бұрын

We checked with a cardiologist In Liberia (Guanacaste), who advised that surgery such as artery stent placement has to be done in San Jose. My husband suffered a 100% arterial blockage at our home in Florida, and thanks to our proximity to the cardiac center at our local hospital, he survived "the widow maker". Considering the traffic congestion in CR, it seems to preclude our living in the countryside. Any suggestions ?

@CostaRicaLaw 2 жыл бұрын

Hi, Mary thank you for your comment. I am glad to hear your husband is doing great after that experience. I know that some of the major private hospitals in San Jose have had plans to put a facility near Liberia given the population growth and popularity of the nearby beaches. With major investment projects and expansion of the international airport in Liberia, I would hope to see a facility in that area that could avoid having to travel to San Jose. Until then I think the wise option for any of us is to meet with our physician and explain to them the plans that we have and where we want to live and then based on their knowledge of our medical condition, they can then either give us the green light to proceed or caution us of the potential risks from being further away from the type of emergency care facility we would need to use.

@marytica123 2 жыл бұрын

@@CostaRicaLaw Thanks, Roger ! Great advice - as always !

@kandyman2705 2 жыл бұрын

I did have a question about private insurance as it relates to INS, the government sponsored private insurance. Any thoughts as to if it is as good as Cigna or others I've inquired about. Those are very expensive.

@CostaRicaLaw 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for that question. I have only heard second hand from individuals that have the INS policy. If it is for a procedure that has been planned in advance and they have given all the approvals before admission then it works fine. In the event of an emergency this particular person had to put down a credit card at the hospital to pay and then seek reimbursement. It would be interesting to hear the experiences from others that have the policy since my information is second hand. The other alternative international policies can be very expensive depending on age.

@kandyman2705 2 жыл бұрын

@@CostaRicaLaw Thanks for you quick and informative reply.

@dougtilaran3496 Жыл бұрын

I can get an ecg in 15 minutes in the usa...Go to the local fire station

@captivesojourner 2 жыл бұрын

No bueno.

@eduardodiaz1017 5 ай бұрын

Two health care insurance, in C,R, one is like Government caja socialist health care is like Obama care, and one is the private health care,

@CostaRicaLaw 5 ай бұрын

Thank you for your comment about the two health insurance systems

@eduardodiaz1017 5 ай бұрын

@@CostaRicaLaw I know C,R, inside out and outside in, your 100%,+right, still I take C,R, you talk about health care, but never talked about, how THIERS a lot of people over 100,+yrs , old in C,R, Guanacaste, on your next one please say this, PURA VIDA