CSI Costa Rica

Did anyone watch Grissom’s last episode on CSI?  Where did he end up?  Yep, you guessed it…Costa Rica!  He and Sarah will be bird watching til the day they die.

It continues to excite and amaze me how Costa rica is showing up everywhere.  Ever since that fateful caption on Jurassic Park.  Sorry, although the country holds 6% of the world’s species O haven’t seen any dinosaurs.

Cadillac and Costa Rica

I keep saying that Costa Rica is always in the news.  Now Cadillac is giving away a free trip to this wondrous paradise.  Take a look here:  http://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/originals/damages/cadillac/#/Experience/FrontView/Overlay

Biofuel frontrunner

One of the things that I am so impressed with about Costa Rica, is its ability  to stay as a frontrunner in so many catagories.  This year they are moving forward on thier biofuel industry, looking at as many ways as possible to stay ahead and lead the charge, rather than become the follower.

Much much more on this to come.

Pura Vida

Is Health Care Affordable?

Health care is available to all permanent residents, at very little cost. 

The average per capita spending on health care in Costa Rica is about $600 per year, compared to nearly $6000 per year in the US. 

Furthermore, life expectancy in Costa Rica exceeds that of the US.  An outpatient hospital visit costs about $27 versus $377 on average in the US.

Health Care System in Costa Rica

The health care system is excellent. There is a plan for citizens and residents who have work permits covering medical care, hospitalization and prescription drugs. Citizens are also covered for dental care.

This is funded by employers contributing 22% of wages paid, and the employee contributing 9%. There is also private medical insurance, through the state owned insurance monopoly, which is inexpensive and covers 80% of medical costs. For those who wish, medical services and hospitals are available on a “pay as you go” system for those without medical insurance.

Medical care costs are very low compared to North America. Hospitals regularly do high tech operations such as heart & organ transplants. There are many specialists in Costa Rica, and doctors have their home phone numbers in the yellow pages for emergencies. There is an ambulance service in almost every town in the country, operated by the Red Cross. There is also a wide choice in dental care. No special shots are required to come to Costa Rica.