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Costa Rica Medical Care And Tourism: World Class Accredited Hospitals And Care

Nov 28

Victor KrummCosta Rica 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 1 Comment

Every year, more than 25,000 people, overwhelmingly Americans, board a jet or cruise ship and travel south for medical care in Costa Rica. And, more and more folks are taking vacations to this little Latin American country that include medical tourism. Why? Because they are finding that medical care in Costa Rica is now on par with the best hospitals in the U.S. but at a fraction of the cost.

Ever hear of Joint Commission International (JCI) Accreditation? It is what the cream of the crop hospitals are awarded. There are thousands of hospitals around the globe but only the top hospitals are certified and have Joint Commission International Accreditation, meaning that that they meet the most rigorous international benchmarks for patient care and hospital standards. A JCI accredited hospital in Europe, Asia, and Australia is every bit as good as a similarly accredited hospital in New York City.

Three Costa Rica hospitals are accredited by JCI. They are , Cima, and Clinica Biblica, all in or very near to San Jose. Each has a wide range of medical services and Board Certified physicians.

By now, most people know that American medical care is the costliest in the world—by a huge margin. And, for the nearly fifty million Americans without health insurance, there is insult added to injury because many health care providers and hospitals charge uninsured patients much more for services than folks having good insurance. This is where Costa Rica medical care comes in for thousands of suffering American tourists. Why? Because they can find savings of up to 65% in Costa Rica for the identical treatment they would receive in the United States-if they could afford it.

This example illustrates the savings. For patients who do not have medical insurance, total knee replacement surgery in the United States can cost them $25,000-$35,000 or more. Often, that same surgery at Clinica Biblica Hospital with a board certified surgeon is less than $12,000.

Lasik eye surgery that can run up to $5,000 in the U.S. is often under $2,000 in the little Latin America country. The accredited hospitals of Costa Rica and many board certified doctors—many who have studied and trained in the United States and at other world renowned universities-typically charge about $3,200 for breast enlargement. Increasingly, women desiring aesthetic surgery are medical tourists. Instead of paying $10,000 for a facelift, they hop 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. And remember the rule of Costa Rica: what happens here stays here!

Top drawer medical care in Costa Rica does not have to take place in a hospital. There are many, many clinics, too. In addition to the three Joint Commission accredited hospitals, there are three San Jose clinics accredited by the American Association for the Accreditation of Ambulatory Facilities. They are the University of Iberoamerica(UNIBE) 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.

Cosmetic surgery accounts for about-% of all Costa Rica medical tourism and more than one third of all Costa Rica medical tourists come for dental care. Implants that sometimes cost up to $3,000 in America cost $500-$750 in Costa Rica. Periodontal surgery costing $2,500 in the U.S. is about $400.

Costs, of course, vary by provider so get a quote. And, one more thing. Many medical and dental insurance companies pay for medical or dental care in Costa Rica so, check with your carrier and Costa Rica service provider before your treatment.

Victor Krumm writes about sunny Costa Rica in his highly regarded Costa Rica Vacations site. Check out more Costa Rica Medical Tourism info, too.

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