Medical Tourism And Costa Rica Vacations: World Class Care In Internationally Accredited Hospitals

By Author: Victor Krumm
Total Articles: 17
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It is no secret that American health care is the most expensive in the world---by thousands of dollars. And, with nearly 50 million U.S. citizens lacking health insurance, there is insult added to injury because hospitals charge uninsured patients much more for services than folks with good insurance.

This is where Costa Rica medical tourism comes in for thousands of injured and ill American tourists. Why? Because they have learned that they can save up to 65% in Costa Rica for the same procedures they would receive in the United States. Every year, more than 25,000 people, mostly Americans, hop a jet or ocean liner and travel south for medical care in tropical Costa Rica.

Only the world's finest hospitals have Joint Commission International Accreditation. There are thousands and thousands of hospitals on the globe but only a small percentage reach the excellence for JCI accreditation.

Three Costa Rica hospitals are JCI accredited, providing assurance that they meet the highest international benchmarks for hospitals and patient care.

Those hospitals are Cima, Clinical Biblica, and ...
... La Catolica Hospital, all in or within minutes of San Jose, Costa Rica's capitol.

Costa Rica offers internationally accredited medical hospitals and board certified doctors---many of whom have studied and trained in America and other world renowned medical schools. The treatment in Costa Rica rival the quality of anywhere but at huge savings to patients.

Lasik eye surgery that can run up to $5,000 in America is less than $2,000.

Aesthetic surgery accounts for more than 13% of all Costa Rica medical tourism. Increasing numbers of women come for face lifts. Instead of paying $10,000 in an American clinic or hospital, they hop a plane, pay $3,000 or less, get the procedure they want, recuperate in a tropical paradise on a Costa Rica vacation, and go home with money in their pocket.

Others take a Costa Rica vacation and, while there, have their breasts enlarged. The cost? About $3,200 or so. Thousands less than in the United States.

Seriously injured people find similar savings. If you are uninsured in the United States and need total knee replacement surgery in the U.S., expect to pay $30,000 or more. Alternatively, visit Costa Rica. Clinica Biblica charges less than $12,000 for the same procedure.

In addition to the three JCI accredited hospitals, there are three clinics accredited by the American Association for the Accreditation of Ambulatory Facilities. They are Sonrisa Por Todo (Smiles for Everyone) which provides dental care and Pino Plastic Surgery and UNIBE (University of Iberamerica) for surgical and ambulatory care.

Finally, 35% of all Costa Rica medical tourists come for dental surgery or implants. Implants costing up to $3,000 in the U.S. are between $500-$750 in Costa Rica. Periodontal surgery that costs more than $3,000 at your local dentist is about $400.
The writer lives in sunny Costa Rica and has a popular website about Costa Rica Vacations. For many sportsfolk, Costa Rica Fishing is the highlight of their Costa Rica trip