Health & Emergencies
Costa Rica has a good-quality healthcare system with modern care in San José. It's a popular medical tourism destination.
The public system (CAJA) covers residents; tourists generally go private.
Excellent private clinics attract medical tourists.
| Service | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| General practice visit | 100,000-200,000 CRC ($180-360 USD) |
| Emergency room | 300,000-500,000 CRC ($540-900 USD) |
| Hospitalization (per day) | 500,000-1,000,000 CRC ($900-1,800 USD) |
| Emergency surgery | 5,000,000-15,000,000 CRC ($9,000-27,000 USD) |
| Ambulance | 150,000-250,000 CRC ($270-450 USD) |
| Raio-X | 100,000-150,000 CRC ($180-270 USD) |
| Exames de sangue | 50,000-100,000 CRC ($90-180 USD) |
* Approximate costs for private care. May vary by region and provider type.
Travel insurance is strongly recommended for Costa Rica. Private hospitals typically require upfront payment or proof of insurance. Asteroid clients have immediate coverage and 24/7 support in their language.
The main emergency number in Costa Rica is 911. Asteroid clients can also reach our 24/7 WhatsApp line for immediate multilingual assistance.
The public system (CAJA) covers residents; tourists generally go private.
Costs vary by service type. A private clinic visit starts around 100,000-200,000 CRC ($180-360 USD), while hospitalization can be substantially higher. Travel insurance covers these costs directly without upfront payment.
Pharmacies are abundant in San José and tourist areas, open until 6-8pm.
Medical coverage up to USD 2 million. 24/7 multilingual support. Credentialed network in 162+ countries.
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