Costa Rica as a medical tourism destination

By Vivian Wolf
Special to A.M. Costa Rica
Paid Partnership

Medical tourism is a phenomenon that is attracting a growing number of foreigners to Costa Rica registering considerable growth of up to 34 percent.

Medical Tourism Costa Rica statistics from the Costa Rican Health Chamber, PROMED: In 2016 Costa Rica welcomed some 70,000 medical tourists — up from 25,000 in 2008, 30,000 in 2009, 36,000 in 2010 and 48,000 in 2011.

Spending by medical tourists in 2016 amounted to $485 million. A medical tourist spends up to seven times more than an ordinary tourist, about $7,000. The medical tourism sector supports some 20,000 jobs.

- Graphic describing the evolution of medical tourism.-

As healthcare costs skyrocket in other nations around the globe, in Costa Rica the cost is generally 50 and 70 percent less, making it considerably cheaper.

Taking into consideration that private medical care in Costa Rica is first-rate. Surgeons and doctors have usually studied and gained professional experience abroad, either in the US, Canada, or Europe.

The doctors that perform these procedures are highly skilled, well trained, have modern facilities, bilingual staff, and offer an excellent service.

With its proximity to North America and easy access for the European tourist, there are daily frequent flights from the US and Canada as well as most major cities. North Americans and most European citizens do not require a visa for the first 90 days. This makes Costa Rica a prime destination for medical tourism.

While it started with cosmetic and dental surgery, medical tourism is not just for elective surgeries anymore.

-Graph describing the different areas in which money is invested.-

As Costa Rica becomes more respected in the international community more patients come looking for necessary surgeries or medical attention including diabetes treatment, cancer, AIDS, urology, fertility, orthopedics, and neurology.

Many of these types of treatments are covered by U.S. companies. Even if the procedure is being done abroad the patients are being reimbursed.

Costa Rica has now gained worldwide recognition as a respectable place to have medical work done.

This reputation has also earned Costa Rica the name the “Beverly Hills South”, others refer to it as the “Fountain of Youth”.

Imagine flying down, staying in a nice hotel, going on a tour and experiencing Costa Rica’s breathtaking natural beauty, and having a medical procedure done. You can recover in a state of the art facility, and then fly home for the same price or less than what it would cost to have the procedure at home.

All in all, if you need to undergo any type of surgery, there is no doubt that Costa Rica is your best option, there is simply not a better place to unwind, relax and recover.

Cielo Med will be the comprehensive solution for premium access to U.S. standard healthcare for both residents of Cielo Vista and the Central Pacific region as well as the vast numbers of tourists who flock to this destination.

By providing the U.S. concept of customer service and highest standard of health care as well as having internationally trained staff with dual licensure and clinical experience in both the US and Costa Rica, Cielo Med will further build on this core by offering the same levels of Primary Care that is customary in North America.

As the Emergency Care Center and Primary Care Facility are built we are able to offer more elective and dental tourism services, alternative therapies, and assisted living services.

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Author Vivian Wolf is writer for Cielo Med. More information on Cielo Vista or Cielo Med can be found at email info@thecostaricateam.com