| Public medical facilities are so good that you don't usually
need private care. Most private specialists are required by
law to work parttime in public hospitals. However, private
clinics and hospitals provide quicker services with more privacy,
enabling you to avoid long lines and the bureaucracy of the
public system.
In Costa Rica, the term clínica is used for
private institutions that generally include inpatient medical/surgical
facilities, doctor's offices, laboratories, radiology, pharmacy
and outpatient services. Hospital generally refers
to public inpatient medical/surgical facilities that also
provide laboratory, radiology, pharmacy and related services.
Most Costa Ricans find the cost of private clinics too expensive.
However, foreigners will find private clinics very reasonable
compared to similar institutions back home.
You will be happy to know you can receive first-rate care
at any of San José's three largest private hospitals.
If you have to enter a private hospital, costs will generally
be well under a $100 a day. This includes a spacious private
room with bathroom and cable TV with English channels. Private
and semi-private rooms often have an extra bed or sofa
bed so a relative may spend the night, if necessary. It
is important to know that the doctor's bill will always be
separate from the hospital bill.
Our son was just operated on for an appendectomy at the Clínica
Bíblica. The total cost including the surgeon's fee
was under $1,000. Our INS insurance covered all but $140.
We know an American who spent a couple of days in the private
Clínica Católica hospital and said, The attention
was first-class, the food was as good as home cooking, and
the same care would have cost thousands of dollars in the
States. It is important to know that payment can be made at
most hospitals and clinics with any major credit card. Foreign
medical insurance is not accepted, but you may get a reimbursement
from your health insurance company if they cover you abroad.
In some cases, especially if arranged in advance, your foreign
insurance can be used so you can pay the deductible. Talk
to your private hospital.
The Clinica Bíblica (Tel: 257-5252, 800-911-0800,
Fax: 255-4947, E-mail:asoserme@racsa.co.cr, http://www.clinicabiblica.com)
in downtown San José is now affiliated with the Blue
Cross and Blue Shield network. By 2007 or 2008 it expects
to be affiliated with Medicare. A firstclass private hospital
with an excellent coronary unit, this fine facility is staffed
with highly trained doctors. Complete hospital services including
maternity, an ER room, MRI equipment and lab work are available.
I have used the lab on many occasions and found the service
to be excellent.
In order to keep pace with country's needs for first-rate
private care, the hospital recently acquired a new multistoried
building in the next block and is adding a large wing to the
main hospital.
In addition to the main branch in downtown San José,
the Clínica Bíbilica has smaller satellite branches
with a doctor on duty, pharmacies and express delivery of
medicines in Heredia (260-4959), Cartago (551-0511), San Francisco
de Dos Ríos (218-0035 ), and in the San Pedro Mall
(283-6058). Since I live in Heredia, I have used the local
Heredia branch of the Clínica Bíblica on several
occasions for minor ailments and tests. The service has been
very good and fast.
The Clínica Católica (246-3006, E-mail: info@clinicacatolica.
com, http://www.clinicacatolica.com) in Guadalupe, a suburb
of San José, is another fine private hospital with
complete hospital and emergency services 24-hours a day, 365
days a year. It is not as popular with foreigners as the Clínica
Bíblica or Hospital CIMA.
This facility takes private INS insurance, Blue Shield and
Blue Cross. During an acute asthma episode, I spent three
days in this hospital and found the care very good.
Hospital CIMA (Tel: 231- 2781, E-mail cimahsj@racsa.co.cr,
http://www.hospitalsanjose.net) in Escazú, right off
the highway, is the newest private hospital in the San José
area and is affiliated with the Baylor University Medical
Center in Dallas, Texas, and managed by International Hospital
Corporation of Dallas. It is a full-service hospital that
boasts the latest health care technology, state-of-the-art
medical equipment and the most sophisticated physical plant
in Central America. It offers complete services including
X-ray, ultrasound, emergency and intensive care, as well as
an advanced coronary unit.
The average cost of a room per day is between $130 and $140,
very reasonable compared to the cost of a hospital in the
United States. An adjacent seven-story medical office building
houses the offices of more than 100 specialists.
Hospital CIMA (208-1800) recently opened a smaller branch
in the eastern suburb of Los Yoses, about 100 meters west
of San Pedro Mall. It also plans to open a full-service branch
near Flamingo Beach in Guanacaste.
The Clínica Santa Rita (221-6433), near the court
buildings, has an excellent maternity center and is used for
cosmetic surgery procedures. The Hospital Cristiano Jerusalem
(285-0202), in Alto de Guadalupe, offers limited services.
Although not a hospital, the Clínica Americana (222-1010),
next to Clínica Bíblica, offers private out-patient
service and U.S.-trained doctors on call 24-hours a day.
Hospital Clínica Santa María, (Tel: 523-6000,
Fax: 523-6060, E-mail: servicioalcliente@hospitalcsantamaria.com),
offers a variety of high-quality services in downtown San
José.
Hospital Universitario de La Universidad Iberoaméricana,
(Tel: 297-2242, Fax: 236-0426, E-mail: admisiones@unibe.ac.cr),
located in San José's suburb of Tibás, is the
country's newest private hospital. It is a full-service university
hospital where specialists treat all patients with students
as observers.
C.A.R.E. 353-7456 or 282-2626 (beeper) or 637-8606 (Los Sueños
Resort) or 643-1690 is a private emergency medical center
in the Jaco Beach area. It offers medical consultation, an
advanced life support ambulance, minor surgery and special
events coverage. The clinic's regular hours are from 8 a.m.
to 6 p.m.
Emergencias Médicas (290-4444) is a private company
offering quick ambulance service. For a small yearly fee you
can take advantage of its first-rate service. Emergencias
Metro (2632983, emergenciasmetro@yahoo.com) is another company
offering emergency medical transportation and care. Costa
Rica Life Guard (824-5227) offers emergency transportation
by airplane.
The Clinica Biblica is of Costa Rica's the Better
Private Hospital
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