I don't know about caja rates for retirees, but vinculo residencia is based upon your reported income IN COSTA RICA, and not in your home country. I am required to approximate earnings once I receive approval, and my caja payments are based upon that. I will, however, be required to maintain reporting if my earnings increase, and my attorney told me to expect annual reviews of my income.

I don't know how the rate is worked out but I pay 220 a month for Caja
Jim

I've heard that some ex pats are paying $400 to $600 a month for caja, and get almost nothing for it, as the service is so bad. Like wait 9 hours in emerg for a broken arm. And wait months for any kind of serious procedure. (BTW, big 2 page article in la Nacion today about how costs at CAJA are skyrocketing out of control once again. And due to 'acquired rights' to high salaries and overtime there is nothing that can be done to lower costs, so expect CAJA rates to increase 10% a year, minimum, from here to eternity).

I would look into it very closely before becoming a resident, which is also a huge hassle (no matter what anyone tells you), which opens you up to paying taxes and other potential liabilities. (Do a little DD on the legal system here).

I am very happy flying under the radar, not needing to do any paperwork or bureaucratic bs, nor having to pay into a useless health system, with the ONLY downside being I need to take a nice weekend trip to Granada or Bocas del Toro every 3 months, which I would want to do anyway. The bus is under $50.

To me the choice is obvious. I was a resident in another LA country and it was a huge hassle with zero benefits. Never again.

I'm going to be 62 next July and planning to retire in CR, my social security will be above the 1k requirement for residency and I will be able to work part time via Skype and internet so a mediocre retirement income I would have in the USA will be a pleasant one in CR.

This question goes out to you lucky devils already retired in CR, how much are you paying for the CAJA? Is it worth it? I heard it's around $100 a month for retirees with incomes under $2500 per month and affords decent affordable health care. Can anyone opine who has first hand experience?

My ss income should be apx $1300 to $1400 per month and I can work from home on my computer earning $1000 to$1500 per month. I lived and worked in CR from 2007 to 2009 earning about $1800 a month and while not wealthy, I was quite comfortable.

Weekly encounters with hot 20 something senoritas more than made up for the fact that I no longer had a hot new car, luxury condo, expensive stylish clothes, jewelry, etc. I discovered those things mean very little the older I get and a minimum stress lifestyle, spiritualism, diet, exercise, good friends and of course weekly senorita encounters make life as an aging bachelor worth living.

To all the ex pats reading this, feel free to opine on your experiences living in CR full time. There is no question in my mind this is my future, my only issue is will it be in a year or a year and 1/2....

I have been looking into this for a number of years as I too have been contemplating retirement to CR. It's a subject matter that really requires a lot of research and often you get different answers to the same question from different people.

For me the primary question regarding the value of Caja is whether or not you have a pre-existing condition or not. The $$ are the secondary concern. After asking lots of questions on different forums I'm confident in recognizing the fact that for any serious ailment you do not want to rely on Caja as waits can be very long and access to highly qualified specialists and the newer and more up to date medicines is spotty at best. I myself would never rely on Caja for my source of healthcare. Thus, for me, it winds up being just another tax that I have to pay. My social security payment will be in the neighborhood of $2,700 and I'm not thrilled about paying $300 or $400 or $500 a month for a service I never plan to use. As these costs have risen in recent years it has certainly made me ponder other retirement options, i.e. Panama.
Have you gone on to the ARCR website to ask your questions there? You might also try welovecostarica.com. Both sites cater to mostly U.S. retirees.