www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Are you buying the CR form of "Medicare" (State sponsored health insurance for all in Costa Rica) or just crossing your fingers? What's the dollar cost per month at present?

Also, if you're eligible for Medicare Part B, are you buying that as well....just in case you need to get stuff done in the USA?

_________________
"Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the over-compensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn't nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand."
- Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, Ch. 16

I do not pay into the Caja. If anyone in the family needs to go to the doctor, we pay out of pocket.

I am not eligible for Medicare yet but when the time comes I will get the best coverage possible. We do have a fully paid medical plan in the U.S. just in case.

Thanks for this data. I'm just about to pull the trigger RE: Residency and want to consider all options. I assume I am tad bit older than you and I also assume the USA policy you have is far superior to the Caja.

Still, I am compelled to contemplate the jams guys like BB57 got himself into in that he, I guess, did NOT purchase the Caja...despite it's fairly low costs and given his deteriorating eyesight. No way, would I want to walk around "vision impaired". And, without the brotherhood coming to his aid, he would have found himself in the proverbial SOL condition to boot. I shall purchase the Caja as well as Medicare Part B (when I am able...) once I squeeze the trigger, if I so choose to do....so I'll be certain to have services in the USA to back me up.

My good friend, Bang Bang....how could you walk around Central America with the mindset of a 20 something!!!???? At our ages, stuff is just going to go wrong.....You took a lot more of a risk than I would even consider....

I shall purchase the caja once the paper work is all ready for my signature....and that's a long way off....perhaps I shall post a trip report associated with my Feb. 18 - --- March 4, 2009 trip where I spent most of my time and energy in putting "...ducks in a row....".

Thanks again....

_________________
"Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the over-compensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn't nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand."
- Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, Ch. 16

You make it sound deceptively simple. You can not enroll in the CAJA unless you have been granted residency. The current waiting period from documentation submission to decision by Immigration is 2 years mas y menos.



To my knowledge BB57 is a "perpetual tourist" and therefore ineligible for the CAJA medical plan.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Yes, ID, I understand the Caja is only for residents. That may include me in a matter of a few months. Still uncertain, particularly given the recent election results in El Salvador.....(I thought Bang! Bang! was a resident and not a perpetual tourist...; thought I had read that somewhere....guess not....).

Too, the site http://www.tilloglobe.com/ has several possible options for part year residents....

_________________
"Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the over-compensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn't nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand."
- Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, Ch. 16

So you have already filed your paperwork and have a receipt from immigration that it has been accepted for processing? If not there is no way you will have residency in a few months



You might want to edit that so that there is only one http:// in the link.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

yes. fast tracked (although many, many second guesses going on on this side of the border at this point in the journey and following my last trip and the discussions I had with....). And thanks for pointing that link error out...

_________________
"Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the over-compensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn't nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand."
- Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, Ch. 16

Lots of luck with the so called "fast track" someone sold you. Keep us up to date on how that is working out.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

"Fast tracks" can work very well. I know of a guy who got his residency along with several other documents very quickly, once he had the necessary papers from the US. The woman he hired walked him to the front of every line and he was done in a few hours, for $4000.

_________________
"Your love gives me such a thrill
but your love don't pay my bills,
I NEED THE MONEY!" - John Lee Hooker

Disclaimer: The above is merely the opinion of the author unless specific scientific data is included.
Your mileage may vary. https://costaricaticas.com/phpBB2/viewto ... 978#206978

Steven1 There are some off shore insurances that are available. One that I know of for sure is based in Panama. They sell medical insurance to the employees of the local Coca Cola bottler here in CR. If you really want to know the name of it let me know and I will try to look it up. I may still have a pdf of their brochure.

You may want to go to the better hospital like Cima or Clinica Biblica. I believe that both are certified by The Joint Commission which accredits most hospital in the US.

I don't know much about Cima but there is a guy in the insurance department of Clinica Biblica (I think he is the manager) who is an American raised in CR. I can't recall his name but he knows the ins and outs and since he speaks English it makes it easier to understand the "fine print."

Not bought and sold; old timey friends are thick and incontrovertible...and it's been "...in the works..." since my first "serious trip" to San Ramon in Nov. 2007. I'm in no hurry and, quite bluntly, am semi-balking due to certain property concerns I have relative to life in CR. The largest stumbling block is being a virtual prisoner in my own home....unable to leave without securing security (!) for any length of time.....my largest stumbling blocks have been with other North Americans and Europeans moreso than the ins and outs of the bureaucracy or the locals....and it's been that way all over the globe....

Bluntly, pretty much to a man jack, every North American and European (let's not leave out Asian) I've had the displeasure of having to interact with has tried to get their hands in my pocket(s). Many are broke and living on hopes and and "salesmanship skills". Hope is not a strategy. It's the very services you're inferring about that need to go belly up and the idiots run out of the country if they're not local. But that's just my ever so delicate view of the matter. I'm having a good laugh at the boom and bust of Jaco and the surronding areas....

Having lived on Grand Cayman, an island founded by pirates on the concept of piracy, I too have my own pirate like ways.....and that's all I have to say about that....end of subject....

_________________
"Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the over-compensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn't nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand."
- Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, Ch. 16

As I said

In the works since 11/07 is hardly fast tracking.



Welcome to Costa Rica.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Costa Rica is not for you when your possessions are the most important thing in your life.

Berk....

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FRUITCAKE... and you thought it was something you eat! Not on CRT!

Dude, this ain't no autobiography.

If you actually live in Costa Rica, would you kindly address the query about what manner of health coverage you've elected to purchase, or just STFU?

When I first, on a mere whim, thought CR might be a place to be during certain months of the year, I began to assemble the dossier necessary to be legal down that way. Silly things like the fingerprinting and the letter from the local policia, blah, blah, blah. Setting up the bank account with very little money in it; making other basic decisions and learning, learning, learning who does what where. Having an associate or 3 within "circles" IS a "fast track". We're/I'm the one foot dragging. I already knew the biggest crooks would be "fellow ex-pats". There was no point in making jaunts if an aspect of each trip did not include moving forward with paper work IF I determined it was where I want to be. Most certainly, San Jose residency was OUT of the question.



Funny, it's been that way every where all over the world. Bunch of fast talkers with so much BS one could fertilize the entire Central Valley for ten years with but one guys lines. The place is fraught with desperation within the ex pat community. Why not exploit it?

Well, I may have answered my own question in that arena....visit, yes....reside.....I don't think so.....still....at present....it remains a possibility......no needs for woulda, coulda, shouldas.....

_________________
"Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the over-compensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn't nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand."
- Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, Ch. 16

I'm referring to the abode and property itself. I suppose the telecommunications equipment needs to be included. But the squatter rights laws are of major concern.

And you too, Berk, if you live down that way, could you address the health insurance issue and which way you've chosen or just STFU?

_________________
"Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the over-compensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn't nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand."
- Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, Ch. 16