www.CostaRicaTicas.com

PacoLoco posted about this girl and yesterday I gave it to Jay Brodel, editor of Am Costa Rica who published it today, bottom of page 1:

http://www.amcostarica.com/

CR at its worst. This sad story I think makes two points: Forget those adventure sports in CR--this is the 2nd ATV story on this board in a month so guess how many others there are; and two, you absolutely must have the travel medical insurance and have the policy and 800# tatooed or glued or whatever to your person. I use a co called Frontier-Medex, for $45 covers all travel, luggage, flight delay issues and hospitalization, med evac, and if necessary, repatriation (flying your body home).

I hope the German embassy pressure does some good. Jay told me that CR won't use a free chopper for a foreigner, only a Tico/legal resident. Otherwise, app $3,000 and up front.

For those of you that can read spanish, here is the letter the German Embassy sent to the CR government and copied to all in the CR medical system heirarchy.

http://costaricaazul.com/blog/wp-conten ... ania-1.pdf

Jay also mentioned that Panama now offers free medical insurance to foreigners who arrive by air for the first 30 days. Not beating the Panama drum, but I know guys go to Panama so look into that.

http://www.visitpanama.com/index.php?op ... 31&lang=en

There are a whole bunch of common sense exclusions like pregnancy, pre-existing conditions, engaged in criminal activity, brought it upon yourself, and engaging in extreme sports which they don't define. Is ATV riding an excludable extreme sport in their minds? Zip-lining? Chasing that thang in the wrong bar or barrio? They have a tel # and invite calls so that might be a smart thing.

Still you're covered for alot of other bad things like getting hurt in a car or as a pedestrian (Pops?) as long as you were not grossly at fault, drunk.

That would be really cool if CR copied that "value added" travel plus, even if they added $1 to the exit tax.

Costa Rica has so much to learn from their neighbor's to the South. Every year this country gets a little more pathetic.

This reminds me of a scene in "Clear and Present Danger" when Jack Ryan attempts to rent a helicopter in Colombia:

Jack Ryan: I'm here to rent the Huey.
Helicopter owner: We don't rent it anymore, but it is for sale.
Jack Ryan: How much?
Helicopter owner: Two million dollars.
Jack Ryan: Uh, my pilot and I will have to take it for a test drive.
Helicopter owner: Of course, you just have to leave a deposit.
Jack Ryan: How much is that?
Helicopter owner: Two million dollars.
Jack Ryan: Umm...
[Shows a CIA business card]
Jack Ryan: Would you take a company check?

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The most dangerous adversaries are the ones that come with a smile instead of a sword

Here's their first defense to this tragic avoidable situation, Google translated from today's on line LaNacion, so it isn't the best but you'll get their points which are essentially: We did everything right, not our fault, language barrier, weather was bad, private matter between the parties:

Defense. "Marco Campos, Malpais Emergency lawyer (Emergency Cóbano) indicated that the foreign itself was treated at that center for "trained".

El representante indicó que, cuando se pidió el helicóptero, recurrieron a un convenio con una clínica privada en San José.

The representative indicated that, when asked the helicopter, they resorted to an agreement with a private practice in San Jose.

“Sin embargo, el seguro internacional no lo autorizó y la tarjeta tampoco autorizó el rebajo de un monto que era muchísimo menor al que se dice”, expresó Campos.

"However, no international insurance and not authorized credit card rebate of an amount that was far less than what is said," said Campos.

El abogado agregó que, hasta ayer, no habían recibido copia de la nota emitida por la Embajada.

The lawyer added that, until yesterday, had not received a copy of the note issued by the German Embassy.

Asimismo, apuntó que el centro médico no cobró por los servicios dados.

He also noted that the medical center did not charge for the services rendered.

“Se procedió a trasladarlos al centro médico más cercano como indica la ley.

"He proceeded to take them to the nearest medical facility as required by law.

No se pudo coordinar con Fuerza Pública porque había un frente frío y estaba lloviendo”, argumentó el abogado.

HERE'S THE BEST:Failed to coordinate with security forces because he had a cold front and it was raining, argued the lawyer.

Mauricio Guardia, jefe del Servicio Vascular del Hospital México, confirmó que la extranjera fue atendida ahí.

Mauricio Guardia, Chief of Vascular Hospital Mexico, confirmed that the foreign was treated there.

Explicó que la paciente presentaba daño arterial y brazo edematoso.

He explained that the patient had arterial damage and edematous arm.

Dijo que, aunque el tiempo de traslado era importante, las lesiones eran muy graves.

He said that although the transfer time was important, the injuries were very serious.

Además, estimó que quizá el idioma generó un problema de comunicación entre los heridos y los médicos.

It considered that perhaps the language generated a communication problem between the injured and doctors.

Marco Vinicio Vargas Pereira, director de Protocolo y Ceremonial del Estado, comunicó que el caso era un asunto de carácter privado, pero que se puso en conocimiento del Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ).

Marco Vinicio Vargas Pereira, Director of State Protocol and Ceremonial, reported that the case was a private affair, but that is informed the Judicial Investigation Organization (OIJ).

I always buy the medical insurance when I come now. I don't need the vacation insurance, just medical evacuation and similar coverage. I have purchased it for as little as $14 for a trip. An accident and costs associated with getting you back to the USA could be devastating to your finances.

Estebanh: Do you remember what company you bought it from? I am overpaying. thanks.

Its very basic insurance. I paid $15.00 for it from Roam Right http://www.roamright.com/


Baggage & Personal Effects $750.00
Baggage Delay $200.00
Business Assistance Included
Concierge Assistance Included
Emergency Accident and Sickness $15,000.00
Evacuation and Repatriation of Remains $150,000.00
Fourteen Day Free Look Included
K*ds Under 18 Included at No Charge Included
Missed Connection $200.00
Security Assistance Services $100,000.00
Trip Delay $500.00
Trip Interruption (Return Air Only) $500.00
Worldwide Travel Assistance Included

A couple others that have been mentioned before-
http://www.insuremytrip.com/index.html
https://www295.americanexpress.com/prem ... Medical#99

thanks for the info...i've never purchased it before, but it's a lot of protection for fifteen bucks!!

kr

I recently purchased Medicare part C from blue cross blue shield. It will cover the first 65,000 of any emergency medical expenses outside the United States.

Of course you have to be an old man like me to get that.

Lee

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PS: DO NOT SEND MONEY!

Good info for alot of guys, some day for all of us.

Do your research , most companies have so many exclusions you have to be dead to collect.
http://www.travelinsurancereview.net/
So far, reading the customer reviews of various companies, ripoff and scam seem to be adjective used most often.
From my own experience, the insurance sold through American Airlines is pure scam, now called ALLainz

If any one comes across a decent insurance company post it here.
Flaco

Interesting point Flaco. Most insurance is regulated by State Insurance commissions. But, I have no idea if they regulate travel insurance.

Here is one site that looks legitimate that may offer help in determining if the insurer is providing a legitimate product.

I understand that Travel insurance can help but when an accident occurs every thing depends on your luck or fate or whatever you call it.
This is my opinion because when I had a car accident 3 miles from home and an ambulance took me in 5 minutes from the crash site to the best hospital in the city their ER doctor screwed up big time.
I was told after X-rays that my head injuries and hip/leg injuries showed no broken bones and all I had was a couple of broken ribs that would heal by themselves. So in 2 hours time I took a taxi home. I had excellent car and medical insurance so that was no problem at all. The car was totalled.
The next day I found that my right hip hurt and I had difficulty walking and I could not sleep unless I put an ice pack on my right hip and took codine pills. After 3 days I went back to the hospital ER and they took X-rays again and said all was fine and I was just sore.
After 7 days when I still could not walk and the pain persisted I went directly to an orthopedic surgeon ( my insurance in those days allowed me to do so) and he took a CT scan of my hip and sent me straight to the hospital where he operated on me for a broken hip socket (acetabulam) the next morning. I spent 6 weeks in there flat on my back.
So you see even at home after an accident everything depends on those around you not much on your insurance.

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Softbob

There is nothing either good or bad
but thinking makes it so.
HAMLET

There are many things that can happen in life.

On my last trip to Colombia we were staying in an apartment in Laurles. It was directly across from the Exito. You could either cut across traffic, which was four lanes traveling at high speeds, or walk to the bridge which had three landing on each side.

My choice was tho cut traffic. On my way back I thought I could make it to the median. My failure was to look and see that it was a twelve inch curb face. I work in an industry daily with parking lots, and most curbs are six inches. I reached the median and did not lift my back foot high enough. I caught my toe on the median. This sent me to a face plant on the asphalt in the fast lane of the other side of the street. With my head on the asphalt I looked up to see a car tire about to hit my head. This is the first time in my life I actually thought I was going to die. The driver yanked his car right (fortunately no one was next to him) as he hit the brakes. I pulled back and felt the fender (or air) rush by my head. He was able to pull over to the right. One second later and he would have hit my head, or I would have face planted into the side of his car.

All worked out well in what could have easily killed me because of my stupidity. I did have travel insurance though.

One never knows and the $50 or so that you will spend may well be worth it.

Health & happiness to all...............

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It's not the size of the wand that put the rabbit in the hat, it's the magic in it!!!