www.CostaRicaTicas.com

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....

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Don't try to understand 'em, just rope 'em down and brand 'em...

I haven't lived in C.R. full time but have been in country on a couple of five week stints. I would say if you cook your own food and have a fulltime apt or house with $2000 a month you could live any where in the country beach or San Jose area. You will have to maintain discipline on your food and beverage budget though. On a $1300 budget you would just be getting by and living at the beach would be tough unless you could score a really good deal on an apt or got a roommate and split some of the living expenses. This is just my observation.

I believe that if you get your residency as a retiree (or any residency) you have to pay the caja. If you are a perpetual tourist then you would not, nor would you be able to.

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.

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bypassin' kinky, and usin' the whole chicken!!!

You moving down there?

I'm back in Ft. Lauderdale but will be working 6 day weeks 50 hours a week from now thru Jan, I'm selling ins at a large agency and it's open enrollment, quite the busy season. I am working on doing so next year after I turn 62 in July part time from home to supplement ss earnings, if all goes well will "retire" down there and work apx 15 to 20 hours (possibly more only if I want to) a week from home on the phone. I'm off Sundays, maybe we can hook up if you're not to busy and you're still here, I talk to PR once in a while but we haven't had a chance to get together yet.

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Don't try to understand 'em, just rope 'em down and brand 'em...

Net,
From my understanding (all correct if i'm wrong) it is based upon your retirement. If you are paying based upon
1000K a month, it would be cheaper than someone @ 2500K a month. I have never seen a breakdown of this, but it is my understanding due to some changes in the law and CAJA that it is based upon your income (retirement, 401K, SS). Which must be proven and verified.
Regards, 911 Driver

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The happy hour is a device either for getting rid of social obligations hurriedly en masse or for making overtures toward more serious social relationships, as in the etiquette of whoring.- Brooks Atkinson

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

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Living The Dream

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This post is provided purely for entertainment purposes and free of charge on the part of the author. No "tourist or travel" promotion is expressed or implied. The author of this post was not provided any compensation for this hopefully entertaining contribution. Any posts regarding any event or hotel item are just my humble opinions only.

Would also be different rate for pensionado, rentista and the other categories of legal workers. That is how I understand it. If anyone has rates please post.
Regards, 911 Driver

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The happy hour is a device either for getting rid of social obligations hurriedly en masse or for making overtures toward more serious social relationships, as in the etiquette of whoring.- Brooks Atkinson

This is from Feb, 2014

https://outlierlegal.wordpress.com/2014 ... ve-to-pay/

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 respect your position, but some of us do not want to live with the uncertainty of deportation at an inopportune time. I've no issue paying into useless social programs: I am from the USA!

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bypassin' kinky, and usin' the whole chicken!!!

If your income is low enough it might be worth it, but I sure pity anyone applying for residency here, which is a continuous process as well, not a one time thing.

That very helpful link posted above shows if you have a reasonable income you'll pay 12% just in caja fees.

Think about that. And that % will be increasing, guaranteed.

And you sure as hell don't want to apply for any of the other types of residency based on investments etc. Potential huge mistake.

If your income is low you can use a Florida address and buy an ACA HMO for maybe $100 a month. Pay cash in CR as needed.

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.

Thanks BT and everyone else who offered advice and suggestions, I will continue to research this issue and report any interesting or useful findings. Anyone else who wants to chime in, especially those who have had actual real experience using this service, please opine

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Don't try to understand 'em, just rope 'em down and brand 'em...