Why Medical Tourism In Costa Rica?
While there are many reasons why Costa Rica has become a global leader in Medical Tourism the big three are Quality,Convenience and especially Savings.
Quality
There should be no doubt that Costa Rica offers quality healthcare considering that is has multiple JCI (Joint Commission International) Accredited hospitals and numerous medical and dental facilities accredited by either the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care International (AAAHCI) or the American Association for Accreditation for Ambulatory Surgery Facilities International (AAAASFI). As well, many of the physicians, dentists and surgeons in Costa Rica were educated or have received training in American or western European medical institutions. Should you care to look at the credentials of these facilities or surgeons, they are usually available online or upon request.
Convenience
The fact that Costa Rica is within a 3-5 hour flight from most places in the United States and reached via direct flight from nearly 10 major airports in North America, getting to Costa Rica is easier than it has ever been. With the number of flights coming every day, there is always a sale with a fare at a price that you can afford. If you are willing to travel to Costa Rica in non-peak season (May – November) you should be able to find even better deals. Costa Rica is closer than you think and flights are less expensive than you might imagine. In fact, a flight from Atlanta to Costa Rica is 1 hour shorter in flying time than a flight from Atlanta to San Francisco. If you live in the southeast US, your flight time will likely be about 3 hours.
In 2012, Costa Rica recorded nearly 50,000 medical tourists and that number is only expected to continue rising. With nearly 25% of all Americans now having passports, flights to Costa Rica are more affordable than ever.
Savings
The number one reason why people come to Costa Rica for medical and dental care is the dramatic savings. What makes it even better is that you receive all that savings with the quality you want and expect. On average, a medical tourists traveling to Costa Rica can save 40% to 70%. Even including the travel and hotel costs, the savings are substantial. A common example would be that a dental crown in the U.S. typically costs $1,000 or more, while in Costa Rica can cost $500 or less; dental implants in the U.S. can average $3,000 while in Costa Rica they are $900. This is the same crown and implant that would be used in the US. With more complex dental and medical work, the savings can be even greater.