The Houston Dentist :: Houston, TX Cosmetic Dentistry

The cost of quality health care in the United States and many other countries has skyrocketed over the past few years and more people find themselves without adequate health insurance. Most elective procedures such as plastic surgery are not covered by insurance anyway. This scenario is causing many people to look abroad for low cost care as an alternative to paying the high cost of treatment in their home countries. Since most people don ' t want to sacrifice quality to save a few dollars when it comes to their health, the question is whether comparable care is available for less money in Costa Rica.

Many doctors, especially surgeons, in Costa Rica have received some training in the United States or Canada and are well qualified in their field of specialization. These same doctors can afford to charge lower fees for their services in part because Costa Rica does not have a history of awarding large claims for medical malpractice or wrongful death lawsuits. In the United States physicians may pay as much as 50 % of their gross revenue for malpractice insurance, while in Costa Rica physicians can afford to be self - insured or buy inexpensive insurance. This creates some risk for the patient since it is unlikely the patient can recover any significant damages in the event of serious harm resulting from a medical mistake. This means that before agreeing to surgery the patient must be sure he or she has chosen the right practitioner and facility for the procedure.

How much can you expect to save? It depends on what you need or want done. I know of one person who needed dental work including three implants and several bridges that was quoted fees in the United States in the range of $18, 000 and ultimately had the work performed by one of San Jose ' s best dentists for $3, 800. The apparent savings was reduced by the cost of airfare ( two visits ) and the cost of a bed and breakfast for each visit but even after these additional costs the overall savings was more than 50 %.

The Medicare reimbursement rate for cataract surgery is around $3, 100 including facility fees but if you don ' t have insurance, plan on paying more than $5, 000 in the United States. In Costa Rica private pay, Gringo patients can expect to pay between $1, 200 and $2, 000 depending on their negotiating skills.

Cosmetic surgery is probably the most popular form of health care for tourists. This results from two factors; first, the cost of most procedures including travel costs is less than half the cost of similar procedures in the United States. And second, most people want privacy after appearance altering surgery and what better place is there to recuperate than in a tropical garden at your bed and breakfast or treatment spa in Costa Rica.

The potential savings discussed above mean nothing if you need to compromise on the quality of care you receive. There are more and more advertisements appearing everyday on the internet and Costa Rican newspapers and magazines for health care services. Not all of the physicians and facilities that are advertising can provide the level of care you expect. Since selection of the provider is the most important part of the decision process to receive care in Costa Rica, take your time and make thorough inquiries. The best source of information is from a friend or relative you trust who has had a good experience and outcome with a specific doctor or clinic in Costa Rica. If this is not possible, check with one of the upper - end clinics, describe the procedure you want and ask them to refer you to an English - speaking physician that practices out of their facility and then talk with the physician directly. You can also check the internet but be careful. If the physician has his own clinic you need to do more checking. Verify credentials and try and get references, if possible. Another good source of information is the Costa Rica Newcomer ' s Club which is a women ' s group that might be able to help. http: / / www. newcomersclubofcostarica. com /

You can get quality care at a fair price in Costa Rica but take extra care selecting your provider. Costa Rican ' s have a tendency to overstate their qualifications, not because they mean any harm but because the want the work. If you take your time and do your research properly, you can save a lot of money and you will be happy with the results.