Expat Community > Costa Rica

PacificLots
Joined 2008
Posts: 209

New Hospital Opens in the Southern Pacific to the delight of Expats in the area

16 years ago

Cortez, Costa Rica - May 4, 2008 - The ultra-modern 85,000 square foot Hospital De Osa, located in the town of Cortez, in Puntarenas, Costa Rica is now open. The hospital is the newest in Costa Rica. The hospital features multiple treatment facilities, including a state of the art emergency room, a pediatrics wing, a neurology center and an obstetrics and gynecology center. The hospital will also provide family and internal medicine as well as a clinic for routine and preventative medicine. The staff is being moved from the outdated facility in Cortez. The location was chosen due to the large influx of Americans, Canadians and Europeans moving into the area and to replace the aging facility in Cortez believed to have been built by the United Fruit Company. Cortez is just south of Dominical, Uvita and Ojochal, towns with large Expat communities.

Healthcare in Costa Rica
Costa Rica nationalized its health care system shortly after abolishing their military in the 1940s. The World Health Organization (WHO) cites that healthcare costs in Costa Rica are only a 10th of the cost of comparable care in the US though Costa Rican life expectancy is longer than that of the US. Costa Rica is home to over 30 hospitals and more than 250 government sponsored clinics throughout the country. The Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS) is the agency responsible for providing health services in Costa Rica. Although CCSS covers Costa Rican nationals, it also provides affordable medical service to any foreign resident or visitor. Residents, both national and foreign, can also buy health insurance from the state monopoly Instituto de Seguro Nacional (INS). Expats may also join the CCSS by paying a small monthly fee based on income. Costa Rica private network has over 200 affiliated doctors, hospitals, labs, and pharmacies. Since most Costa Ricans as well as residents have access to free or extremely affordable healthcare, the country rates higher in delivering quality health services to their population than does the US.

Slower pace of life for Expats
Recently an ambulance was seen racing toward the new Hospital De Osa only to stop at the nearby Expat community of Ojochal. Fearing the worst, only to discover that the ambulance was headed to Joel Yoders Mennonite baked goods stand. The ambulance stopped to sample some Shoe Fly pie, coconut macaroons and other great baked goods produced by the local Mennonite Community nearby. Ojochal is best noted as home to some of the best restaurants in Costa Rica as well as the best value for ocean view real estate. Dominical, located about 15 miles north, is noted for great surfing. The area where the mountains meet the seais home to a large community of expats. Now with the new hospital as well as the 3rd international airport in Costa Rica under construction nearby, the Southern Pacific area is booming and real estate prices are on the rise.

About Pacific Lots of Costa Rica
Pacific Lots of Costa Rica represents the largest developer in the area, with 19 years experience and over 400 employers devoted to building a residential community of single family custom homes. They offer custom construction services at only $85 per foot, fully serviced home sites and full rental and property management without the typical time limits on building, home owner association fees and other restrictions. They believe if you own the land, you should be able to do what you want with it. Judging by the shear size of their community and the number of great homes they have built, their customers seem to like what they are doing. They currently have 77 custom homes in the planning or construction phase and nearly a thousand customers to date.

Cigna Global Health

Get a quote in 2 minutes from our partner, Cigna Global Health.
Get Quote

Cigna Global Health

Get a quote in 2 minutes from our partner, Cigna Global Health.
Get Quote

Living in Costa Rica Guide

Our Living in Costa Rica Guide is a primer on everything about living in Costa Rica: best places to live, cost of living, pros and cons, healthcare and insurance, and more.

Costa Rica Forum
Join our Costa Rica forum to meet other expats and talk about living in Costa Rica.

Contribute
Help other expats and newcomers by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Costa Rica.

Best Places to Live in Costa Rica

If you're dreaming about living in Costa Rica, here are the 15 Best Places to Live in Costa Rica in 2023.

Healthcare in Costa Rica

Costa Rica has both public and private healthcare systems. When you become a resident, you must enroll in the public healthcare system (CAJA). Many expats use the public system for routine healthcare and have private expat health insurance for specialists, surgeries and emergencies.

Cost of Living in Costa Rica

If you're moving to Costa Rica, you'll want to understand the cost of living in Costa Rica. Lifestyle, location and health insurance are part of the formula.

Moving to Costa Rica Guide

Moving to Costa Rica has become more popular among expats. Making this choice requires a lot of research to ensure the expat experience you hope for will be realized.

Real Estate in Costa Rica

Real estate listings in popular cities and towns in Costa Rica.

Pros & Cons of Living in Costa Rica

Take off your rose-colored glasses and learn what expats have to say about the biggest challenges and the greatest rewards of living in Costa Rica.

Retiring in Costa Rica

Advice for people retiring in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica Visa & Residency Guide

Applying for residency in Costa Rica can be a daunting process. Which type of residency is right for me? Do I need an attorney? Do I have to leave the country every 90 days? What is a cedula? This article answers these and many other questions.

10 Tips for Living in Costa Rica

If you've recently arrived in Costa Rica, here are 10 tips for digital nomads living in Costa Rica.

Additional Information:

Visit our Costa Rica Index for a Full List

Cigna Global Health

Get a quote in 2 minutes from our partner, Cigna Global Health.
Get Quote

Cigna Global Health

Get a quote in 2 minutes from our partner, Cigna Global Health.
Get Quote

Contribute
Help others in Costa Rica by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Costa Rica.

Login

Or, Send Login Link

Expat Community > Costa Rica

New Hospital Opens in the Southern Pacific to the delight of Expats in the area

Login