Expat Community > Costa Rica

turriterror
Joined 2012
Posts: 1

Response to Bizibi's Post

12 years ago

I have lived in Costa Rica for a number of years and have lost a dear friend to the negligent hospitals here. They are completely dispassionate towards any foreigner. Should something go wrong from their negligence, they simply say "it's God's will." Not their fault or problem. The social medical in this country is very inexpensive, so you get what you pay for. Recently being hospitalized here for a few nights has left me feeling more sick than when I went in due to the filth, lack of any attention to basic human services (ie: no toilet seats, no toilet paper, not receiving meds when ordered, bullying nurses too busy on their cell phones to care about the patients, etc. etc. etc.) Although you will find many Ticos that patiently try to communicate with those not fluent in Spanish, it does not hold true in the public medical field. Private insurance here is available, although at rates most retirees can not afford, so anyone in the process of moving here beware. The robberies (yes, they lifted a child through the bars on my window to go in the house to let the adult in,) the cheating, unwillingness to be honest about anything and the inherent double standards here will leave you just a little short of "pura vida."

The realtors that want your business here, will, of course, be only too happy to post glorious words about this country rather than be upfront with you and share what it is really like.

If you are wondering why I stay if things are so bad, I, too, am "stuck" here since the economic downturn has made selling my properties here impossible. So, while everyone is saying "pura vida," just don't forget to keep one hand on your wallet and the other on your pulse. The upside, I suppose, is those just moving here can find tremendous bargains from the large number of us that just want out.

Incidentally, the inflation rate here is astronomical, so it is very expensive to live in Costa Rica.

Tired in Turri

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