I live in Costa Rica
Eligible residents may use applicable CCSS services and can also choose private care. Medicina Mixta rules and benefits require active eligibility verification.
For U.S. citizens, residents and visitors
Healthcare in Costa Rica for Americans.
The appropriate route depends on whether you live in Costa Rica, your residency and CCSS eligibility, your insurance, urgency and whether the care is routine, specialist-led or planned medical travel.
Start with your situation.
I am visiting
Visitors commonly use private providers and should confirm insurance, payment, records, prescriptions and follow-up before care.
I am traveling for treatment
Request a written clinical proposal, provider information, travel timeline, recovery plan and complication pathway before booking.
Documents and questions to prepare.
- Medication list, allergies, diagnoses and relevant records
- Passport identification and insurance or CCSS information when applicable
- Preferred language and emergency contacts
- How prescriptions and records will transfer between countries
- Who coordinates after-hours needs and follow-up
For official country information, consult the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica and the relevant Costa Rican authorities.
Medical travel guide · Medicina Mixta information · How care coordination works
Can an American automatically use CCSS services?
No. Access and coverage depend on legal status, enrollment, eligibility and applicable CCSS rules. Confirm your individual status directly.
Does Green Healthcare provide medical treatment?
No. Green Healthcare coordinates care and information. Independent licensed professionals and facilities provide clinical services.
Moving to Costa Rica: your healthcare preparation list.
Before you leave
- Ask your current clinicians for a care summary, medication list, allergies, relevant results and follow-up schedule.
- Confirm whether your existing insurance covers living abroad, planned care and ongoing conditions; ask for written coverage dates and exclusions.
- Discuss medication continuity and identify who will monitor ongoing treatment after your move.
As you establish your new home
Contact CCSS about the insurance route and documents that apply to your circumstances. Do not assume that eligibility, enrollment and active coverage are the same step. The CCSS official procedures directory lists insurance-related processes; obtain current requirements directly.
Identify your local care contacts, how to book routine appointments, how costs are confirmed and where to seek urgent help. Keep accessible copies of records and share the plan with family members where appropriate.
Questions for a coordinator
“Which records should I prepare?” “Who can help me understand local access?” “How will my existing care connect with the new provider?” Bring unresolved clinical, coverage and eligibility questions to the professional or authority responsible for the answer.
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A clearer way to make your decision.
Prepare continuity of care before you move.
Understand
Your healthcare arrangements depend on your situation, residency, work, insurance and eligibility. Clarify your route with CCSS and your insurer rather than assuming an existing policy or residency application activates coverage.
Compare
Compare public-system eligibility, private self-pay care and insurance terms. Ask about exclusions, pre-existing conditions, claim procedures, provider access and the costs of ongoing medicines and monitoring.
Verify
Before moving, confirm coverage dates directly, prepare records and medication information, and identify where you will receive routine and urgent care. Ask the appropriate professional about prescription continuity and local availability.
Questions and checks to take with you →Coordinate
Once you understand your options, tell us what you need help organizing. A coordinator can help with questions, provider information and practical next steps. Independent licensed professionals make clinical decisions.
Ask a coordinatorGeneral education, not a diagnosis or treatment recommendation. Ask an appropriately qualified clinician about your individual circumstances.
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