Costa Rica Medical Tourism: World Class Accredited Hospitals And Exquisite, Affordable Medical Care In Costa Rica

With the increase in people losing their health insurance, Costa Rica medical tourism is now taking up the slack for more than 25,000 people every year. Mostly Americans, they board a jet or cruise ship and head south for Costa Rica. And, more and more folks are taking vacations to this little Latin American country that include medical tourism. Why? Because they have found that medical care in Costa Rica is now on par with the best hospitals in the United States but at a fraction of the cost. It is ironic that the wealthiest country the world has ever seen is essentially outsourcing medical care of its citizens.

There is a stubborn urban myth that American health care is the best in the world. Maybe it was true once upon a time. Of course, there are many thousands of hospitals on this planet that do not measure up to the standards of many American hospitals, but today there are many that do so. The top hospitals in the world are today certified and have Joint Commission International Accreditation, providing assurance that they meet the most rigorous international benchmarks for hospital standards and patient care.

Many countries simply cannot meet the stringent requirements and standards to have a hospital accredited. But, three Costa Rica hospitals are accredited by JCI. They are , Cima, and Clinica Biblica, all in or very near to San Jose. Each has a wide range of surgical services and Board Certified doctors.

American health care is the costliest in the world—by a long shot. And, for the nearly fifty million Americans without health insurance, injury is added to insult because most care givers and hospitals charge uninsured patients much more for services than folks fortunate enough to have good insurance. This is where Costa Rica medical care comes into play. Thousands of suffering American travelers are becoming Costa Rica medical tourists because they want to get great care and save money. Many find savings of up to 65% in Costa Rica for the identical services they would receive in the United States-if they had the money.

Not convinced? Here is one example. For patients without health insurance, total knee replacement surgery in the U.S. can cost more than $25,000. Clinica Biblica charges about $12,000.

The three San Jose internationally accredited medical hospitals and board certified doctors—many of whom have studied and trained in the United States and at other world renowned medical schools—typically charge about $3,200 for breast augmentation. Lasik eye surgery that can cost up to $5,000 in the U.S. is often less than $2,000. For more and more women wanting plastic surgery, Costa Rica is increasingly popular. Instead of paying $10,000 for a facelift, they pack their swimsuit and sunscreen and board a plane for Costa Rica where for about $3,000 or so, they can have the same procedure, recuperate in a tropical paradise on a Costa Rica vacation, and go home with money in their pocket.

Many people prefer to be treated in a clinic rather than hospital. After all, great medical care does not have to take place in a hospital. There are many impressive clinics, too, in Costa Rica. Besides the three Joint Commission accredited hospitals, there are three Costa Rica clinics accredited by the American Association for the Accreditation of Ambulatory Facilities. They are the University of Iberoamerica(UNIBE) which offers ambulatory and surgical care; Sonrisa Por Todo (Smiles for Everybody) providing dental care; and Pino Plastic Surgery Clinic. Like the hospitals, these clinics have board certified physicians or dentists.

Aesthetic surgeries account for about 13% of all Costa Rica medical tourism and more than one third of all Costa Rica medical tourists come for dental surgery or implants. Dental implants that sometimes cost more than $2,500 in America are between $500-$750 in Costa Rica. Periodontal surgery costing $2,500 in the U.S. is about $400.

Like any place else in the world costs, of course, vary by provider so compare. And, always ask if there is a discount for payment by cash rather than credit card. Finally, consider this. Many medical and dental insurance companies cover dental or medical care in Costa Rica so, make it a point to contact your carrier and Costa Rica service provider before your treatment.

Victor Krumm writes from sunny Costa Rica in his beautiful Costa Rica Vacations site. Before vacationing, check out Costa Rica Beaches You can get a unique content version of this article from the Uber Article Directory.

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Marine Turtle Tagging Expedition In Costa Rica

Recently, a Costa Rica based scientific fin and satellite tagging program got underway at Cocos Island to map the migration patterns of marine turtles.

Conservationists and researchers travel Costa Rica open waters for 30 hours or more in their pursuit of migration habits about these ancient marine animals.

They are engaged in a kind of scientific working Costa Rica vacation that they anticipate will contribute to preserving these marvelous animals now endangered in much of their range.

Cocos Island, once described by the world famous marine explorer, Jacque Cousteau, as the most beautiful island he had ever visited, lies some 340 miles off the Pacific shore of Costa Rica, almost halfway to the Galapagos Islands.

It is unlikely that it was the tropical coconut palms or beaches that captivated the Captain. Its beauty is found nearby, just off its shores, under water. Costa Ricans have chosen it as one of the Seven Wonders of Costa Rica because in these waters one finds incomparable treasure: vast numbers and varieties of fish, whales, porpoises, and turtles.

Sea turtles have been roaming the oceans since the age of dinosaurs. Imagine the mighty T Rex preying on them 200 million years ago when they paddled ashore to nest.

These ancient beings are found in all the oceans of the world except the Arctic and Antarctic.

These ancient beings roam all the seas on the globe except the frozen Arctic and Antarctic.

Alas , no more. Today, our unrestrained beach development and plundering of their nests have put them at risk. Millions were slaughtered in South America to make expensive Italian shoes.

Captain Cousteau observed that: “If we go on the way we have, the fault is our greed and if we are not willing to change, we will disappear from the face of the globe, to be replaced by the insect.”

However, more and more governments and conservation organizations are working to turn around the decline turtle populations. International treaties relating to sea turtles are now in place, though many countries still fail to enforce them. Conservation groups, researchers, and scientists have begun tagging ocean roaming turtles in far away places like Cocos Island, the Galapagos, Columbia, and other areas. Some marine turtles are fitted with satellite transmitters that track them 24 hours a day while others bear numbered flipper tags. It is all part of an effort to monitor their travel patterns.

We cannot undo the past but the volunteers, scientists and researchers, and volunteers have faith that the future of sea turtles is not yet written.

The author , Victor Krumm, lives in tropical Costa Rica. Follow his lovely site Costa Rica Vacations and for info about great beaches check out Costa Rica Beaches

Sea Turtle Satellite Tagging At Cocos Island, Costa Rica

A Costa Rica research fin and satellite tagging project recently got underway at Cocos Island studying its green sea turtle and hawksbill visitors.

Marine researchers, scientists, and conservation volunteers spent about 30 hours boating to the island in their search to discover migration habits of these ancient marine animals.

Consider what they do as a kind of scientific working Costa Rica vacation that perhaps will contribute to preserving these marvelous marine reptiles now sadly endangered in much of their range.

The famous mariner, Jacque Yves Cousteau, once described Cocos Island as the most beautiful island he had ever visited. The small island, only about 10 square miles in size, lies some 340 miles off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, about halfway to the Galapagos Islands.

It was not the lovely palms or beaches that enthralled the Captain. Its beauty is just off its shores, under water, in a place that Costa Ricans have chosen as one of the Seven Wonders of Costa Rica. In those waters one finds priceless treasure: vast schools of fish, porpoises, whales and turtles.

Sea turtles have swum the world’s oceans since the days of dinosaurs. Imagine mighty Tyrannosaurus Rex feeding on them 200 million years ago when they paddled ashore to lay their eggs on the beaches.

These creatures swim all the oceans of the world except the Arctic and Antarctic.

Once, the populations of marine turtles were so massive that lost sailors sometimes found land by listening for sea turtles paddling towards nesting grounds.

Once, not so long ago the sheer numbers of sea turtles were still so massive that sailors lost in the fog sometimes found their way by listening for sea turtles paddling towards ancient nesting grounds. For eons, sea turtles provided food for every sort of creature. Over eons, billions and billions were eaten by and trillions and trillions of eggs fed birds and animals, including man, for innumerable generations, yet the species’ flourished. However, in just a few short, recent generations, man’s unrestrained coastline development and wanton destruction of these animals and their eggs have put these creatures at risk. Whole populations were killed off in South America to make expensive Italian shoes.

Jacque Yves Cousteau once presciently predicted: “If we go on the way we have, the fault is our greed and if we are not willing to change, we will disappear from the face of the globe, to be replaced by the insect.”

But, world conservation organizations have not given up and are working to restore at least some turtle populations. Conservation groups are now tagging pelagic turtles like the green sea turtle in far-away places like Cocos Island. Some turtles are fitted with flipper tags while others bear satellite transmitters to help monitor their movements and it has been discovered that some species swim thousands and thousands of miles of oceans, from tropical waters to the deep waters off Canada.

We cannot undo the past but the scientists, researchers, and volunteers who are tagging sea turtles have faith that the future is not yet written.

Victor Krumm writes about tropical Costa Rica. Visit his popular site Costa Rica Vacations or check out one of Costa Rica’s Seven Wonders Cocos Island

Cocos Island Satellite Tagging Research Project In Costa Rica For Marine Turtles

A Costa Rica scientific tagging expedition recently got underway at Cocos Island to study its green sea turtle and hawksbill visitors.

Conservationists and marine researchers traveled Costa Rica open waters for about 30 hours in their search for knowledge about these ancient marine animals.

Imagine what they do as a kind of scientific working vacation in Costa Rica that perhaps will contribute to preserving these marvelous animals now sadly endangered in much of their range.

Cocos Island was described by the world famous explorer, Jacque Cousteau, as the most beautiful island he had ever visited. The small island, just nine square miles in area, lies some 340 miles off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, about halfway to the Galapagos Islands.

It is unlikely that it was the tropical coconut palms or beaches that captivated the Captain. Its beauty is found nearby, just off its shores, under water. Costa Ricans have chosen it as one of the Seven Wonders of Costa Rica because it is there that one finds priceless treasure: huge numbers and varieties of fish, porpoises, whales and turtles.

Since the days of dinosaurs sea turtles have roamed the world’s seas.

These ancient beings roam all the oceans of the world except the Arctic and Antarctic.

These ancient beings are found in all the seas on the globe except the frozen Antarctic and Arctic.

Alas , no more. Today, our indiscriminate development of beaches and destruction of their nests have put them at risk. Millions have been in South America to make expensive shoes for Europeans.

Captain Cousteau predicted that: “If we go on the way we have, the fault is our greed and if we are not willing to change, we will disappear from the face of the globe, to be replaced by the insect.”

However, more and more governments and conservation organizations are trying to restore at least some turtle populations. International treaties relating to sea turtles are now in place, though many countries still fail to enforce them. Conservation groups, researchers, and scientists have begun tagging ocean roaming turtles in far away places like Cocos Island, the Galapagos, Columbia, and other areas. Some animals are fitted with satellite transmitters that track them 24 hours a day while others bear numbered flipper tags. It is all part of an effort to track their travel patterns.

These taggingvolunteers, scientists, and researchers have confidence that marine turtles can be around another 200 million years but only if men pay more attention to protecting them than exploiting them.

The author, Victor Krumm lives in tropical Costa Rica. Follow his lovely site Costa Rica Vacations and for info about marine turtles check out Sea Turtles

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