Healthcare is a hot topic in the news, with healthcare reform a possibility in the United States. Media outlets are comparing the current US system to other countries’ government-run healthcare programs. So, some of you may be wondering, what is Costa Rica’s healthcare system like?

The World Health Organization, in its last report of the world’s best health care systems, ranked Costa Rica at 36 and the United States at 37. While this report is disputed by some (though also widely cited), it demonstrates that Costa Rica’s system is not far behind the most advanced, industrial nations.

The United Nations and CIA World Factbook both calculate the average life expectancy for Costa Rica and the United States to be about even, between 77-79 years. Additionally, Costa Rica is gaining popularity as a medical tourism destination.

Costa Rica’s system, the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social, which is known simply as the Caja, is funded mainly by employers who pay 9.25 percent into the social security system and employees who pay 5.5 percent. The government provides only for the 17 percent of people that live below the poverty line. Costa Rica also offers a private option, which those with disposable income often choose in order to avoid long waits.

There are benefits and flaws to every health care system, and here at Costa Rica Outward Bound we aren’t supporting one system over another. However, we feel confident in the health care available in Costa Rica, and we want all students and parents to feel safe about coming here.