Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Everything you need to know before your trip
Healthcare Cost Level
High
Avg. ER Visit
$800
Recommended Coverage
$250,000
Evacuation Risk
Moderate
Healthcare in Costa Rica
What to expect if you need medical care
Costa Rica offers good-quality healthcare, and you'll find that English is widely available in medical facilities, making communication relatively straightforward. However, you'll face significant costs as a foreigner. Private hospitals and clinics, which you'll likely use as a tourist, charge premium rates—expect around $800 for an emergency room visit and $1,200 per day if hospitalized. The public healthcare system offers limited access to tourists, so you'll be paying out-of-pocket or filing insurance claims for private care. The good news is that medical staff are generally well-trained and facilities are modern, but without insurance, even minor medical issues can become expensive. Remote areas like the Osa Peninsula and Corcovado National Park have limited medical access, potentially requiring costly evacuations to reach proper facilities.
What Your Policy Should Cover
Country-specific considerations for Costa Rica
Your policy needs to address Costa Rica's specific adventure tourism landscape. Standard policies often exclude zip-lining, one of the country's most popular activities, so verify you have adventure sports coverage. White-water rafting may require a specific rider, and if you're surfing, ensure your policy includes water sports coverage. Volcano hiking is another consideration—check for volcanic activity exclusions since Costa Rica has active volcanoes. You'll also want robust medical evacuation coverage given the moderate risk level; remote areas like Corcovado National Park may require helicopter evacuation to reach adequate facilities. Year-round moderate risks for dengue fever and Zika virus mean your policy should cover tropical disease treatment. Given the high risk of adventure sports injuries throughout the year, comprehensive accident coverage is non-negotiable.
Dengue_fever
Moderate Risk
Peak: year-round
Zika_virus
Moderate Risk
Peak: year-round
Malaria
Low Risk
Peak: year-round
Adventure_sports_injuries
High Risk
Peak: year-round
Activity-Specific Coverage
Zip_lining: Often excluded from standard policies; requires adventure sports coverage
White_water_rafting: May require specific adventure sports rider
Volcano_hiking: Check for volcanic activity exclusions
Surfing: Water sports coverage needed for surfing-related injuries
How Much Coverage Do You Need?
Our recommendation based on Costa Rica's healthcare costs
The recommended $250,000 coverage reflects Costa Rica's healthcare cost structure and evacuation needs. With hospital stays at $1,200 per day, a serious injury requiring a week of hospitalization plus surgery could easily exceed $20,000. Factor in moderate evacuation risk from remote areas—helicopter evacuations can cost tens of thousands—and the high risk of adventure sports injuries, and you'll see why the minimum $100,000 might not suffice. The $250,000 recommendation provides adequate cushion for extended treatment, potential evacuation, and the premium costs of private healthcare that tourists must use.
Minimum
$100,000
Basic emergencies only
Recommended
$250,000
Full protection
Making a Claim in Costa Rica
Tips for smooth claims processing
Documentation Required: Medical reports in Spanish or English, itemized bills, proof of payment, police reports for adventure activity incidents
- Keep all medical documentation in either Spanish or English—both are accepted for claims, making Costa Rica relatively straightforward for documentation
- Always request itemized bills and proof of payment from any medical facility, as these are required for claims processing
- If you're injured during adventure activities like zip-lining or rafting, obtain a police report—it's specifically required for adventure activity incident claims
- Save receipts for all out-of-pocket payments immediately, as claims processing is considered moderately difficult and complete documentation helps avoid delays
- Before participating in adventure sports, photograph or document your policy's coverage confirmation for that specific activity to avoid disputes later
Get Covered for Costa Rica
Protect your trip to Costa Rica with comprehensive coverage from a trusted provider.
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