There are two types of health care in Costa Rica one being a government-sponsored network of hospitals and clinics throughout the country, the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS) has primary responsibility for providing low-cost healthcare services to the Costa Rican populace. Although sometimes overburdened, this system has worked well for Costa Ricans for the past 60 or so years. Foreigners living in Costa Rica—legal residents only in one of the residence programs like pensionado or rentista—can join the CCSS and get free treatment (everything from checkups to prescription drugs to major surgeries) by paying a small monthly fee–based on income. Tourists and visitors can use Caja facilities only in emergencies. The second system is the private system. Throughout Costa Rica, there are many private doctors clinics that can provide service to visitors and tourists as well offer additional services for Costa Ricans and legal residents. Cima Hospital is one of two private hospitals in Escazu, San Jose and the best equipped to handles any health issue. Both systems are constantly being upgraded – new hospitals, new equipment and improvements in staff training.
Sidebar: over the recent years there are many returning visitors that utilize the private health care system for dental, optical surgeries as well as other procedures to the high quality and low costs.