By Christopher Howard M.A.

Perhaps this term is new to you. When you think of tourism and Costa Rica the first things that come to mind are: river rafting, surfing, sport fishing, bird watching, hiking, golf, horseback riding, tropical beaches, rain forests and volcanoes.

Medical tourism is a relatively new industry which has been evolving in Costa Rica. For years Costa Rica has been known as a Mecca for cosmetic surgery. The country has many highly trained plastic surgeons who charge a fraction of the cost of what your would pay in the States. People have been flocking to Costa Rica and have literally found the “Fountain of Youth” thanks to the country’s skilled doctors. Some even referred to Costa Rica as the Beverly Hills of the south because of its flourishing cosmetic surgery industry.

Cosmetic dentistry is another draw. Foreigners come here to have implants and other expensive procedures to save money. I have talked to many visitors who have had work done here and they are very pleased with the results and above all the affordability.

In the not too distant future I have to have to have an arthroscopic procedure done on my knees. During my youth I participated in many sports and my knees paid the price. On a recent visit to my orthopedic surgeon’s office I talked to him about medical tourism. He told me that a growing number of his clients come here for knee and hip replacements because of the lower cost and the country’s excellent doctors. He went on to say that the field of medical tourism is expanding by leaps and bounds and that the private hospitals are actively promoting these services to attract more people form abroad.

In addition to medical tourism one of the prime reasons people choose Costa Rica for retirement is to save money on their medical medical expenses and take advantage of the high-quality medical care offered here. I pay less than $2,000 a year for private medical coverage for my family and have been very please with the care I have received over the years. My family physician, Dr. John Longworth at the Clínica Bíblica Hospital, always takes his time to talk to me and do a thorough examination. This is quite a contrast to the HMO’s in the Sates that often seem like production lines with doctors under constant pressure to see many patients during the day.

I have been operated on twice and can personally vouch for the high-quality of medical care which is available in Costa Rica.