If you’re planning a trip to Costa Rica, you might wonder about travel medical insurance. The short answer: No, it’s not required for entry. But you should get it anyway to protect yourself from high medical costs and other surprises.
Costa Rica dropped its insurance mandate in April 2022 after COVID rules eased. In this post, I’ll break down why it’s a smart move, what to cover, and how to find a good policy. This builds on our earlier article about whether travel insurance is worth it overall—check that out for more on activities like surfing or car rentals.
Costa Rica’s Entry Rules: What You Actually Need
U.S. citizens can visit Costa Rica without a visa for up to 90 days. You need a passport valid for at least one day beyond your arrival date and proof of a return ticket. No vaccinations are mandatory, but the CDC suggests shots for hepatitis A, typhoid, and rabies if you’ll be in rural areas. That’s it—no insurance proof at the border.
Without coverage, though, you’re on your own for health issues. Most U.S. health plans don’t work abroad, so a hospital visit could mean paying cash upfront. Costa Rica has good hospitals in cities like San José, but remote spots like national parks might require evacuation, which gets expensive fast.
Why Bother with Travel Medical Insurance?
Costa Rica draws people for beaches, volcanoes, and adventures, but those come with risks. Think injuries from hiking slippery trails, stomach bugs from street food, or accidents on bumpy roads. Petty theft is common in tourist areas, and natural events like storms or earthquakes can disrupt plans.
Medical care isn’t free for visitors. A simple doctor’s visit might cost $50–$100, but serious stuff like a broken bone or evacuation could hit $10,000 or more. Travel medical insurance covers those bills, plus things like prescriptions or follow-up care. It also handles emergencies—say, translating at a clinic or arranging a flight home if you’re hurt.
Even if you’re healthy, consider trip disruptions. Flights delay in rainy season (May to November), or you might cancel due to illness back home. Insurance reimburses non-refundable bookings like hotels or tours. One Reddit user skipped it and regretted it after a minor injury turned into a big bill; others say it’s peace of mind for under $100 on a two-week trip.
In our previous post, we talked about how insurance pays off for specific scenarios like zip-lining mishaps. Here, the focus is medical: If you’re doing anything active—or just existing in a tropical spot—it’s worth it to avoid wiping out your savings.
What Coverage Should You Get?
Look for a plan with these basics:
- Emergency Medical Expenses: At least $50,000 to cover hospital stays or doctor visits. Go higher ($100,000+) if you’re over 60 or have health concerns.
- Medical Evacuation: $250,000 minimum. This pays to get you to a better hospital or back home—key in remote areas like Corcovado National Park.
- Trip Cancellation/Interruption: 100–150% of your trip cost. Reimburses if you cancel for covered reasons like injury or bad weather.
- Baggage and Delay Protection: Covers lost luggage or delayed flights, which happen often on domestic hops.
If you’re into adventures, add riders for sports like surfing or hiking. Standard plans might exclude them. For car rentals, Costa Rica requires liability insurance, but your policy can add collision coverage—check if your credit card already does.
Costs? Expect $1–$10 per day, or 5–10% of your trip total. Buy soon after booking to cover pre-trip issues, like if a hurricane warning cancels your flight.
Finding the Right Policy: Try Squaremouth
Shopping for insurance? Use a comparison site to avoid overpaying. Squaremouth lets you plug in your trip details and see quotes from multiple companies side by side. They have over 100 plans, with filters for medical focus or adventure add-ons. Users leave real reviews, and their team helps with claims.
Head to Squaremouth.com to start. For Costa Rica specifics, check their destination page: Costa Rica Travel Insurance. It’s straightforward—no sales pressure.
Other options include Travel Guard (travelguard.com), which bundles medical with adventure coverage, or Allianz (allianztravelinsurance.com) for easy apps and evacuation help. Visitors Coverage (visitorscoverage.com) focuses on medical for internationals.
A Few Tips Before You Go
Read the fine print—exclude pre-existing conditions if not waived. Enroll in the U.S. State’s STEP program for alerts. And pack smart: Use ATMs in banks to avoid scams, and watch for riptides at beaches.
Travel medical insurance isn’t a must, but skipping it risks big headaches. For more on tailoring coverage to your Costa Rica plans, revisit our post on whether travel insurance is worth it. Safe travels—Pura vida!