Insider Secrets

You walk into a Costa Rica pharmacy with a pounding headache. You know exactly what you need — the same medication you've taken for 30 years back home. But when you ask for it, you're met with blank stares. "No tenemos eso." Sound familiar? You're not alone. Every week, I receive calls from frustrated expats who can't find their medications in Costa Rica. The truth is: Costa Rica pharmacies have most of the medications you need — they just go by different names. After 15+ yea

Understanding this system before you need it = peace of mind I'm Costa Rican. I grew up with Caja Costarricense del Seguro Social (CCSS) . I knew which EBAIS to visit, how to wait for appointments, where my family went for emergencies. I thought I understood our healthcare system completely—after all, it was mine. Then I started managing British Embassy diplomatic residences and coordinating medical care for international staff and their families. Suddenly I was seeing Costa