SOMETHING VERY WISE TO HAVE - FOR YOUR LIFE IN COSTA RICA (AND MORE PEACE OF MIND AND EASE)!!!
Private AMBULANCE Service in Costa Rica (the Central Valley)
(since I first wrote this post over 4 years ago, LOTS of private ambulance services have sprung up around Costa Rica)
(since I first wrote this post over 4 years ago, LOTS of private ambulance services have sprung up around Costa Rica)
EMERGENCIAS MEDICAS
Nearly 5 years ago I had "signs" taking me from the Sarasota/Venice, Florida area I LOVED SOOOO MUCH to the MAGICAL country of Costa Rica - a more advance/semi-3rd world country.
After traveling around the country 3 trips at 10-14 days each & going inside to look at what I desired from life right now - I realized one of the many things I wanted was more EASE & PEACE of MIND!!!
I also looked at the fact that though I was one of the healthiest people I knew, I'm not spring chicken (I'll be 53 years young on June 9 [birthday greetings are welcome!!] & though I'm not a fan of Western Medicine - I needed to be real about the potentials of what COULD happen when one lives further from good - especially emergency - health care, so I decided to move to the area that had the MOST conveniences & ease for me - the Central Valley - specifically Escazu (San Rafael) - THE MOST developed/"gringo-ized" part of Costa Rica where I have just about every modern convenience I could desire/need - much of it practically within a 15 block radius.
I quickly learned that, for me, Costa Rica is a country that WILL FORCE you to live IN THE PRESENT/being CONSCIOUS 24/7 - not just for crime (which is everywhere) but mainly, for fear of falling into a hole or tripping over a random piece of metal sticking out of the cement - or your car falling into an open manhole because some fools stolen it over the past 10 minutes in morning rush hour with people watching it yet not doing anything about it (they can sell it). These "reminders" have shown up on NUMEROUS parts of my body - in a crushed big toe, getting stung by ants & my feat reacting for over a year, MANY MANY falls (the latest seem to have me landing on my right knee!!!) with the worst resulting in torn tendons to prove it!
Health-wise I haven't had a "cold" in AGES though I had that allergy to mold/asthma epidemic that went around a few years ago that landed me in the clinic getting 4 nebulizers & 2 IV steroid drips & numerous drugs - none of which worked & I could barely sleep/breathe for 6 weeks.
None of these are things I'd really happened in my life before
Then, the night before a trip back to the states, I'd gone 2 nights without sleep & 3 days literally without food or water (I was feeding off adrenalin - my "drug of choice") when something happened & I ended up in the hospital with BEYOND MEGA HIGH blood pressure (I'd only recently learned I had an issue with it & hadn't dealt with it) - so, being one that believes if I take Preventative Measures - I have more "control" & can release any "What if___?" fears. Added to living solo & in a VERY difficult place to find, though I have LOTS of taxi's around me that know me & my home well & CIMA Hospital (THE gringo/Texas-based hospital) - I realized I need to know that I can be taken care of in an emergency so I sought out options to get me to a hospital - just in case!!!
I've known numerous people that have called the only public ambulance service in the country - Cruz Rojo•Red Cross for an emergency & it's not all that rare for them to take quite a bit of time to come & I didn't want to risk my life on that. (I also inspected a few of their ambulances).
Also, in time of crisis, even the best Spanish speaking person can panic & forget how to speak it - especially in translating crucial/sometimes time critical information & Emergencias Medicas said they always have someone there that speaks English.
HOW DID IT GO DOWN?
Initially I was sent a guy that was real nice/helpful but his English was VERY limited (though I HAD told them originally that I "No habla Español!!") but eventually I connected with
OLGA MORUA
who speaks GOOD English & she's VERY helpful!!
At the time of registering they give you a bunch of stickers with their phone their on them (unfortunately there wasn't a line to write your account on it but I did just that - to help me avoid an extra step/gathering of info). I gave one to my neighbors, the groundsman & my 2 GOOD friends that know my wishes (& one has my Power of Attorney) - in case of emergency (better to be overly prepared - especially Goddess Forbid - IF anything ever happened - it's one less thing I have to worry about!!! I also have one in my wallet - by my Costa Rican Driver's License (with Organ Donor sticker!!!) & my Red Cross card that states what my blood type is as well as my Organ Donor Card.
WHERE DOES IT COVER ME?
If you get the personal plan, MY understanding is that it cover YOU wherever you go (IF they reach that area). Now, if someone is in your house or in your car if you had an accident & they require an ambulance - they can NOT get transported - even if you want to pay for it - so they'll need to wait for a Cruz Rojo ambulance or take a taxi (NOTE - if they are involved in an accident & INS needs to be called - do NOT NOT NOT NOT transport yourself or you will NOT be covered!! WAIT till the INS ambulance comes & transports you to an INS supported hospital!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I've KNOWN NUMEROUS people that their coverage was negated because they did not follow this!!!!)
WHAT AREAS DO THEY SERVE?
Emergencias Medicas supports the provinces/states of San Jose, Alajuela & Heredia & have satellite offices (where the ambulances hang when not in action) around the Central Valley in:
SAN JOSE PROVINCE:
Escazu (in Paco Plaza [just down the street from me so I feel better at the chance of them arriving at my home quickly.))
Pavas
Curridabat
Guadalupe de Goicoechea
Parque de la Paz
HEREDIA:
Heredia
Belen
Lagunilla de Heredia.
ALAJUELA:
Río Segundo.
El Coyol
PRICE/HOW DO YOU PAY FOR IT?
The price for me (solo & under 60) is just around $16/month. Of course the price goes up the higher your age &/or with more people in the household. 2 people over 65+ is around 25,000-c/month. You can also get a plan to cover your business.
I opted for the auto pay which comes out of my Costa Rican bank account the 1st of the month (not sure if you can do it with a credit card only. I think you can only do this with a CR bank account).
WHEN DOES IT BECOME EFFECTIVE?
On the 1st day of the next month the account goes into effect. This policy covers you - be you in your home, a park or even your car!
WHAT TO DO IN AN EMERGENCY?
Emergencias Medicas gives you a special Emergency phone number to call & on the Membership Card they give you - you give them your "code"/membership info (I've been told they DO have some people at the emergency number that speak English [I'm learning more & more EVERY day!!!]). Then an ambulance arrives with a paramedic AND doctor & full emergency equipment (including cardiac) to attempt to stablize you at home (Olga in the office said that 85% of the time - that's all that's needed).
IF THEY (the Emergencias Medicas doctor AND the hospital YOU’VE chosen to go to [I believe you give that information to them when signing up so they take you there. HANDS DOWN for ME it's HOSPITAL SAN JUAN DE DIOS]) assess that you TRULY NEED to go to the hospital - they'll bring me THERE (if you need a ride home from the hospital - that is NOT included but they will give you a contact for that). This is included in your monthly fee. One thing I wasn't totally clear on - I THINK I understood her to say that if they (the ambulance & crew that comes to my house) use any extra things (drugs, etc.) - that I would pay that difference - but again - I'm not 101% on that.
FOR MORE INFORMATION &/OR TO SIGN UP:
Olga Morua (8-372-4428)
If you desire to email either - send it to their secretary - lgomez@EmergenciasMedicas.net, rjimenez@EmergenciasMedicas.net, olgamorua@hotmail.com - but, put the name of whomever you’re sending it to in the “Subject” box
I think this is a VERY WISE & SMALL INVESTMENT YOU REALLY SHOULD LOOK INTO -
FOR YOUR LIFE!!!!
Tell them Vicki Skinner (aka the Sarong Goddess) sent ya!!
(I make NOTHING from this - just sharin’ IMPORTANT info!!)
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Has this DETAILED information been helpful to you - brought more ease into your life, saved you time and/or $$$/¢¢¢¢?
Please consider showing your appreciation for and helping keep this detailed blog going by making a
DONATION
You can do it via PAYPAL (you do NOT need to have a PayPal account) - or send me an Amazon.com Gift Card!!!
ANY amount is appreciated since this is my ONLY source of "income" and VERY FEW people give back/donate!!!
Go to the top LEFT column of the blog for details.
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PLEASE SHARE THIS WITH YOUR FRIENDS IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY OF COSTA RICA AND ANYONE THINKING OF MOVING TO COSTA RICA:
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