Can Going to the Dentist in Costa Rica Actually Be Fun?

I'm not sure I could ever say that going to the dentist anywhere could be fun as in large round wooden containers of primates kind of fun. Just having to go to town in the middle of my day for the appointment is annoying in itself.

Compared to trips to the dentist in the States, however, I'll take the Costa Rica variety of dental care any day over that. First of all, all the equipment here is identical to that in the States and the education level and experience of the dentists are likewise.

The requisite cleaning, painless, quick, ends with  a smile

There are several more reasons, however, why I prefer dentistry here:

• Most Costa Rica dentists, it seems to me, are women. I can't tell you why, but I prefer female hands groping around in my mouth better than larger male digits. The women have a lighter touch. By the way, I made that assertion about the high ratio of female to male dentists to a female dentist and she thought not, but at least in La Zona Sur I see a lot more "Dra." signs than "Dr." signs.
• There are no pesky hygienists. 80% of the time, I visit a dentist to get a cleaning and the dentist does it herself. I've been to three (and I like them all, btw) and it is always the dentist doing the cleaning. One time there was an assistant who did just about nothing but run out to answer the phone or fetch supplies. The dentists here do it all.
• It takes far less time. Having the dentist do the cleaning means there is no downtime as in the States when the hygienist finishes and you wait for the dentist to give you another exam. Also, they are faster about it. Some use ultrasonic, some use hand tools to scrape the plaque, all have polishers, but they are not endlessly scraping and scraping the way U.S. hygienists do it.

Contributing Factors to Alcoholism in Business Travelers and Expats

Stress, anxiety, loneliness and homesickness coupled with the ever present bar or pub are just a few key factors which cause some business travelers and expats alike to develop alcoholism. As someone who has extensively traveled for both work and pleasure throughout the world, I can fully attest to the reality of these pressures.  

 

The Risky Side of Traveling Business Assignments

Traveling for business, be it for short or long term, is not as great as it may seem. Let’s face it, going across the continent on extended flights means achy muscles, swollen ankles and jet lag. If you’re in a new environment where the local language is completely foreign to you, you’ll encounter a real life “Lost in Translation” experience. And of course, if you have a family back home, mixed emotions of loneliness, sadness or guilt may likely occur. 

From Costa Rica Oregon's Obamacare Offerings Leave Me ... Whelmed

UPDATE 2, Oct. 22: OK, so though what I reported for Day 1 was correct at the time, it's all obsolete at this point.

coveroregon.com seems to be doing what it is supposed to do now and all plans show coverage for hospitalization, imaging, lab work, etc.

BUT, even with a $600 subsidy for two of us - which means some plans' premiums would be free - the deductibles/out-of-pocket expenses plus co-pays, and so on still don't compare favorably cost-wise with what we have available here in Costa Rica using only the private health care sector.  The bottom line is that health costs in the U.S. are just so far out of whack that even subsidies don't help much.

UPDATE Oct. 8: Yesterday I visited coveroregon.com again and found Bronze and Gold plans are now in the mix, but ... I was unable to access any plan's details. So, obviously, the site is still very much a work in progress and thus, my initial experience below may require revising. Stay tuned for that.

CC-Share Alike 3.0 John Fekner & Don Leicht

Today, Oct. 1, the health care insurance exchanges across the U.S. open for business. Twenty-six states have their own exchanges while the rest use the default federal exchange. Since I'm from Oregon originally, and knowing the current governor's penchant for health care issues (he's an M.D. after all), I figured I'd visit the site, coveroregon.com, to see what the actual numbers would be if we, theoretically, were to re-locate back to our home state.

In a nutshell, I was underwhelmed. That's probably partly due to having overly-optimistic expectations and partly because I've come to appreciate the good and affordable health care we have here in Costa Rica.

By the way, as expats who stay out of the U.S. at least 330 days per year, we are not required to purchase health insurance there. The mandate does not apply in our situation.

Costa Rica's Blue Zone and How to Make Your Own

Nicoya Peninsula seen from space (false color) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Recently, the International Business Times posted an article about the extraordinary lifespan of residents of Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula. The Nicoya is Costa Rica's northern peninsula, a place hosting fabulous white sand beaches and the driest climate in the country. It's home to about 75,000 residents.

According to Dan Buettner, who has studied so-called "blue zones", which are areas where it's common to find people over 100 years of age, "A 60-year-old in Costa Rica has more than a four-fold better chance of making it to 90 than a 60-year-old in America".

Costa Rica's Place in Medical Tourism

The term coined for traveling outside your home country to obtain health care is medical tourism. The primary motivation of such travellers is to take advantage of lower medical costs with an equal or at least acceptable level of care. In some cases, other countries may have treatments that are not offered in the home country because they are too new or don't have approval by government regulation or by one's insurance carrier. Even if they are covered in your home country, there may be an unacceptable wait time for the procedure.