Do I need insurance for traveling to Costa Rica?
Yes. In 2025, Costa Rica’s Digital Nomad Visa requires proof of at least $50,000 in health insurance coverage, which must apply to you and any dependents. Even if you’re entering visa-free as a tourist, insurance is strongly recommended because the public Caja system is mainly for residents, while private hospitals like CIMA or Clínica Bíblica in San José charge international rates and usually require upfront payment.
Healthcare costs can escalate quickly: a private clinic visit might be $80–150, but emergency surgery or evacuation from beach towns like Tamarindo or Santa Teresa can run into thousands. Beyond costs, Costa Rica carries unique risks for nomads:
- Surfing injuries are common in coastal towns.
- Dengue fever is widespread during rainy season (May–November).
- Hiking and zip-lining incidents are common in mountain and jungle areas.
- Wildlife encounters (monkey bites, snake bites) are rare but serious.
- Remote locations often require expensive transport to San José for treatment.
Bottom line: No matter if you’re applying for the Digital Nomad Visa in Costa Rica or staying short-term, having international health insurance ensures you can access Costa Rica’s excellent private hospitals without unexpected financial shocks.
What is the difference between travel insurance and digital nomad insurance in Costa Rica?
Many digital nomads arrive in Costa Rica with basic travel insurance, only to discover it doesn’t cover long stays, visa requirements, or the activities that make the country so popular. Here’s a clear breakdown:
Duration
- Travel insurance: Short trips, usually 30–90 days with fixed dates
- Digital nomad insurance: Covers months or years, with flexible extensions.
Visa compliance
- Travel insurance: Rarely accepted for Costa Rica’s Digital Nomad Visa.
- Digital nomad insurance: Can provide the required certificate of $50,000+ coverage.
Buying coverage while abroad
- Travel insurance: Must usually be purchased before leaving home with a fixed return date.
- Digital nomad insurance: Can be started or extended while already in Costa Rica.
Routine and ongoing care
- Travel insurance: Usually emergency-only.
- Digital nomad insurance: Can include outpatient visits and follow-ups at private clinics.
Adventure sports and activities
- Travel insurance: Often excludes adventure sports like surfing, hiking, or zip-lining.
- Digital nomad insurance: Covers common Costa Rica activities, with options for higher-risk sports.
Tropical illnesses
- Travel insurance: May exclude or limit mosquito-borne diseases.
- Digital nomad insurance: Covers treatment for dengue fever and similar illnesses.
👉 For a full breakdown, see our dedicated guide: Travel Insurance vs Digital Nomad Insurance
Genki is designed for digital nomads who want strong, health-focused insurance without travel extras. It offers far higher medical limits than SafetyWing and a much lower deductible, making it especially useful in Costa Rica where private hospitals in San José can be expensive and outpatient visits are common.
Key Features of Genki
- Monthly price: Starting from €52.50 / $58
- Coverage limit: €1,000,000 (~$1.1M) annually
- Deductible: €50 per claim (none for inpatient stays)
- Policy length: Fixed periods from 1 to 12 months (renewable)
- Home country coverage: Up to 6 weeks, after 4 weeks abroad
- Pre-existing conditions: Excluded
- Sports & activities: Surfing, martial arts (non-professional), trekking up to 4,000m, recreational diving up to 30m, and paragliding included. Extreme sports, such as big-wave surfing, are excluded.
- Waiting period: 14 days for non-emergencies (waived if you had prior coverage or for emergencies).
Unique Benefits
- Direct billing with private hospitals → no need to pay large sums upfront in emergencies.
- Quality control for inpatient treatment.
- €5,000 allowance for a family member to visit in life-threatening emergencies.
- Much higher coverage limit than SafetyWing ($250,000).
Limitations of Genki
- Mental health services not included.
- Vision and hearing excluded (e.g., glasses or hearing aids).
- Dental only for accidents, up to €1,000.
- Alternative medicine (acupuncture, chiropractic, osteopathy) not covered.
- No coverage for chronic conditions or preventive care.
✅ Genki is best for digital nomads in Costa Rica who want maximum medical protection, low deductibles, and strong coverage for activities like surfing, diving, and trekking.
SafetyWing is created for nomads who want a mix of health and travel coverage. Unlike Genki, it also includes non-medical travel perks such as lost luggage and trip interruption, though it comes with lower medical limits and a higher deductibles. For Costa Rica, it works well if you’re moving around Central America or want travel extras on top of health coverage.
Key Features of SafetyWing
- Monthly price: From $56 (~$60 per 4 weeks)
- Coverage limit: $250,000 per policy period
- Deductible: $250 per claim
- Policy length: 5–364 days, renewable indefinitely up to age 70
- Home country coverage: Up to 30 days every 90 days (15 days for US citizens)
- Pre-existing conditions: Limited coverage only (emergency treatment, $25,000 lifetime)
- Sports & activities: Wide list included; Adventure Sports add-on available ($100,000 lifetime)
- Non-medical extras: Lost luggage, trip interruption, evacuation from unrest, liability protection
Unique Benefits
- Auto-renewing subscription → set it up once and stay covered while traveling.
- Travel perks (trip interruption, lost luggage) included by default.
- Works seamlessly across Central America, great for visiting Nicaragua or Panama.
- Optional Adventure Sports add-on for higher-risk activities.
Limitations of SafetyWing
- Lower medical coverage limit ($250,000) compared to Genki (€1,000,000).
- Higher deductible ($250) makes small outpatient visits more expensive.
- Routine checkups, preventive care, and most dental/vision excluded.
- Mental health and cancer treatment not fully included.
✅ SafetyWing is best for budget-conscious nomads in Costa Rica who want flexible coverage, automatic renewals, and travel extras for regional adventures.
Is Genki or SafetyWing better for Costa Rica?
Both Genki and SafetyWing work well for digital nomads in Costa Rica, but they suit different lifestyles and priorities.
Genki
- ✅ €1,000,000 (~$1.1M) annual coverage (far higher than SafetyWing)
- ✅ Low deductible (€50) → cheaper outpatient visits for smaller injuries
- ✅ Direct billing with private hospitals → no large upfront payments
- ✅ Strong coverage for surfing, trekking, diving, and paragliding
- ❌ No travel extras like lost luggage or trip interruption
- ❌ Excludes preventive, chronic, and mental health care
SafetyWing
- ✅ Affordable monthly price (~$60 per 4 weeks)
- ✅ Auto-renewing subscription → easy for ongoing travel
- ✅ Trip interruption & emergency evacuation included
- ✅ Lost luggage coverage (rare among nomad insurance plans)
- ❌ Lower medical coverage ($250,000)
- ❌ Higher deductible ($250) → outpatient care more expensive
- ❌ Limited coverage for pre-existing conditions, mental health, and cancer
Choose Genki' if you want maximum medical protection, low deductibles, and strong coverage for Costa Rica’s adventure activities.
Choose SafetyWing if you want flexible, budget-friendly coverage with built-in travel perks and regional flexibility.
While both insurance providers cover most needs for nomads in Costa Rica, some situations might call for different coverage. You may want higher limits for adventure sports, long-term plans for residency, or specific benefits not included in these two providers.
Visit our digital nomad insurance overview to compare additional options suited for Costa Rica and beyond.
How does healthcare work in Costa Rica?
The country has three main pillars: the public Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (Caja), the state-owned insurer INS, and private hospitals.
Public system (Caja)
- Costa Rica’s universal healthcare provider for citizens and residents.
- Funded by payroll taxes and known for affordability.
- Long wait times and limited resources outside big cities.
- Mostly Spanish-speaking staff.
- Not available to tourists or most digital nomads.
State insurer (INS: Instituto Nacional de Seguros)
- Government-owned insurance company that sells private health policies.
- Policies can meet residency or visa requirements.
- Designed mainly for residents, not nomads.
- Less flexible than international plans like Genki or SafetyWing.
- Coverage usually limited to Costa Rica only, not regional or global.
Private hospitals
- Best quality care for international patients.
- Leading hospitals include CIMA Hospital, Clínica Bíblica, and Hospital La Católica in San José.
- Expect $80–150 for a clinic visit, while surgeries or evacuations cost thousands.
- English-speaking doctors common in private hospitals.
- Upfront payment often required unless your insurer supports direct billing.
Bottom line: Tourists and digital nomads can’t rely on the Caja and will find INS too limited. Private hospitals are excellent, but expensive, which is why international health insurance for Costa Rica is the safest option.
Why digital nomads should choose an international insurer
While local options like INS exist, international providers such as Genki and SafetyWing are usually a better fit for digital nomads.Key reasons nomads prefer international insurance in Costa Rica:
- Global coverage: Works not just in Costa Rica, but across Central America and beyond, ideal if you travel between Nicaragua, Panama, or further.
- Easy to buy and renew: Simple online sign-up and management, unlike local insurers that require in-person processes.
- Designed for nomads: Flexible policy lengths, startable while abroad, and accepted documentation for visas.
- Direct hospital billing: Avoid large upfront payments in private hospitals if you choose an insurance with direct billing
- English support: Customer service and policy documents are fully accessible in English.
Bottom line: If you’re planning to live and work in Costa Rica as a nomad, international insurers give you the flexibility and protection you need without being tied down to local systems.
Practical insurance tips for Costa Rica
- Keep your insurance certificate ready.
- Expect upfront payment outside San José.
- Main private hospitals: CIMA, Clínica Bíblica, La Católica.
- Use translation apps in smaller clinics.
- Emergency: dial 911, Cruz Roja often faster.
- Confirm coverage for adventure sports in Costa Rica
- Dengue risk peaks May to Nov; seek care if fever develops.
Key decision factors for choosing insurance in Costa Rica
- Visa requirement: Must provide proof of at least $50,000 health coverage for the Digital Nomad Visa.
- Medical limits: Higher annual limits mean better protection against expensive private hospital bills.
- Deductibles: A low deductible makes outpatient visits (common for minor injuries or dengue) more affordable.
- Adventure coverage: Make sure typical tourist adventures are included.
- Regional flexibility: Coverage that works in Nicaragua, Panama, and beyond is useful for side trips or visa runs.
- Direct billing: Saves you from paying large sums upfront in private hospitals.
- Exclusions: Watch out for gaps like mental health, chronic conditions, or preventive care.
Final thoughts & recommendation
The best insurance for digital nomads in Costa Rica is Genki for maximum medical coverage, or SafetyWing for flexible travel perks. Choosing the right insurance in Costa Rica depends on how you plan to live and travel. Both Genki and SafetyWing are trusted by digital nomads worldwide, but they suit different needs.
- Genki is the best choice if you want maximum medical protection, low deductibles, and direct billing with private hospitals. It’s ideal for nomads applying for the Digital Nomad Visa or anyone planning to surf, dive, or trek regularly.
- SafetyWing works best if you want budget-friendly coverage with extra travel benefits like lost luggage, trip interruption, and emergency evacuation. It’s a flexible option for nomads moving around Central America or combining Costa Rica with other destinations.
✅ Bottom line: For health-first nomads, pick Genki. For flexibility and extras, pick SafetyWing. Either way, you’ll have the coverage needed to enjoy Costa Rica’s “Pura Vida” lifestyle without worrying about unexpected hospital bills.
