Editor’s Note: The following article was originally written by Julian Jordan, one of the Tribuno’s first summer interns.
Costa Rica is often known for its stunning beaches, diverse wildlife, and delicious cuisine, but the country has much more to offer than its beauty. While traveling through the city of San Jose, I noticed a sign on one of the hospitals that stated appreciation for the staff for all their hard work in caring for people during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the seminars I attended, which compared the United States and Costa Rica, there was a strong belief that “health is a right, not a privilege.”
HISTORY
After a bloody civil war in 1948, authoritarian Teodoro Picado Michalski, was placed into power and controlled by the former president Rafael Angel Calderon. Michalski’s presidency led to widespread protests and violent conflicts.
As a reaction to the presidency, Jose Figueres Ferrer led an armed revolution with the newly formed national liberation army. They successfully overthrew the Michalski administration and Figueres served as the interim president of Costa Rica until he later abdicated to Ulate Blanco, whom he regarded as the rightfully elected president. The major reform under his new leadership was to abolish the Costa Rican army and use the military funding to invest in other programs such as their healthcare system and education system. The reforms were installed into the new Costa Rican constitution and lead to a higher quality of life.
While the idea of no military sounds worrisome, Costa Rica is able to protect themselves without an army due to their relationship with the United States. Costa Rica is a committed partner on key U.S. priorities in the region, including security, democracy and human rights, governance, economic prosperity, climate change, and addressing root causes of irregular migration and migration management. Costa Rica is also one of the strongest voices in the Western Hemisphere on human rights and the rule of law making the country a key partner in the fight against transnational crime and drug trafficking. The reciprocal relationship with the U.S. has allowed Costa Rica and the U.S. to benefit from each other but only one country has been able to provide universal healthcare and high quality education.
HEALTHCARE
In my week in Costa Rica, I did not expect to learn about their healthcare system, or the “CAJA” system(Costarricense de Seguro Social). Through CAJA, citizens and permanent residents have 100% coverage for all medical procedures, appointments, hospital visits, and any prescriptions needed. The system is funded with small monthly contributions from all residents and varies based on the income level of the individuals. While there are some complaints regarding long waits, the government is constantly reinvesting in their system whether it be for infrastructure, hospitals, and equipment upgrades.
The United States has yet to adopt the concept of universal healthcare, but instead relies on private and insurance-based options. Even when people pay for insurance, there is no guarantee that the provider will cover all costs, which can result in unexpected and expensive bills. The unnecessary stress of not being able to cover a bill for a hospital visit or even the need for the medicine in the United States is quite alarming as the United States spends more per capita than Costa Rica yet they are outperforming the U.S in life expectancy (The life expectancy of Costa Rica is about 78.6 years old and in the United States it is about 76.4 years). It is a result of their preventive care, social support, and universal access from CAJA. Costa Rica may not be one of the wealthiest countries, yet, they are able to take care of their people’s health.
EDUCATION
When it comes to education, Costa Rica has set a high standard for obtaining a higher education, especially in South America. The government of Costa Rica has one of the largest budgets for education with 8% of its GDP being invested in education and a 98% literacy rate. Many students pursue higher education, which is a priority in Costa Rica. When comparing education funding in Costa Rica to that in the United States, it’s important to consider that the U.S. has a larger population and a stronger economy. However, education funding in the U.S. represents only 5.59% of its GDP.
During my tour of San Jose, I was able to visit three universities: Universidad de Iberoamerica, Universidad Hispanoamericana, and Universidad Santa Paula, all private medical schools. Iberoamerica had a blend of multiple programs such as psychology, medicine, nursing, and pharmacy as they believed that all of these branches contribute to each other. Iberoamerica stresses that collaboration is needed as each department in the school will work with each other in the professional field.
LIFE IN COSTA RICA
It was a great ability to connect with students who attend the university and listen to their school experiences as well as their life in Costa Rica; the things that they enjoyed doing, the meals they love, and the ability to share our enthusiasm for amazing cups of coffee that are native to the country.
Costa Rica is ranked the 6th happiest country in the world, while the United States is ranked 24th. Could it be from the fact that the people of Costa Rica do not have to worry about their well-being if they ever need to visit the doctor’s office? Whether they will be covered fully for a necessary procedure that would not need more income to cover?
The people of Costa Rica are less stressed, hold many deep relationships, have a healthier diet, and maintain a strong connection to nature.
I noticed the people were always happy with what they had and made the most of what they had. Here in the States, we’re known for always striving for more. The term “Pura vida” which means “pure life” is used as a greeting, but it is a way of life, and how life should be approached. We should ask ourselves why our government has not made life easier for the people it is meant to serve. A key step is to eliminate the challenges of finding healthcare providers and ensure everyone has coverage, regardless of health issues. Implementing universal healthcare would reduce these burdens and make it easier for people to see doctors for basic needs and beyond. It seems to me that the U.S. would rather continue to profit off their people instead of making sure their basic needs are met.
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Thanks Julian for this informative article. There’s much to say about our country’s priority in terms of education and health care as you pointed out.