Caja price

Look below at the Post from CRJeanne called "Legal Fees for Pensionista Temp Residency" 

Many times, the threads take 'turns' and other things are discussed... and the whole Caja Fees subject gets discussed on this forum... ALL THE TIME.  It is the latest back-and-forth regarding the price of Caja.  Your Residency Service did you an injustice by not informing you of what those fees would be.  And...  you should have asked.

As for your price.... it sounds about right for NOW.  roughly... 10% of your declared income is for Caja 'healthcare' ...   thus, $250/month; and the other $100 is a new, mandatory, Pension FEE, paid by all newcomers from outside the CA seven,, regardless of the fact that some are already receiving a Pension from their country of origin, or Will Be in the future. 

It used to be, that if you Knew It was Possible to Do So (it wasn't 'advertised, nor was it 'offered' as an option... you had to bring it up during the 'joining' process.. I took a lawyer with me who 'knew' the ropes), you could request to opt-out of paying into the CR Pension fund; simply by showing your SS Benefits letter, or calculated future benefits DURING your appointment at the caja office to join. 

As of now... it is believed that a person CAN NOT opt-out.  The fund is built by charging most new foreign applicants (from outside the central american seven) to contribute... for a minimum of 10 years; but LONGER!! if you are more than 10 years away from the official CR retirement age.  Many costa ricans do not contribute because they can't afford to... thus, they won't get squat.  Those that can afford to contribute, will get a little bit more than squat.  Expats have dough... and the new President of CR (who doesn't like gringos) wants us to 'help'... because, according to ME... he has no clue nor ideas as to how to Grow the CR Economy without stealing from 'someone'...  and the country folk love him.  Go figure.  The prior president was educated, progressive, well Spoken and Dressed and the illiterate 'folks' outside of SJ hated him.   Sound familiar???   It could change.

Anyway...  read the discussion and my 'long' post on that thread... you may feel the urge to 'try' to get the opt-out option and go back to CCSS with a lawyer.  Give it a try???   BTW... I went to the CCSS office in San Ramon... less crowded and friendlier???    but I'm guessing it is no longer an option.

BTW...  were you planning on living here, after you exhausted your savings, on a few 'hundred' dollars a month??

Even if you don't pay rent... you're going to need MINIMUM... and Bare Minimum at that... like $600-800 a month unless you live with no hot water, high up for no AC, no cable or wifi, and you grow 50% or more, of what you eat.  CR isn't cheap.