The Costa Rican health system is one of the few in the region of Latin American and the
Caribbean (LAC) to offer near universal coverage. Until the foundation of the Caja
Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS) in 1941, health care was provided by private for
profit and not-for-profit institutions. The CCSS, originated as a Bismarck type
employment based social security scheme, acquired administrative and financial
autonomy in 1943