Servicios Gratuitos para Hogares Asegurados

Since a couple of years ago, INS has offered FREE emergency home repairs as an additional benefit for holders of Home Theft policies, Homeowners’ “Hogar Comprensivo” policies, and Home Fire & Natural Disaster “Hogar Seguro 2000” policies. The system was flawed so it was not widely publicized - but it was recently renamed, revamped, expanded and supposedly improved, so now is the moment to tell my kind readers about it.

The service, now called MULTIASISTENCIA HOGAR, offers free to holders of those policies, the following:

PLUMBING. A plumber will be promptly dispatched to repair broken pipes or taps, or replace stolen taps.

LOCKS. A locksmith will be promptly dispatched in cases of forgotten or lost keys, keys locked inside the house, and broken keys or locks. Only in cases where the homeowner is locked out and is unable to otherwise get inside the house.

ELECTRICAL FAULTS. An electrician will be promptly dispatched in cases where the home is without electricity as a result of internal electrical faults. The electrician will only make emergency repairs to restore power in the house.

GAS LEAKS. A technician will be dispatched to make emergency repairs to leaking gas pipes or connections.

BROKEN WINDOWS. In case of broken glass in the doors or windows on the FRONT of the house, a glazier will be dispatched promptly to replace the glass.

EMERGENCY LODGING. If an insured event (fire, ‘quake, etc.) makes the house uninhabitable, hotel facilities will be provided for five days.

EMERGENCY SECURITY. If an insured event (fire, ‘quake, etc.) makes the house uninhabitable, qualified security service is provided for five days.

MEDICAL INFORMATION. If medical assistance is needed for the homeowner or family, Multiasistencia will provide information, by phone, to contact the quickest/closest clinic, doctor, or pharmacy.

MEDICAL EMERGENCY. In case of a life threatening medical emergency, Multiasistencia will coordinate a home visit by a qualified doctor.

SAFEKEEPING OF HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS AND BELONGINGS. If the home has to be emptied of furnishings due to some qualified emergency, Multiasistencia will guarantee their safekeeping, and will also provide the removal by means of a specialized contractor.

EMERGENCY AUTO RENTAL. If vehicles parked within the home are damaged by an insured event, Multiasistencia will coordinate the rental of a sedan to replace the damaged vehicles during repairs.

HELP WITH PETS. If an insured event (fire, ‘quake, etc.) makes the house uninhabitable, Multiasistencia will arrange for the custody of the pets that lived in the home, at a pet hotel.

AIRPORT TAXI SERVICE. When the homeowner is to travel, Multiasistencia will coordinate a taxi from home to the airport for departure, and viceversa upon arrival. For as many persons as the taxi can legally carry. No stops allowed en route.

To use MULTIASISTENCIA HOGAR, with your policy number handy call INS toll free at

800 800 8001

It sounds too good to be true! As the service has only recently been revamped, I haven’t any feedback to share with my readers and, personally, I’m not planning on having any emergencies in my home – but I will certainly try out the last item, the free Airport taxi service. If any of my readers have an experience to share, good or bad, please write me an Email.

For more information, please contact David Garrett at 2233 2455 or david@InsuranceCostaRica.info. Our purpose is to give the reader a better understanding of insurance in Costa Rica. The opinions and viewpoints expressed are those of the writer, and do not necessarily represent the official position of the National Insurance Institute (INS).