moisheh
North America
Senior Member
Joined: 05/04/2002
View Profile
|
Health Care Tourism
The above article was in Today's Arizona Star. I found it strange that Penasco ( Rocky Point) does not have a real hospital. Why would a retired person ( read older) stay in a place with no good medical care? I also wonder how many on this forum have ever stopped to think what would happen in a Medical Emergency? Is there an ambulance nearby? Does the ambulance have trained attendants? Many do not. How far is it to the nearest clinic or hospital? Although those of you in Mazatlan have lots of choices many of the clinics have a very bad reputation. What about those of you who winter in Melaque? Zihua? My own experience with the IMSS hospitals is that you will probably die before they will get to you. Or the DRS. are without proper equipment. Some regions do have good Government hospitals but this is not the norm. Larger centers have private hospitals and many of them are as good as any in the USA. The article refers to Cima in Hermosillo and I can attest to their professionalism. But they are very very expensive. This is something that all of us should investigate in our particular area. I would think if we can have an ongoing thread on toilet paper that this is much more important.
Moisheh
|
ArcticDodge
Sammamish, WA
Senior Member
Joined: 05/02/2005
View Profile
 Offline
|
And someone keeps telling us it's the US heath care system is in "crisis". I'll need to ask my son's doc tomorrow about it tomorrow when I take him in for his sports physical.
2009 Komfort 256TS Yamaha EF2400iS
2001 Dodge Ram 3500 QC 4x4 Cummins DRW
2001 Sebring Convertible
2005 DRZ400 - 2005 CRF150 - 2001 XR80
1 Wife  2 Boys 
1 Trixie (Bichon Frise)
Only 27 years to retirement!!!!
|
Earl E
Klamath Falls, Oregon
Senior Member
Joined: 04/16/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
I am aware of this and in my late 60's. We never used to buy Mexican health insurance when we went down there but do so now. We had a friend who stepped in a hole, fell, got a blood clot in her leg, and had to put up $50,000 in credit cards, cash, etc before they would operate in a private hospital. At the same time, we will be traveling this winter to San Ignacio where there is probably no decent care but we will go anyway. I'd rather take the chance while doing what I want to do than "hole" up at home.
2008 Keystone Springdale 252
2004 Chevy Silverado, 5.3 L V8
Prodigy brake control and Equal-i-zer
Retired and traveling all we can!
|
Belgique
Cedar Island NC (Outer Banks)
Senior Member
Joined: 09/17/2004
View Profile
|
We were very impressed with the Doc that Linda from Canada found for us in PV. He recognized things that some very good US Dr's never noticed. Was also amazed at how reachable he was. He was not expensive. BUT this was PV and Moisheh's points are valid.
I'll also throw in the medicine issue since we haven't whined about it in awhile. Some meds, especially controlled pain meds, are very difficult to find anywhere. We had a major challenge in PV and Guad and once we did find them, they were very expensive. These are common meds NOB, albeit very controlled by DEA.
We can attest to the comment re some providers in Maz. The "emergency clinic" there really tried to stick it to us. Thousand US$ plus to write some prescriptions for meds that were not substitutes for what we needed. I was thinking pesos when I saw the bill....luckily the credit card bounced long enough for me to wake up and realize what they were doing before we got charged.
The Johnsons (incls a Bouvier, Lab, and Newfie)
Cedar Island, NC (Gateway to the Outbanks)
2008 Winnie Sightseer 35J
Our Mexico trip Blog
|
bilmo
Fulltime
Senior Member
Joined: 07/29/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
There are several good medevac insurance programs which are quite reasonable which will fly you to a hospital in the states along with your spouse, will take your RV and animals back to the US---sure the same is available in Canada. Great peace of mind.
Have talked with several tourists who have had to shell out $25-50,000 to get airevaced back to the US. One gal had broken her neck while body surfing at Sayulita. Fortunately her boyfriend could max out his credit cards to get her to good help. Have heard good words about the university hospitals in Guad. & Mexico City.
BillMoRex&Princess
'06 Chev D/A--'08 Cardinal 35 SB
Fulltiming since 8/93
|
|
|
moisheh
North America
Senior Member
Joined: 05/04/2002
View Profile
|
bilmo: Good advice but not all of those medivac programs are the same. For instance the one that is provided by FMCA does not alwyas fly you back to the States. The policy read that they fly you to the closest appropriate facility. Could be in Mexico. I think the Good Sam policy is the same. Sky Med will fly you to your home town.
Moisheh
|
Scoundrel
Corona, Calif. USA
Senior Member
Joined: 02/21/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
My brother-in-law broke his leg and it cost him 40,000 pesos up front before they would do anything. Yes he had Mexican medical insurance yet it still cost him the 40,000 pesos.
2004 Forest River Georgetown 346
2000 Harley Davidson Dyna.
FMCA 389346
“Some people are like slinkies......
Not really good for anything, but they will still bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.
Don & Lucy
|
Scoundrel
Corona, Calif. USA
Senior Member
Joined: 02/21/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
bilmo wrote:There are several good medevac insurance programs which are quite reasonable which will fly you to a hospital in the states along with your spouse, will take your RV and animals back to the US---sure the same is available in Canada. Great peace of mind.
Have talked with several tourists who have had to shell out $25-50,000 to get airevaced back to the US. One gal had broken her neck while body surfing at Sayulita. Fortunately her boyfriend could max out his credit cards to get her to good help. Have heard good words about the university hospitals in Guad. & Mexico City.
Do you have a web site for the medevac insurance program you referenced?
|
qtla9111
Monterrey, Mexico
Senior Member
Joined: 09/17/2003
View Profile
Offline
|
Based on what I have read so far, people need to investigate their Mexican medical coverage before making a selection. I am "assuming" that in the case of the 40,000 pesos, that was the deductible? I carry a 2500 dollar deductible to keep my rates down. However, if it is accidental injury and not scheduled surgery, the deductible is 1000 pesos.
There are many good private hospitals in Mexico. I guess it goes back to KNOW BEFORE YOU GO! Check the areas you will be traveling, know what hospitals are available. If you are staying for the season, why not visit a couple of hospitals in the area, find out their pricing structure and let people on this forum know the results.
Just by searching the internet this morning, I found many state tourism sites for Sonora, Baja North and Sur and their list of public and private hospitals. Are they all good, I have no idea but at least it is a starting place.
Don't feel that if you have a medical emergency that they are going to rip you off, find out what the coverage is and how it works and what hospitals will accept it.
1998 Nissan Pathfinder
2004 Shadow Cruiser 18ft.
Living and Boondocking Mexico
|
The Texan
Summer: A Cool Climate Winter: A Warm Climate
Senior Member
Joined: 01/16/2004
View Profile
|
Several points to ponder for those that are retired from the US Military. The Mexican military operates many excellent hospitals in Mexico and with a US Military retired ID card, they will also allow you access to their services. Also, Tricare will pay for the normal medical services in Mexico at the standard copay rate, but you have to pay up front and then submit your bill to the overseas division of Tricare. We also carry the medivac insurance through the company that we get our Mexican liability insurance through, as part of the policy with no additional cost.
Bob & Betsy - USN Ret'd '78 & FL LEO Ret'd '03
FMCA #F203528
'05 HR Endeavor, 40PRQ w/400 Cummins - With -'05 GMC Sierra SLT, CC Z-71, the pusher
'07 Arctic Cat 500A & Wilderness Kayak, riding in the pusher -
Our Current Location
|
|
|
