BajaNomad

fast pass for urgent medical border crossing

fruitdoc - 8-2-2020 at 03:34 PM

hi
has anyone obtained and used a fast pass recently for crossing san ysidro faster in case they are not feeling well and they urgently need to go to a hospital in the US ? how was it obtained ? how easy was it to get it ?
I read that recently baja california has been more strict about giving these passes because of "abuse " !!!
Thanks

larryC - 8-2-2020 at 03:58 PM

As I understand the medical pass it is provided to persons who have crossed the border into Mexico, visited their doctor, dentist or whoever and are returning to the US after their doctor visit. I have seen hotels and restaurants advertise in the past that you can get a medical pass from them. Last week I went to my eye doctor in TJ and he didn't have any medical passes available.

JZ - 8-2-2020 at 04:02 PM

Get Global Entry.

fruitdoc - 8-2-2020 at 04:52 PM

I had applied for global entry but recently , i read it has been taking many months for conditional approval :((

Bajazly - 8-2-2020 at 05:07 PM

A Mexican national friend of mine who lives in Riverside told me whenever they want to go to TJ for tacos, afterwards they stop in a docs office and give him 10 or so dollars and they are across the border 15 minutes later. YMMV

SFandH - 8-2-2020 at 06:10 PM

Quote: Originally posted by fruitdoc  
hi
has anyone obtained and used a fast pass recently for crossing san ysidro faster in case they are not feeling well and they urgently need to go to a hospital in the US ?
Thanks


If it's urgent, go to a hospital in TJ to get stabilized and then they will arrange an ambulance to get you to the border with an ambulance on the US side waiting to take you to the hospital.

Bring your wallet.

del mar - 8-2-2020 at 06:22 PM

it was never intended to be for medical emergency's, if you have a medical emergency hit the sentri lane....be aware that "medical lane" can really bite you in the a$$!

fruitdoc - 8-2-2020 at 07:47 PM

I had applied for global entry but recently , i read it has been taking many months for conditional approval :((

fruitdoc - 8-2-2020 at 07:52 PM

del mar
Do you mean , i can use the sentri lane if i have a medical emergency even if i do not have the sentri card yet , but i would have to pay money for this to the Custom border patrol for using it a "medical lane " ?

Thanks

mtgoat666 - 8-2-2020 at 08:33 PM

Quote: Originally posted by fruitdoc  
del mar
Do you mean , i can use the sentri lane if i have a medical emergency even if i do not have the sentri card yet , but i would have to pay money for this to the Custom border patrol for using it a "medical lane " ?

Thanks


In an emergency, you do what you gotta do.
But it really is Best to go to nearest med care, and get stabilized, then have the med fac arrange transport.
The sentri people will be able to see if you really have a med emergency, they will call you an ambulance. If you decline an ambulance, then it probably is not an emergency justifying use of sentri lane.

fruitdoc - 8-2-2020 at 09:02 PM

Thank You for your explanation much appreciated .

JZ - 8-3-2020 at 07:24 AM

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  
Quote: Originally posted by fruitdoc  
del mar
Do you mean , i can use the sentri lane if i have a medical emergency even if i do not have the sentri card yet , but i would have to pay money for this to the Custom border patrol for using it a "medical lane " ?

Thanks


In an emergency, you do what you gotta do.
But it really is Best to go to nearest med care, and get stabilized, then have the med fac arrange transport.
The sentri people will be able to see if you really have a med emergency, they will call you an ambulance. If you decline an ambulance, then it probably is not an emergency justifying use of sentri lane.


Good advice.

bajatrailrider - 8-3-2020 at 10:04 AM

News to me as Tj was improving border travel by letting hotels sell passes for 10 bucks . To use that lane witch are still for sale to date. Has the Law changed ? As I know few people that used pass few months ago. No questions asked about Medical needs?

BajaNomad - 8-3-2020 at 05:36 PM

Quote: Originally posted by fruitdoc  

has anyone obtained and used a fast pass recently for crossing san ysidro faster in case they are not feeling well and they urgently need to go to a hospital in the US ?


That's counter to the purpose of the Fast Pass program. As noted by others above, the passes are intended to enhance the flow of money to businesses in the Tijuana, Rosarito and Ensenada area. And more specifically businesses that generate more revenue. It's a "medical" lane in that if you are a USA or Canadian citizen that needs to see your medical professional in Tij-Ros-Ens, they can provide a pass to help you get back home quicker to make it a better "experience" to come see your doctor, dentist, etc.

If there was ever a reason to use it for an emergency taking someone north, I feel confident that an ambulance would need to be involved in transport either on both sides of the border or at least on the USA side of the border.
Quote: Originally posted by lencho  

Where does the collected money end up?


The passes are purchased (by approved business establishments) through the Tijuana city government. I'm sure the connection to the medical professionals and hotels (which have been in and out of the program for many years) is coordinated with the BCN dept of tourism. With hotels, it's intended to be for overnight guests. They're not intended to be sold for anyone that walks in and wants to just buy a pass.

Baja Bound Insurance states the following on their site: "The Baja California Tourism Board has confirmed that the Fast Pass program has been suspended and is currently being restructured. It is unclear when the program will resume at this time." They also list businesses where the pass was available.
https://www.bajabound.com/before/returning/borderfastpass.ph...

More info was written about the system and the issues at the time (October, 2019) here:

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/border-baja-califo...

ehall - 8-4-2020 at 08:12 AM

I have been sitting in line many times watching healthy looking people drive down the medical lane.

mtgoat666 - 8-4-2020 at 09:48 AM

Quote: Originally posted by ehall  
I have been sitting in line many times watching healthy looking people drive down the medical lane.


the lane is for medical tourism (such as dental or elective med procedures in mexico).
the lane is not for urgent/critical medical transport. if you are transported by ambulance, the ambulances know way to get to the border quickly.

David K - 8-4-2020 at 10:11 AM

Not sure about the current methods, but years ago, if you had someone sick or injured, needing to get to the hospital as fast as possible, you would go to the far (left or right), first closed lane, and they will open it for you with the briefest of formalities.

Say it isn't so!

AKgringo - 8-4-2020 at 10:30 AM

Quote: Originally posted by ehall  
I have been sitting in line many times watching healthy looking people drive down the medical lane.


That would be like people abusing the handicap parking stickers, just so they can park by the front door. Who would do a thing like that? :rolleyes: