wprsly
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Registered: 10-12-2004
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medical costs in Baja
If you have (unfortunately) spent time with doctors or hospitals in Mexico, could you give me an idea what the costs have been? (eg how much does a
hospital charge per day?).
The reason I ask is that Canadian government plans will cover the costs for Canadian 's medical costs when abroad, but they only cover what it would
cost if you had been in Canada.
When we go to the US, that means we NEED extra coverage. But I understand Mexican costs are much less, and I would expect they are less than in
Canada.
But I have heard there are private and public hospitals in Baja and the costs are very different.
Any experience or knowledge out there?
Thanks to all who reply,
Willy
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jrbaja
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Costs are substantially less
here in Baja. I haven't been in the hospital but the doctors visits run about $35.00, usually including the checkup and prescription if necessary.
These are the gringo prices too. Mexicans pay less.
Apparently an electrocardiogram costs 2500 pesos in La Paz. About $220.00 u.s.
Not sure what they go for north of the border.
I know many people that come here for their medical needs. Most of the doctors speak english and don't mix it up with a bunch of medical jargon.
Our doctor here in Rosarito uses both western and other techniques for healing but stresses not using pills or drugs whenever possible.
Our Veterinarian charged me $55.00 to sedate and work on one of my dogs for two hours while we dug a lovely family of ticks out of her ear.
Most of them don't have the modern equipment that the u.s. has but they generally are more into curing you than buying that new yacht.
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backninedan
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My only contact with doctors here was with a dermatologst in La Paz. She did a full exam, minor surgery on a small lesion plus a biopsy. Total was
1,000 pesos, much less than I have payed stateside for the same services.
I also agree with JR on the quality of the vet service. My local vet her in Loreto, has been thorough, and and really cares about the animals.
His prices are about half of what Im used to paying.
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cristobal
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BAHIA TORTUGAS
If you run into a problem and need medical assistance when in TORTUGAS ... There are very few services but the ones that they do have are usually at a
minimal charge or free.
I was having the CLUTCH replaced in my TOYOTA pickup and slipped and fell into the brick lined stairway that leads under the truck at the repair shop.
My shin was skinned for about 8 inches and it stung like you know what and was beginning to bleed. Now since it was SUNDAY and the CLINIC in town was
closed ... I thought I really had a problem. I went to the home of a NURSE that I know and she set up shop there in her kitchen for me. She used a
bottle of ANTISEPTIC on the scrape ... cleaning out as much sand as she could before bandaging it with gause. I was offered drugs for the pain that I
declined. The next day I went to the CLINIC to have the scrape inspected for infection and redressed.
There was NO CHARGE for the services at the CLINIC or by the NURSE. I was very surprised.
      
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jrbaja
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Cristobal is correct
if you go to a Red Cross clinic they don't charge as a rule. The one here in Rosarito asks for 100 pesos I believe but if you don't have it, they will
fix you anyway.
Dr's and hospitals will cost though. Just a lot less than the u.s..
Cristobal, do you know any of the guys down at Asuncion?
[Edited on 10/12/2004 by jrbaja]
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wprsly
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I found some answers...
from:
http://www.escapeartist.com/efam17/LatinAmerican_HealthCare....
Cost
Medical care in Mexico is unbelievably inexpensive by almost anyone's standards. Of course prices vary according to the region and whether you go to a
private clinic or a government run facility. Here are some random prices from private clinics in Chetumal in US dollars:
Private room in a hospital, $50 per day
Exam and consultation with a specialist, $15
Ultrasound or X-ray , $15
Oral surgery, $50 per tooth
Porcelain filling, $30 each.
Teeth cleaning, $25
Emergency room treatment, $15
Exploratory abdominal surgery and appendectomy using video laporoscopy. Including 4 day hospital stay in private room , all fees of surgeon and
anesthesiologist , medication. $1,200
I know an elderly American woman living in Belize who had an operable brain tumor. After consulting with doctors in the US she decided to have the
operation done by a neurosurgeon in Merida, Mexico, the capital of Yucatan. The surgery was a complete success and a bargain at $7,000
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elizabeth
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Four years ago, my husband had an examination that included an electrocardiogram in the social security hospital in Colima...total cost was the
equivalent of $2.30...that is not a misplaced decimal. I had an ear infection diagnosed and was given medication in the clinic in Xcalak, Quintana
Roo three years ago which was free, although I made a donation to the clinic. Those are our only experiences...we do have a friend who had an
emergency hip replacement in La Paz, don't know what it cost, the quality of the medical care was great (at least according to the Kaiser doc she
later visited in California).
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Don Jorge
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Less Expensive and Good!
I have had many experiences with the medical system in Baja. Clinics and private hospitals, doctors and dentists, all service was professional,
unpretentious and very inexpensive.
Back in 1992 i had an appendectomy and spent two weeks in the hospital at Sanatario del Carmen in Ensenada due to toxemia as when the appendix burst I
was in BF Egypt and it took me a day to get out, find my truck and someone to drive me in after I passed out.
Surgery, 12 days in the hospital and followup apponiments cost me $3,000.
Less than my deductible here.
My surgeon was awesome and taught me a trick. Raw honey will not support bacterial growth, in fact prevents it. While I was in the hospital and at
home after release the wound was still draining and we packed it with raw honey to prevent infection. It healed cleanly.
My now 16 year old daughter was born at the same place in 1988 and the doctor let me attend the birth. I hadn't thought to mention I wanted to be
there during our prenancy checkups and when we showed up the baby ready it was just him and a nurse and us in the room. I mentioned i would like to be
there and he looked at me like I was crazy, said fine and there i was. That cost $200.00 for delivery and one night.
My question to you is, do you get to keep the extra money you will save in the process?
PS. I remeber the Hospital los Americas in Ensenada was not cheap, so I suppose if you look you can find something to fit your budget, the Canadian
governments budget, or both.
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cristobal
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BAHIA ASUNCION ....
JR ...
I met a guy in TORTUGAS 10 years ago that sold his home after many years and moved his family to ASUNCION. He had a very attractive daughter that I
was told about ..... so I stopped by to check her out ... His name is KELO. I am not sure what he does in ASUNCION. I sometimes see KELO and his
family in SAN ZACHARIAS (20 KM south of SAN IGNACIO)the week of SEMANA SANTA when he visits some of his family.He also speaks very goog ENGLISH. His
son-in-law is TOMAS ARCE VILLAVICENCIO, a fisherman, who lives in PUNTA EUGENIA and will take you to ISLA NATIVIDAD for 200 PESOS one-way in his
panga.
I also know CHAMALA ARCE ARCE who has a home in ASUNCION. He is in his early 70's. TOMAS is his half-brother. His mother died about 10 years ago and
he lives in her home. I went to his fathers birthday party last month in SAN ZACHARIAS... it was FRANCISCO'S 95th B-DAY. Five of his nine kids stopped
by during the day to wish him well.... one brought a birthday cake.
I have only been to ASUNCION once .... to visit CHAMALA. Nice little fishing village with many fish camps along the coast close by.
I am sure that other fishermen from TORTUGAS have moved there that I am not aware of .....
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Dave
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There are two tiers of medical service available in Mexico, government sponsored and private.
Government sponsored IMSS clinics and hospital care is basically free for all nationals and foreign workers who's employers pay into the system.
Foreign retirees can subscribe to the system for a yearly fee. Depending upon the area, IMSS care can range from good, although usually barely
adequate, to horrid. Those who can in any way afford it avoid using it except for minor ailments and especially in case of major trauma or serious
illness. In any case, at best it is basic, no frills medicine.
Private care is a different ballgame. Usually 1/3 to as much as 1/2 or less the expense in the States, practicioners are more than competent and in
most cases, DOWNRIGHT EXCELLENT. I highly recommend it. Because of it I still have my eyesight!
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JESSE
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It depends, the big insurance companies have very expensive policies where you get the best doctors in Mexico if you run into trouble, and inmediately
fly you to Mexico city or Guadalajara if its needed, on the other hand a local hospital is very inexpensive compared to U.S. cost's, but the service
is definately not first world.
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BajaRob
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Bahia Tortugas
Cristobal, you are most correct. When re-positioning my boat from La Paz to San Francisco we were forced to hole up @ Tortuga along with many big name
boats like Double Bullet which had just broken the Long Beach to Puerta Vallerta record. One of my crew suffered a back injury. I went ashore and
visited the doctor. He offered his personal brace, provided valiun, vicodin,qualude, gave instruction on trussing up my mate and offered to ferry out
and come aboard if required for the whopping sum of $20. Rob
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Dave
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What ever happened to DB? I heard it turtled in the '99 transpac. They ever salvage it? Fast sumb-tch.
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BajaRob
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Double Bullit
Was indeed fast. Doing the Baja Bash is always rough but was particularily nasty in the spring of 91. A titaniun block on one of the running backstays
of DB exploded and dropped the rig onto the escape hatch of one of the almas, trapping some of the crew. The remaining crew were able to cut the
rigging and dump the $100,000 carbon fibre mast over the side. We talked DB into Turtle Bay at night. if one enters TB by lining up the lights as you
would with day marks you will end up on the rocks. As DB passed us in the darkness the sound was very unusual. We found out the next day when we went
aboard that she was powered by twin hydraulic drives. The deck (tramp) of DB was like a tennis court. I think it was 76' by 36'. That was the one and
only time that we crossed paths. Rob
[Edited on 10-13-2004 by BajaRob]
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Mexitron
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That's amazing--it cost me 1,200 dollars to have five moles removed and biopsied in the US.....for the same price you get an appendectomy in Mexico!
Sounds like the old days in the US--the doc does the best he can and you accept the occasional mistakes rather than filing a lawsuit.
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jrbaja
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And amazingly enough
despite all yer modern technology, you get the results back faster here too. Go figure!
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Capt. George
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CLINICA MUY BUENO
Just got stung yesterday by a manta. Got me good in my foot. Began to swell and I went to the local clinic. Got a shot of novicaine, pain pills and
anti-biotics....
How much??? NADA! Fast, professional and compassionate....Made a donation of $30.00
Foot is fine, still fishing (with shoes).
el Vikingo
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