BajaNomad - Mexican medical Insurence

Mexican medical Insurence

Bajame - 8-10-2007 at 09:04 PM

Does anyone know of a company that sells a good policy? Need insurence that is not to exspensive. Any info would be welcome. Thanks, Seva.

oldhippie - 8-10-2007 at 09:33 PM

I bought a $3000 annual deductible policy from ING for my wife in Tijuana. ING is a Dutch company. Free annual exams. 30% off already cheap medications. About $100 per month. Price a function of age and physical condition. She's covered at the best private hospitals all over Mexico and can go to doctors who participate.

Don't know if I got a good deal. I just wanted her covered to protect assets.

Roberto - 8-10-2007 at 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by oldhippie
Don't know if I got a good deal. I just wanted her covered to protect assets.

Don't think I'll go there and ask what you mean - but that's certainly a unique phrasing. :lol:

[Edited on 8-11-2007 by Roberto]

CaboRon - 8-15-2007 at 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by oldhippie
I bought a $3000 annual deductible policy from ING for my wife in Tijuana. ING is a Dutch company. Free annual exams. 30% off already cheap medications. About $100 per month. Price a function of age and physical condition. She's covered at the best private hospitals all over Mexico and can go to doctors who participate.

Don't know if I got a good deal. I just wanted her covered to protect assets.

oldhippie,

Would you happen to have a link or contact info for the insurance company ?

Thanks,

- CaboRon

is this for americans also?

Keri - 8-15-2007 at 06:56 PM

oldhippie - 8-16-2007 at 02:44 AM

I don't know if being an American has any ramifications. Good question. Probably means you have to pay a gringo surcharge.

I might give up my US insurance and buy an ING policy for myself, so I need to find the answer. I bet your nationality doesn't make any difference, as long as your residence is legal, but I don't know. You could speak with one of their agents.

My contacts with the company's representatives in TJ were all very positive. They were very professional, seemingly well educated people. Pre-existing conditions are heavily considered so having a "memory lapse" when those questions are asked might be a good idea. A physical exam may be required. She didn't need one because records from her local doctor were sufficient. Plus they have an inspector of sorts visit your home, just to check out your lifestyle. We were given a heads-up by the agent prior to the visit. It appeared that the agent doing the interview is the main person who "sizes up" your health based upon observation and your answers to questions.

Lots of "fine print" in the contract. Be sure to understand it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ING_Mexico

http://www.ing.com.mx/

[Edited on 8-16-2007 by oldhippie]

Russ - 8-16-2007 at 05:52 AM

I looked into a company here. It may have been the same one. And your right pre-existing conditions are what killed it for me. Sorry, no help here. I too am looking for affordable health care. Going into Mulége this morning for blood work and a physical. Dr. Silva, hope he's a good doctor. I hear good thing about him and I'll ask about insurance for gringos.

[Edited on 8-16-2007 by Russ]

CaboRon - 8-16-2007 at 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Russ
I looked into a company here. It may have been the same one. And your right pre-existing conditions are what killed it for me. Sorry, no help here. I too am looking for affordable health care. Going into Mulége this morning for blood work and a physical. Dr. Silva, hope he's a good doctor. I hear good thing about him and I'll ask about insurance for gringos.

[Edited on 8-16-2007 by Russ]

Having been a lliscensed ins broker in a previous life in CAlifornia .... I have to say that not mentioning previous conditions for which you may have previously seen a doctor (thus there is a record of that tansaction in a US national data base) will not wash in the US.

The question is whether MX has access to those insurance claim records...

If you have never had reason to see a doctor under an insurance policy you will have no problem with the condition unless it is visible to the inspecting doctor.

I too would like to look deeper into this insurance program.

It is a little scary to be leaving the arms of comfortable care for the unknown.

What about the MX national policy, I heard that is only around $225 US a year.

- CaboRon

oldhippie - 8-16-2007 at 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by CaboRon

Quote:

I don't know about the $225/year coverage you're talking about. But the phrase "you get what you pay for" may apply.

My wife, who is Mexican and lived here her entire life says that the socialized medical program is no good for us. She never used it. I've heard differing stories and I once talked to an American in Todos Santos who used it and they flew him and his wife to Guadalajara for his bypass surgery. He was very happy with it. So I don't know.

If ING has access to my medical records in the US, I'm screwed.

Before buying the ING policy we talked to an agent for another company and I mentioned that I had hypertension. He said that disqualified me. Picky, picky, picky.

I have a tough decision coming up. My COBRA coverage runs out in January so I need to buy insurance. If I buy in the US before it runs out, pre-existing conditions aren't considered, but if I let it lapse and then decide to buy in the US, they are, so I've been told by a large corporation benefits VP in San Diego. She said it's part of the HIPAA rules.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_Insurance_Portability_an...

I don't ever plan to live in the US again and am planning on moving further south to mainland Mexico. So coverage in the US doesn't do me much good, or does it?

Medical insurance was the toughest part of my decision to throw in the towel and move to Mexico. But I decided I wasn't going to allow insurance problems to rule my life.

[Edited on 8-16-2007 by oldhippie]

[Edited on 8-16-2007 by oldhippie]

CaboRon - 8-16-2007 at 07:26 AM

I know how you feel, my COBRA coverage ended in May and my only choice is to engage in a more healthy lifestyle. MEthinks that is a good thing.

As a parting gift to my previous employer (a Rat) I ran up over twenty thousand dollars in tests and treatments in the last three months before COBRA ended.

Massages and chiropracter adjustments every week. All the acpuncture and physical therapy I coul squeeze out before the end date. Every test they have ever wanted to do. Some of thes tests are thousands of dollars each !

And , guess what, except for some specialists, my doctors are not making all this money. The insurance company is. Capitolizm sucks as far as human services goes.

- CaboRon

oldhippie - 8-16-2007 at 07:38 AM

"As a parting gift to my previous employer (a Rat) I ran up over twenty thousand dollars in tests and treatments in the last three months before COBRA ended. "

I'm doing the same thing now. Recently had a colonoscopy. A procedure I didn't look forward to. But the stuff they use to put you out really made for a pleasant day afterwards. :cool:

Next is a full cardiac work-up. I think I can get my GP to approve it for insurance coverage, considering the condition that my condition is in.

CaboRon - 8-16-2007 at 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by oldhippie

I'm doing the same thing now. Recently had a colonoscopy. A procedure I didn't look forward to. But the stuff they use to put you out really made for a pleasant day afterwards. :cool:

Yea, I had put that off for over ten years .... but I figured I couldn't afford the 5K US procedure... so I finally submitted.
Found a ritzy doc in costa mesa who puts you under.... I was so under the anthesilogy I have no memory of the test.... thank god for that !

-CaboRon

toneart - 8-16-2007 at 11:08 AM

Quote:

Russ,
You will really like Dr. Silva!!! He is an excellent diagnostician. He only looks about 13, but that impression is immediately replaced by his confidence and vast knowledge. He speaks English very well, and he is very fair with his fees.

The only drawback is a lack of sophisticated equipment. If you have a case that he can't treat because of inadequate equipment, or because of acute severity, he will dispatch you quickly to get help in the best facility available in another town or city.

He is overworked, often gets too little sleep and yet maintains a pleasant disposition. On his Sundays off, he is usually traveling to a remote village to do voluntary work. Mulege is truly blessed to have Dr.Silva.

Osprey - 8-16-2007 at 06:06 PM

Caboron/Hippie, you guys as cheats and thieves are just pikers compared to me. I had a lobotomy and an autopsy before I quit.

Who you gonna nail on your next health caper?

CaboRon - 8-16-2007 at 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Osprey
Caboron/Hippie, you guys as cheats and thieves are just pikers compared to me. I had a lobotomy and an autopsy before I quit.

Who you gonna nail on your next health caper?

Damm,

Forgot to get the lobotomy....

- CaboRon

Got no more capers. That was my last blast at the Walt Disney Company.......

Osprey - 8-17-2007 at 03:38 AM

Caboron, well, why didn't you tell us it was Walt Disney Co? A guy would have to be goofy to work for that mickey mouse outfit. Now tell me that when you left, you said to your co-workers, your bosses "Tha, tha, tha, tha,that's all folks"

oldhippie - 8-17-2007 at 07:35 AM

Quote:

hahaha, thanks for the laugh. :biggrin:

CaboRon - 8-17-2007 at 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by lencho

Quote:

Originally posted by CaboRon
Damm,

Forgot to get the lobotomy...

Hmmm... No, this is too obviously a troll. :biggrin:

--Larry