BajaNomad - MEDICARE for ExPats: Only US Citizens Vote, Please

MEDICARE for ExPats: Only US Citizens Vote, Please

CaboRon - 9-6-2008 at 05:27 PM

Getting closer every birthday .....

In two years I will be elegible for Medicare !

Since I have no medical now , it will be a step up.

How do you handle it while living down here?

Do you go north at least once a year for your medical needs ?

Have you found a doctor/hospital in Mexico that takes Medicare coupons ?

Have you just given up on medical ?

Pay as you go ?

Am interested in comments from US citizens only.

CAboRon

DENNIS - 9-6-2008 at 05:47 PM

I would go north for anything serious but, for minor problems I use the military hospital just south of Ensenada. It's open to the public and very reasonable.

CaboRon - 9-6-2008 at 06:04 PM

I see at least one voter has their Medicare stamps accepted by a Mexican provider.

If you don't mind, can you enlighten us ?

Thanks,

CAboRon

Diver - 9-6-2008 at 06:11 PM

We're not there yet but have many friends that are.
Most use local services for minor medical, emergencies and dental.
They mostly go north for major surgery, cancer treatments, anual check-ups etc.

Does medicare accept emergency room bills from out of the country ?
Many insurance companies accept almost any emergency room services.
Years ago Blue Cross reimbursed us for emergency room charges from a Mazatlan vacation.

For people living full time in Baja

Keri - 9-6-2008 at 06:19 PM

How do you get you medicare. Do you give a stateside address? I was told by an agent that you could only live 6 months in Mexico and 6 months in the states. Then I think your fm3 and fm2 have time limits on how long you can be in the states. How are all you handling this. I'm just now checking on the supplemental insurance ,they don't want you living in mex either. I could use some ideas. Any suggestions?,k :saint:

Pescador - 9-6-2008 at 06:56 PM

Keri, the requirement is that you are a US Citizen, have turned 65, and sign up for Part A & B. I have a lot of clients who live most of the year in Mexico and I have never had a challenge with getting them supplemental coverage, but they did have a US address.

[Edited on 9-7-2008 by Pescador]

DENNIS - 9-6-2008 at 07:08 PM

Sometimes these agencies are easily confused by too much information.

Pescador - 9-6-2008 at 07:16 PM

I think this topic brings up a really good concept that needs to be considered by all that live, even part time, in Mexico. Depending on the area that you live in, you need to make yourself aware of what is available in terms of potential medical services. There may be a big difference in terms of what is available in the major cities like La Paz, Cabo, Tijuana, and Ensenada. In the more rural areas like Loreto, Mulege, BOLA, Santa Rosalia, etc, the offerings may be much less.
This past winter we went to several different doctors as well as the hospital in Santa Rosalia when my wife was having some problems with pain, blood pressure, and pulse rate. We were able to get blood tests, Ultra sound, and several different opinions. Seems every medical doctor came up with different diagnosis but nothing really seemed to get to the root of the problem. After a fashion we decided that the safest course was to come back to Colorado earlier than planned so that we might avail ourselves of more sophisticated medical care. Thank goodness we did that as we discovered after a number of very sophisticated tests including a CT Scan that she had fairly advanced Lung Cancer. If we had opted to stay longer and keep treating some of the symptoms we ran into, she probably would not be alive today as things had already started to metastisize and another month or two would have been beyond critical. Thank goodness we live in an area that has some of the most sophisticated equipment and personell available west of the Mississippi.
We absolutely love our place in Mexico and can not wait until we are able to return, but I think my wife summed it up very well when she said that Baja was the best place in the world to be, if you are healthy. So now we will return and while it will be for shorter durations since we have to do frequent testing that can not be done in the Baja, I have also made sure that we have a med-evac policy in the event that we have any unforeseen occurences or medical complications.
I am hoping that I did not hi-jack this thread started by Cabo Ron but I think that it is a related issue.

CaboRon - 9-6-2008 at 07:43 PM

Pescador,

I appreciate your input into this discussion.

I encourage any one else with first hand experience to jump in.

CaboRom

Medical considerations

wessongroup - 8-29-2009 at 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pescador
I think this topic brings up a really good concept that needs to be considered by all that live, even part time, in Mexico. Depending on the area that you live in, you need to make yourself aware of what is available in terms of potential medical services. There may be a big difference in terms of what is available in the major cities like La Paz, Cabo, Tijuana, and Ensenada. In the more rural areas like Loreto, Mulege, BOLA, Santa Rosalia, etc, the offerings may be much less.
This past winter we went to several different doctors as well as the hospital in Santa Rosalia when my wife was having some problems with pain, blood pressure, and pulse rate. We were able to get blood tests, Ultra sound, and several different opinions. Seems every medical doctor came up with different diagnosis but nothing really seemed to get to the root of the problem. After a fashion we decided that the safest course was to come back to Colorado earlier than planned so that we might avail ourselves of more sophisticated medical care. Thank goodness we did that as we discovered after a number of very sophisticated tests including a CT Scan that she had fairly advanced Lung Cancer. If we had opted to stay longer and keep treating some of the symptoms we ran into, she probably would not be alive today as things had already started to metastisize and another month or two would have been beyond critical. Thank goodness we live in an area that has some of the most sophisticated equipment and personell available west of the Mississippi.
We absolutely love our place in Mexico and can not wait until we are able to return, but I think my wife summed it up very well when she said that Baja was the best place in the world to be, if you are healthy. So now we will return and while it will be for shorter durations since we have to do frequent testing that can not be done in the Baja, I have also made sure that we have a med-evac policy in the event that we have any unforeseen occurences or medical complications.
I am hoping that I did not hi-jack this thread started by Cabo Ron but I think that it is a related issue.

Again bringing up old topics, but would like to learn as much as I can about living down in the Baja at this point in my life..

As I have no experience in medical coverage down in the Baja, looking to learn as much as I can.

Retired and disabled on Medicare with Blue Cross the wife is not 65 so she just has Blue Cross at this time...

Just trying to understand how one obtains health care down in Baja...

Can one "get" a personal physican set up, like one does in the States? or does one just go back to the States for the check up as needed?

LOSARIPES - 8-29-2009 at 08:21 AM

If you are an "Inmigrado" and have become a Mexican Citizen, you qualify for "Seguro Popular"...... you'd be covered and it is all free. Most specialties covered. The quality of SOME services may be questionable but most are very good. There are no special hospital for this. They treat patients in the same clinics and hospitals as if they were paying.

Bajame - 8-29-2009 at 04:27 PM

Just signed up for medicare A&B plus went with extra coverage with AARP and plan F that covers one for emergencies for the 1st 60 days of your visit. With this I have chose not to keep my FM-3 and get a tourist visa and keep it renewed. Hopefully this will work for any emergency situation. I go back to the states and stay with my kids in summer and will use that time to make appointments ect.

Thanks I needed that

wessongroup - 8-29-2009 at 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajame
Just signed up for medicare A&B plus went with extra coverage with AARP and plan F that covers one for emergencies for the 1st 60 days of your visit. With this I have chose not to keep my FM-3 and get a tourist visa and keep it renewed. Hopefully this will work for any emergency situation. I go back to the states and stay with my kids in summer and will use that time to make appointments ect.

That is great, I have the same coverage... but didn't know the plan F had the 60 day coverage... thanks again... appears I'm good to go... man do I like news like this

irenemm - 8-29-2009 at 04:47 PM

We lost our blue cross manyyears ago and cn not get it now. No one in the U.S. will cover us. I am american but have used the Mexican system for many years now. My granddaughter was born 9 weeks early and treated in Ensenada it cost in 92/93 about $14,000.00 dlls the U.S. would not even take her without a 150,000 dll bond we did not have of course. She is aN-zing now. She has no problems at all
Last month was in Ensenada and had some chest pains so my hubby made me go to the energency room at the Vel Mar (which in 92 opened as Las Americas) was there got meds and ekg 3 hours Dr. spoke english. It was gallbladder. Cost 1100.00 not dlls pesos.
I have been to the military hospital too. Good place. Either one of those is good. I like Vel mar all the Dr. with them do speak english.
broke my ankle at lake tahoe 3 years ago energency, dr, and 911 call was 5700.00 dlls. also broke it here 9 years ago cost maybe 500.00 all together with everything.
the only way you can get medical in states now without insurance is to be illegal.
i have had some of my grandkids born here with great dr.
What ever you do don't by the Mexican Social Security that you have to give to someone who works for you. I would rather go to the vet. You will get treated better. Social medicine not so good. private good.
just what I have been and done. we are not old enough for medicare yet still got a long way to go.

DENNIS - 8-29-2009 at 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by irenemm
Last month was in Ensenada and had some chest pains so my hubby made me go to the energency room at the Vel Mar

I have been to the military hospital too. Good place. Either one of those is good.

Comparing VELMAR to the military hospital is unimaginable. The last time I was at the army hospital, bronchitis and throat obstruction, the doctor examined me, my throat with a tongue depressor, gave me a puzzled look and laid the used depressor on the stainless steel table by his side.
Need I say more?

irenemm - 8-29-2009 at 05:18 PM

I was only there once back in 83 for my back. they fixed it. but your right the Velmar is the place.
You have to watch that in any clinic or hospital in Mexico. Sometimes you need to do that in the states too.

Bajame - 8-29-2009 at 06:32 PM

There is one problem with emergency care in MX and that is they want you to pay and then get reimbursed by your insurance. That won't work for me as I am on Social Security. Does anyone have more info on this? Is there a hospital that will wait to get paid?

CardioMed in Ensenada is the place to go if you have heart problems,

Keri - 8-29-2009 at 07:31 PM

Dr Susarrey is the Cardiologist there, he speaks English, His office number is 646-178-2985 The hospital number is 646-178-0351. He saved my husband's life when he had his heart attack. It is a cardio hospital. Put this number in your phone book you never know when you might need it. I was very lucky I had it. k

bajabound2005 - 8-29-2009 at 09:32 PM

we are in San Diego right now for just this reason: medical care! Yes, there is good care available in Baja, but with medicare and the supplement and the seriousness of the problem...we are at UCSD Med Ctr. And things are looking good!

Pescador - 8-30-2009 at 09:06 AM

Last week I had surgery for appendicitis and I started to wonder what would have happened had I been in Santa Rosalia. I am sure there are doctors as well as the hospital there who could have done the surgery, but I seriously doubt that they would have done a laproscopy and instead would have done the "cut em open and get it out" procedure. I know that in Tijuana as well as La Paz that laproscopy is available, but sometimes one does not have a day or two without having the appendix rupture which really complicates things. Has anyone here ever gone through that procedure without going to one of the major towns like Tijuana or La Paz?

irenemm - 8-30-2009 at 11:17 PM

if you get emergency treatment and you don't have the money you can get them to accept payment. First they must take care of you it is the federal law. they can send you to a general hospital but them must give you service. if you do not have the cash they still must take care of you.
I know when my granddaugter was born my daughter and her husband did not have the money for a premmie 8 weeks the stay in the hospital ws 5 weeks. the dr. after a week wanted to be paid in full. i told him i had $1000.00 dll and would pay him in payment this is where he went wrong. He said Sra. if you had a car and took it to get fixed and you did not have the money they would not fix it. Right. I said yes buttcrack that is true but we are talking about a baby and not a car. I went to the head of the Hospital, the District Attorney, Tourist Board and the US councel. The Dr. was gald to take my payments and he even gave us a discount. The Dr. to this day still takes care of my grandchildren as he is a wonderful Dr. Have no t seen him in maybe 10 years. But he still always ask my daughter how I am. So if you do not have the cash not to worry they must take care of you,
That Dr. was the only neo-natal specialist in Ensenada. if we went to the general hospital he would take care of her for almost free. that Dr. is Dr. Venture of Ensenada.
They can not take back the treatment after it is down. Don't worry if you don't have the cash they pretty much know the gringo are good for it.

Russ - 8-31-2009 at 06:33 AM

Pescador , in Santa Rosalia you would have died! you know I'm serious. That place is a cesspool. A friend here was very ill and they put him in a dirty bed. The sheet actually had a foot print on it. When he had to pee there was no one to help him so he walked to the restroom and almost vomited. And the doctors allow those conditions there. :fire:

Pescador - 8-31-2009 at 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Russ
Pescador , in Santa Rosalia you would have died! you know I'm serious. That place is a cesspool. A friend here was very ill and they put him in a dirty bed. The sheet actually had a foot print on it. When he had to pee there was no one to help him so he walked to the restroom and almost vomited. And the doctors allow those conditions there. :fire:

Yeah, I am very aware of the hospital there. We had an old guy at the trailer park at San Lucas who had a heart attack and we hauled him up there and I did all the admissions and treatment stuff with translation and after 4 days they released him saying that he had emphysema. Luckily, some EMT's were fishing at San Lucas Cove and they hauled him to San Diego where they found he needed a pacemaker since he only had a small portion of his heart left.
But it still is a good question, where would one go if they did in fact have an acute appendicitis. The military hospital at the top of the hill would be a possible option or you head north to ensenada / Tijuana, or south to La Paz. I don't think the Dr. on the highway in Mulege would be able to do it.

toneart - 8-31-2009 at 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pescador

Quote:

Regarding the doctor (Silva) on the highway in Mulege, he would be the most expedient facilitator to get you to the best place, the fastest. Probably La Paz. He could assess the degree of urgency too. If there is not enough time to get you to La Paz, you have to take what you can get. I would trust his judgment and then pray.

wessongroup - 9-2-2009 at 08:13 AM

Thank you for the real life input, it is invaluable