BajaNomad - What are your plans for a medical emergency in Baja?

What are your plans for a medical emergency in Baja?

Iflyfish - 11-10-2011 at 07:37 AM

How does the medical system work in Baja?

Do you have Mexican medical insurance? How does that work?

Do you have US medical insurance and how does that work in Mexico?

Who is authorized to advocate for you in the Mexican medical system if you are not conscious? Is there a Mexican Medical Power of Attorney for Medical and Economic issues if you are incapacitated?

What is the best clinic in your area? What do they treat, what can't they treat? What equipment do they have there? Xray, MRI, CAT? Where do they send you if your needs are greater than they can provide?

What is the best hospital in your area given your medical insurance/ability to pay?

Where would you go for a heart attack, stroke? How would you get there?

How would an Emergency Room or Hospital know what medications you currently take?

What other medical questions are not included here and need to be considered when in Mexico? If you work in the Mexican Medical System, what should we know that most of us don't know?

What would a Medical Action Plan for Nomads living/visiting Baja look like? Where would you keep it so it will be of use?

Iflyfish

Ateo - 11-10-2011 at 07:55 AM

I'll be honest - I have no plan! If close to the border, try to get to the US. If not - go to a Mexican hospital.

nbacc - 11-10-2011 at 08:24 AM

there are different medical evac policies. Call your insurance agent in the states and find out, Pretty cheap really and they fly you to the nearest hospital that can treat you. Depends where you are in Mexico and if you live there or are visiting long term. There are many people on this board who know these other answers so wait and watch the board. Nancy

Excellent question

El Vergel - 11-10-2011 at 08:28 AM

I'm lookin' forward to more input from Nomadland on this topic. I have begun to put my plans together. I do know this from experience: seldom, if ever, should one venture into the magic of the Baja alone. Bad scenes unravel far too fast for any one person to handle. Always best to have a co-pilot or at least a plan on file with a home base. Thanks for the "road map", and best regards to all!

Iflyfish - 11-10-2011 at 08:41 AM

Two recent incidents reported on this board raised this issue for me.
One was a heart attack that necessitated transportation to the USofA and the other two severe beatings and their treatment in two different hospitals. It is my hope that from a general discussion of this topic we can generate a summary that can be used in making plans for medical emergencies in the various circumstances Nomads find themselves in.

The medical system in Mexico is different than in the USofA and it is complex. There are various levels of care and varying medical resources available depending upon location. Private vs Public, different levels of insurance Private vs Public etc. and different ways to address the issue of medical advocacy. Transportation is one of the issues.

Your input, experience, knowledge is appreciated.

Iflyfish

SkyMedBarbara - 11-10-2011 at 08:45 AM

SkyMed. We have many, many members in Mexico, Canada, and USA. A professional team that "gets you home" incase of a medical emergency, critical injury. For more information e-mail me at Skymedloreto@gmail.com.

Iflyfish - 11-10-2011 at 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ateo
I'll be honest - I have no plan! If close to the border, try to get to the US. If not - go to a Mexican hospital.

Thanks ateo,

There are different kinds of hospitals in Baja, some public, some private, some better than others. Some private better than public, some public better than private. There are also Clinics in different areas that provide different levels of care. It would be useful to identify which resources in your area provide what services and identify some way to assure that if you are incapacitated that you will receive the best care you can from the best facilities.

There are indeed evacuation services that operate in Baja. The recent incident in Asuncion called upon a VERY BRAVE and resourceful Nomad to sort out an arrangement for a downed US Citizen and she had to do it on the fly. If you are close to the border then how can you cross the border if you are unconscious? Who will advocate for you so that your wishes can be met? These are some of the questions that I hope this discussion will address.

Thanks again, I think your response is what most Nomads would provide at this time and you can see some of the difficulties involved. Stay tuned and lets see if we can get clearer on how you could do what you want to do in case of a medical emergency.

Iflyfish

Iflyfish - 11-10-2011 at 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by nbacc
there are different medical evac policies. Call your insurance agent in the states and find out, Pretty cheap really and they fly you to the nearest hospital that can treat you. Depends where you are in Mexico and if you live there or are visiting long term. There are many people on this board who know these other answers so wait and watch the board. Nancy

Thanks Nancy

There are also evacuation plans available in Baja, I have purchased one through a fellow Nomad. The devil of course is in the details of these plans, availability of airports, planes, etc. There are places where medevac is not possible. Many Xpats use local facilities, clinics, hospitals etc. and have Mexican Health Insurance, both Public and Private plans are available.

Thanks again and we look forward to having more information from fellow Nomads.

DianaT - 11-10-2011 at 08:57 AM

Good topic!

We are still looking for a reasonably priced evacuation insurance that will land on a dirt strip.

As you know, our town only has that very small hospital with very little to offer----not even an x-ray machine. And any major emergency that would require a trip to Guerrero Negro would be in an ambulance with untrained people----no EMTS, no Paramedics, etc.,

Friend whose daughter who suffered a head trauma first had to go to Santa Rosalia for x-rays and then to Ensenada to see a specialist and for more tests. Family transported her --- fortunately, she only had a minor fracture and minor swelling that did not require surgery or cause permanent damage.

Other friends have died from heart attacks and/or strokes and we have wondered if emergency trauma care had been available, if they might have survived, but who knows.

A major heart attack or stroke would not be a good thing---so we live with the fact that if that happens to one of us while we are in BA, we probably will end up buried there.

But I do hope someone can suggest an evac insurance that would service a rural area. So far, the only ones we have found would only fly into Guerrero Negro and that is a long ways away.

Iflyfish - 11-10-2011 at 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SkyMedBarbara
SkyMed. We have many, many members in Mexico, Canada, and USA. A professional team that "gets you home" incase of a medical emergency, critical injury. For more information e-mail me at Skymedloreto@gmail.com.

Thanks SkyMedBarbara, this is a valuable service. There are issues related to where these services are available, how one initiates the service, who contacts the service if you are incapacitated etc. I hope that over time we can put together a summary of options for Nomads of varied economic and geographical circumstances including what sort of care is available in country.

Thanks again.

Iflyfish

Phil S - 11-10-2011 at 09:05 AM

Our plan if in Cabo if not life threatening is to use the local area's hospitals or clinics. If life threatening, try to get an airlift to the states. Probably San Diego. We do not carry flight insurance. Mainly because in both our families there are no history of heart problems. If in LaPaz, I trust the LaPaz medical community. If in Loreto, I'll ask for Dr. Fernando to take care of me. North of there, we will drive ourselves back to the states for treatment. If it is an auto accident, we have no plans. We live under Gods guidance, and we trust he will do what's right for us. If it is his plan to call us home, so be it!!! And no we are not religious nuts!!! Everyone has a high power that you have to have "faith" in.

Skeet/Loreto - 11-10-2011 at 09:33 AM

First: Learn to speak as much Spanish as Possible.

Second: Take a First Aid Course :

Third: Get a Good First Aid Kit;

Fourth; If in Loreto, constitutio, or La Paz go to the very Good General Hospitals.

Fifth: Do not depend on Air Vac as you may have to wait for many Hours when you could be already in the Hospital under Care.

Sixth: There is Good Care in Baja Sur, good Doctors, they just do not have as many of the Fancy Machines as the States.

Dr. Gustavo Moraila and the doctors at the General Hospital in Constitution saved my Wife"s Life when she only had about 4 hours to live. 1992

O.G. - 11-10-2011 at 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DianaT
Good topic!

A major heart attack or stroke would not be a good thing---so we live with the fact that if that happens to one of us while we are in BA, we probably will end up buried there.

Where would one be buried if one dies in Mexico? Can a Gringo be buried in MX if that was their wish?

Mulegena - 11-10-2011 at 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DianaT
Good topic!

... Other friends have died from heart attacks and/or strokes and we have wondered if emergency trauma care had been available, if they might have survived, but who knows.

A major heart attack or stroke would not be a good thing---

This brings up tough points of reality and opens the floor for each of us to consider our personal philosophies and choices in how live.

As a 20-year Emergency Medical Technician in a rural mountain clinic I learned that time and Advanced Life Support are the two most important factors in survival. That, and plain luck and destiny.

Most heart attacks in the rural area I lived were picked up by an ambulance with life support equipment and transported less than an hour to a waiting Critical Care Team. I don't know the survival rate of those people. I know that not all lived, even with the finest of emergent care available to them.

Additionally, I saw many cardiac incidences come through the doors of the clinic, either brought in by family or as a last-ditch effort by the ambulance. Of these, only one patient survived and it was because of his presence of mind and good decision-making immediately prior. He came in complaining of "just not feeling right". I was in his room when he suddenly "coded", i.e. had a full-on heart attack. The doctor was called in immediately, he was stabilized and sent out by ambulance.

In my opinion, we here in rural Baja have a very slim chance of survival given sudden cardiac arrest.

As for me, I too need to get my house in order, make my desires known and formally put in place some Advance Directives, written in Spanish and English. Those I had in place in years past are no longer pertinent. After that, I'll continue to hold those I love dearly and get on with savoring this beautiful, mysterious experience called life.

Woooosh - 11-10-2011 at 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by O.G.

Quote:

Where would one be buried if one dies in Mexico? Can a Gringo be buried in MX if that was their wish?

I'm hoping our Baja pet cremation service takes me.

We are in Rosarito Beach. The plan we have is to get to the border asap, no local hospital, no red cross- just get there. If I lived further south and had a heart problem- I would be looking into a hone defib unit- not all that expensive these days considering the alternative.

Mengano - 11-10-2011 at 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Iflyfish

Quote:

Thanks SkyMedBarbara, this is a valuable service. There are issues related to where these services are available...

There are no night time evacuation flights out of Baja. All the airports close around 6PM-7PM. No control tower, no customs, no runway lighting. VFR night flights are illegal.

J.P. - 11-10-2011 at 10:26 AM

My situation was a little different, when learning she was terminal my wife chose to spend her end time in Baja at our home. The doctors drove from Ensenada to administer shots daily until she needed to go to the hospital for stronger pain med's. when she died she was creamated at a local facility.which the hospital arranged. the level of care and the cremation was very profesional. and handeled well

dizzyspots - 11-10-2011 at 10:33 AM

begin by ALWAYS leaving a detailed "Baja Trip Plan" with a reliable friend or relative..detailed with vehicle descriptions, names, contact info...planned route of travel...expected date of return...what constitutes a "no-show"?...24hrs after expected border crossing time???

first aid training and supplies

pre-planning discussions for the "what if's"

SPOT and its med evac insurance

Iflyfish - 11-10-2011 at 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Phil S
Our plan if in Cabo if not life threatening is to use the local area's hospitals or clinics. If in LaPaz, I trust the LaPaz medical community. If in Loreto, I'll ask for Dr. Fernando to take care of me.

Thanks Phil,

This sort of specific information can be very useful. Which hospitals provide the best care in your community? Are there specific doctors you would recommend, like Dr Fernando in Loreto? I hope that other Nomads will also chime in with specifics. There is a lot of knowledge out there.

I just got a U2U from a fellow Nomad allerting me to another similar discussion on another site:
http://www.talkbaja.com/showthread.php?t=356

Iflyfish

Iflyfish - 11-10-2011 at 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DianaT
Good topic!

As you know, our town only has that very small hospital with very little to offer----not even an x-ray machine. And any major emergency that would require a trip to Guerrero Negro would be in an ambulance with untrained people----no EMTS, no Paramedics, etc.,

Friend whose daughter who suffered a head trauma first had to go to Santa Rosalia for x-rays and then to Ensenada to see a specialist and for more tests. Family transported her --- fortunately, she only had a minor fracture and minor swelling that did not require surgery or cause permanent damage.

Other friends have died from heart attacks and/or strokes and we have wondered if emergency trauma care had been available, if they might have survived, but who knows.

A major heart attack or stroke would not be a good thing---so we live with the fact that if that happens to one of us while we are in BA, we probably will end up buried there.

But I do hope someone can suggest an evac insurance that would service a rural area. So far, the only ones we have found would only fly into Guerrero Negro and that is a long ways away.

I appreciate the clarity and specificity of your post. This is the sort of information that I hope this thread will generate.

What does your local clinic treat? What equipment is there? Is there someone in your community who has a defib machine, they are available now to the general public and are not that expensive. Is there someone who can be a repository for medical information and medical power of attorney in your community? What if both of you are unconscious, who would carry out your wishes? These are the sort of questions that come to mind as I read your very useful post.

Thanks Diane

Iflyfish

Iflyfish - 11-10-2011 at 11:10 AM

Quote:

If I lived further south and had a heart problem- I would be looking into a hone defib unit- not all that expensive these days considering the alternative.

Good one! It could be lifesaving for a community to have a defib unit available. They are real life savers and are indeed available to the public as a reasonable cost. If one of these were available in each Xpat community that could be a very valuable resource. I wonder also if there is someone you or other Nomads could identify to be responsible for having your medical needs attended to if you are incapacitated. Who knows of your current medications etc?

Thanks again for your contribution to this thread

Iflyfish

Iflyfish - 11-10-2011 at 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Skeet/Loreto
First: Learn to speak as much Spanish as Possible.

Second: Take a First Aid Course :

Third: Get a Good First Aid Kit;

Fourth; If in Loreto, constitutio, or La Paz go to the very Good General Hospitals.

Fifth: Do not depend on Air Vac as you may have to wait for many Hours when you could be already in the Hospital under Care.

Sixth: There is Good Care in Baja Sur, good Doctors, they just do not have as many of the Fancy Machines as the States.

Dr. Gustavo Moraila and the doctors at the General Hospital in Constitution saved my Wife"s Life when she only had about 4 hours to live. 1992

Thanks for this very helpful post. We are our own best protection against life threatening incidents. Knowledge is power. I appreciate your naming Dr. Moraila as a resource. These specifics can be very helpful in planning for a medical emergency.

Iflyfish

Iflyfish - 11-10-2011 at 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mulegena

Quote:

Thanks for this very informative post. I hope other Medical Professionals will also chime in and help us understand what is important to the care givers when they meet us, unconscious in the ER.
You bring up a very important point, having our medical information in both Mexican Spanish and English. Who do you leave this with and how do you provide them with legal authorization to act on your behalf?

From your post it would seem to me that having a defib unit available would be very helpful. How about EpiPens? Allergic reactions can be a serious medical emergency and EpiPens can be inexpensive and life saving. Who in your rural community is capable of using a Defib or injecting an epipen?

Iflyfish

toneart - 11-10-2011 at 11:28 AM

In Mulege there is a clinic with very good doctors but little in the way of equipment. The closest medical facility with good equipment is La Paz.

It is difficult to anticipate what type of medical emergency one might encounter, and also, where it may happen. So, unless you are aware of a medical condition that could blow at any time, it is kind of the luck of the draw.

If an air evacuation is needed:

1. my neighbors will know I have credit cards with high limits.
2. I have a AAA Premiere Card. That plan will reimburse you for sure, but you must pre-pay on your own.
3. Celia Diaz, of BiNational Emergency has all my personal data on file as I am a member. She is in Chula Vista, CA and responds 24/7. It has already been stated in other threads how good of a job she does. She is so well connected that she can get the best services possible in any area of Baja...immediately. She also has my family contact numbers on file.

I have covered my bases, am cautious, and prepared as well as one could be. Having said this, I do not live in fear of what could happen. I live each day as though it were my last, enjoying every minute and do not worry in the least Try it! It's Free!

To answer another Nomad's question, yes, you can be buried in Mexico. Personally, when I leave my body, I care not whether the worms or the fish get it, or whether it fertilizes the trees. Oh, you could give me a wake. Freeze my body and put it in a tub to keep the beer and the champagne cold. Sing and dance! :saint:

Iflyfish - 11-10-2011 at 12:34 PM

toneart

"1. my neighbors will know I have credit cards with high limits.
2. I have a AAA Premiere Card. That plan will reimburse you for sure, but you must pre-pay on your own.
3. Celia Diaz, of BiNational Emergency has all my personal data on file as I am a member. She is in Chula Vista, CA and responds 24/7. It has already been stated in other threads how good of a job she does. She is so well connected that she can get the best services possible in any area of Baja...immediately. She also has my family contact numbers on file."

So BiNational Emergency is a resource for keeping medical information etc. and by being a member one can have this information available in case of an emergency.

http://www.binationalemergency.org/index.html

Iflyfish

David A. - 11-10-2011 at 12:37 PM

Within the last 30 years of visiting relatives in San Quintin, I have taken two of my kids and my wife to the hospital/clinic. Each time they accepted my HMO card with no questions asked, including the perscriptions. After the three individual visits, we had our home doctor check them out again. They said the work performed was excellent and don't worry.

2 cents worth...

DavidE - 11-10-2011 at 01:22 PM

Set and pin broken arm in mex, 900 dollars, quoted 39,000 pesos for operation. Returned to calif, HMO performed operation worth almost 70K dollars. I would get either IMSS or Seguro Popular in Mexico.

DavidE - 11-10-2011 at 01:26 PM

Don't forget -- opioid analgesics are almost non existent in mexico. Tylonol 3 or tramadol are THE strongest anything available. Made a big difference in how I think about where to have an operation done or where to recuperate.

Roberto - 11-10-2011 at 02:24 PM

David - you're not saying you paid the 70K in the U.S., right? What was your payment out of that amount.

Also, when you say opioids are almost non-existent. Are you saying doctors can't write prescriptions for them? My understanding is that after the new regulations were passed, the number of controlled-substances grew and that is now enforced, whereas before you could get a large number of "controlled" substances there. I know I personally purchased Valium without a prescription more than once.

Roberto - 11-10-2011 at 02:30 PM

Personally, my plans are to get the hell out as fast as possible, however possible. There is no doubt there are good doctors in Mexico - the problem is the system and the facilities. A good doctor is helpless in an emergency situation without the proper equipment.

There are also some good hospitals, no doubt, Angeles in Tijuana is an example, but if an emergency happens somewhere you are not intimately familiar with, and with the system - good luck. My family has clear instructions - if I get hurt, put me in the truck and head for the border, pedal to the metal.

Medical info

bajaguy - 11-10-2011 at 02:31 PM

How does the medical system work in Baja?

…………I’m not sure. It seems to be different depending on where you are, and the type of medical problem you have

Do you have Mexican medical insurance? How does that work?

………………No

Do you have US medical insurance and how does that work in Mexico?

………………Yes, however not covered in Mexico. We have to be treated in the US, although I would submit any Mexican medical bills to the insurance carrier to start the clock running and for documentation purposes.

Who is authorized to advocate for you in the Mexican medical system if you are not conscious? Is there a Mexican Medical Power of Attorney for Medical and Economic issues if you are incapacitated?

…………… Wife, daughter and our Mexico General Practitioner. It is important that you have a Mexican will in place so your wishes are known. Also would have a medical directive in Spanish available to GP

What is the best clinic in your area? What do they treat, what can't they treat? What equipment do they have there? Xray, MRI, CAT? Where do they send you if your needs are greater than they can provide?

…………………Unknown about a clinic, but Velmar hospital is a short distance away. Very highly regarded and works with Sharp Hospital in Chula Vista

What is the best hospital in your area given your medical insurance/ability to pay?

……………Stabilized at Velmar then transported to Sharp Hospital in Chula Vista

Where would you go for a heart attack, stroke? How would you get there?

……………Velmar Hospital in Ensenada.
Cruz Roja and Dianamed ambulance service is dispatched from Ensenada, so driving time could be up to 20 minutes one way. Probably by private car.

How would an Emergency Room or Hospital know what medications you currently take?

…………We have a medical card on the refrigerator that lists doctors, meds, blood type and other info including directives and a copy of passport. Was told by Dianamed Ambulance service that they always look on refrigerator for info. Also keep a copy of the card in my Baja wallet. ALWAYS keep a copy of your passport in your wallet.

What other medical questions are not included here and need to be considered when in Mexico? If you work in the Mexican Medical System, what should we know that most of us don't know?

What would a Medical Action Plan for Nomads living/visiting Baja look like? Where would you keep it so it will be of use?

………………Obtain a quality medical evacuation insurance plan. Check your current US medical policy or life insurance policy (or call your agent) to determine if you have evacuation coverage included in your plan.

We have one through our health insurance plan. It is from Med-Ex (worldwide, 24/7):

http://www.medexassist.com/

We also have 24/7 worldwide Search & Rescue and evacuation insurance through SPOT:

http://www.findmespot.com/en/index.php?cid=104

Sharp Hospital in Chula Vista will at NO COST coordinate for medical evacuation worldwide 24/7 by calling:

(888)265-1513 or in Mexico, 001-888-265-1513

Sharp has bilingual and bicultural emergency service representatives who will:

Work with the Mexican hospital treating you to coordinate your evacuation

Arrange air and land ambulance transportation to San Diego

Coordinate arrival with one of the Sharp Medical Center group

Contacting and providing assistance to family members

Contacting and coordinating with your stateside medical insurance carrier, to include Kaiser and the VA system.

In addition to medical /evacuation insurance, you should have a high limit credit card for medical emergencies in Baja as the majority of private ambulance services and hospitals will not bill you or your insurance company.

[Edited on 11-10-2011 by bajaguy]

Iflyfish - 11-10-2011 at 11:46 PM

Good one Bajaguy, lots of great ideas in your post.

Iflyfish

Local area

bajaguy - 11-11-2011 at 04:22 AM

One thing for sure, you need to check out the medical services/ambulance service/evacuation plans for your specific area and situation BEFORE you need it............Luck favors the prepared!!!!!

bajabass - 11-11-2011 at 06:21 AM

Or, do as I did, and marry a Mexican doctora!!! Seriously though, a very good topic. My wife knows what can be done and where, here in La Paz. If the worst happens, she will do her best, if that fails, feed me to the fishes!!

Pescador - 11-11-2011 at 08:26 AM

In my pre-baja days I was an Insurance agent that specialized in Health Care policies. I can tell you that even with simple policies that not all of my clients knew how to get the best services out of their policies and very few, if any, bothered to read the details.

Now we come to Mexico, which works very well for the Mexicans, but we get all confused because it is not the same as it is in the United States. Some people think that the whole system is set up as a rip-off to snag unwary tourists into paying large amounts of money and providing no services. Others report that they have had some of the best care provided that they had ever experienced.

Because I got involved in a project with the local hospital in Santa Rosalia, I did learn quite a bit about the systems and what really goes on with healthcare in Baja. First, because of the way the system works, it is possible to get very good personal care in terms of the doctors, nurses, and staff because they are doing what they want and are not under the same treatment operations as the United States. Doctors and Nurses actually take the time to spend time on trying to help you and do not have to run off to the next patient in the same way that US doctors do. But the real deficiency is is Medical and diagnostic equipment. (The big buzz this week is a mobile Mammogram trailer that is making it's way through the small communities, where this is available in any moderate sized town in the US)

Second, is that if you live here part time, it is very reasonable and inexpensive to sign up for Seguros Popular. This gives you good treatment at the general hospital but do not think it is a full blown Blue Cross Blue Shield Plan. There are some very good plans available in Mexico but again, they are not the same as the US. I carry Seguros Popular , Medicare in the US, and a high deductible supplement ($2,500).

If you have an upgraded health insurance plan, they usually cover private as well as public or general hospitals. You can also pay the tab for whatever you choose to have done and the rates are usually 1/4th or less than the same procedure in the United States. I think as the healthcare delivery continues to degrade in the United States, we will see more medical treatment take place south of the border. (I have a good friend who is going to head up the Shriner's Childrens Hospital in Tijuana since they are closing down the Los Angeles facility due to run away costs and figure they can operate for a fraction of the cost in Mexico.

Each person needs to decide what tolerance they have for medical treatment in a foreign country and if it is beyond their ability to understand or comprehend, then I heartily reccomend carrying a medical evacuation policy. When my wife had cancer, she felt it was important to come to Mexico but things could happen so quickly that in order to do that responsibly, we enrolled her with an evacuation policy and also signed up with Celia Diaz because she is the master at arranging everything. We had no problems setting up with a non-tower airport and they did have a King Air which would land on dirt strips. I do not know if that is still current but it was several years ago.

Finally, it is a good discussion to have with the locals as they usually have a good idea of the good doctors and services and the ones to be aware of. There have been numerous stories of the rip-off hospitals and doctors in both Cabo and La Paz and they seem to prey on the unsuspecting. So my hat is off to the FISH for starting this thread as information helps all of us.

Iflyfish - 11-11-2011 at 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DavidE
Don't forget -- opioid analgesics are almost non existent in mexico. Tylonol 3 or tramadol are THE strongest anything available. Made a big difference in how I think about where to have an operation done or where to recuperate.

I was able to acquire Oxycodone in La Paz when I was on that very nasty drug. My prescription ran out. I obtained it through a Cancer Doctor in La Paz. They had to order it from the mainland. Only one pharmacy in town could order it.

Iflyfish

Iflyfish - 11-11-2011 at 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pescador
In my pre-baja days I was an Insurance agent that specialized in Health Care policies. I can tell you that even with simple policies that not all of my clients knew how to get the best services out of their policies and very few, if any, bothered to read the details.

Now we come to Mexico, which works very well for the Mexicans, but we get all confused because it is not the same as it is in the United States. Some people think that the whole system is set up as a rip-off to snag unwary tourists into paying large amounts of money and providing no services. Others report that they have had some of the best care provided that they had ever experienced.

Because I got involved in a project with the local hospital in Santa Rosalia, I did learn quite a bit about the systems and what really goes on with healthcare in Baja. First, because of the way the system works, it is possible to get very good personal care in terms of the doctors, nurses, and staff because they are doing what they want and are not under the same treatment operations as the United States. Doctors and Nurses actually take the time to spend time on trying to help you and do not have to run off to the next patient in the same way that US doctors do. But the real deficiency is is Medical and diagnostic equipment. (The big buzz this week is a mobile Mammogram trailer that is making it's way through the small communities, where this is available in any moderate sized town in the US)

Second, is that if you live here part time, it is very reasonable and inexpensive to sign up for Seguros Popular. This gives you good treatment at the general hospital but do not think it is a full blown Blue Cross Blue Shield Plan. There are some very good plans available in Mexico but again, they are not the same as the US. I carry Seguros Popular , Medicare in the US, and a high deductible supplement ($2,500).

If you have an upgraded health insurance plan, they usually cover private as well as public or general hospitals. You can also pay the tab for whatever you choose to have done and the rates are usually 1/4th or less than the same procedure in the United States. I think as the healthcare delivery continues to degrade in the United States, we will see more medical treatment take place south of the border. (I have a good friend who is going to head up the Shriner's Childrens Hospital in Tijuana since they are closing down the Los Angeles facility due to run away costs and figure they can operate for a fraction of the cost in Mexico.

Each person needs to decide what tolerance they have for medical treatment in a foreign country and if it is beyond their ability to understand or comprehend, then I heartily reccomend carrying a medical evacuation policy. When my wife had cancer, she felt it was important to come to Mexico but things could happen so quickly that in order to do that responsibly, we enrolled her with an evacuation policy and also signed up with Celia Diaz because she is the master at arranging everything. We had no problems setting up with a non-tower airport and they did have a King Air which would land on dirt strips. I do not know if that is still current but it was several years ago.

Finally, it is a good discussion to have with the locals as they usually have a good idea of the good doctors and services and the ones to be aware of. There have been numerous stories of the rip-off hospitals and doctors in both Cabo and La Paz and they seem to prey on the unsuspecting. So my hat is off to the FISH for starting this thread as information helps all of us.

Thank you very much Pescador. This is the very sort of post I hoped would emerge from this discussion. I appreciate your thinking and experience.

It can be difficult to sort out the Mexican Health Care System. There are a number of levels to it.

My brother has lived on the mainland for the past 18 years and he has a private health insurance policy and his care has been EXCELLENT. As identical twins our health care issues, including surgeries, have been exactly the same. My care has been in the US, Kaiser, and his in Mexico. We both have had OUTSTANDING care. One of the main differnces is the one you noted. Doctors in Mexico have time to really engage with you and they care. If you have a personal doctor in Mexico you have the absolute best health care advocate you can have.

My brother carries a Private Mexican Health Insurance policy. It costs less than mine in the US and has provided him with excellent care. A key componant of his Private Mexican Health policy is that he has an agent who brokers his care for him. This agent acts somewhat like a Mexican Auto Insurance Agent, who must be on the scene to negotiate a settlement for any accident you are involved in. His agent is intimately involved with the health care facilities and providers in his community as he must deal with them on an ongoing basis. I hope that perhaps a Private Mexican Health Insurance Agent will chime in on this discussion and help us better understand how that system works. This might be an option for those of us who have resources and live full time in Baja.

In discussing medical care with locals or anyone for that matter it is important to remember that people have varied levels of knowledge of the medical system and medical care.

I have traveled in Mexico for nearly fifty years now. I have traveled in most of the states in the Republic. In my experience a typical Mexican that I have met will first go to an aunt or curendaro for suggestions on what to do, then perhaps to a pharmacy where they will ask the clerk, who may have no medical training, what they should take, then they will order one tablet of the drug or if they order a full regime may only take one of these tablets. Of course better educated peope of more means will usually have better knowledge of a wider range of medical options and those which may be most helpful for an extrajeno.

Thanks again for your very thoughtful post.

Iflyfish

Iflyfish - 11-11-2011 at 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajabass
Or, do as I did, and marry a Mexican doctora!!! Seriously though, a very good topic. My wife knows what can be done and where, here in La Paz. If the worst happens, she will do her best, if that fails, feed me to the fishes!!

We have had the very great pleasure of sharing a memorable Thanksgiving dinner with you and your lovely wife. You are a very lucky man!

I wonder if you might provide us with a run down on what medical resources you might recommend to Nomads who live/travel near La Paz? Do you have any information on Private Medical Plans in Baja?

Thanks

Iflyfish

Iflyfish - 11-11-2011 at 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajaguy
One thing for sure, you need to check out the medical services/ambulance service/evacuation plans for your specific area and situation BEFORE you need it............Luck favors the prepared!!!!!

This is a very good point. Luck does indeed favor the prepared!! This is the point of this thread. In the middle of an emergency is not the time you will want to be scrambling for information, papers, names/addresses, list of current medications in Spanish etc. I hope that out of this thread specific information will emerge to assist Nomads in making their emergency medical plans.

Iflyfish

Thanks bajaguy

tripledigitken - 11-11-2011 at 10:00 AM

One of the most thorough posts on the subject I have seen posted here.

Ken

Iflyfish - 11-11-2011 at 01:46 PM

Does anyone have information on Private Medical Insurance plans in Baja?

Iflyfish

bajabass - 11-11-2011 at 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Iflyfish

Quote:

It was very nice to meet both of you as well. Jesse put out quite a spread!

To be honest, I have not given but a few moments thought to any issues along these lines. I am relatively young for a full-timer here, and actually other than minor thyroid,cholesteral issues, pretty healthy. :rolleyes:

Unless you ask my wife!
I do have IMSS coverage while Dra. Bajabass is working there, but truly hate hospitals. The 3 longest nights of my life were in a hospital, and the only three to date, other than at birth. I do plan on keeping it that way!!
I will ask the wife if she has any suggestions that might be helpfull. I would say, have a plan, dependant upon your current and worse case needs. Pescador has great info on evac options. At this point, mine is call my wife and pray :saint:

805gregg - 11-11-2011 at 06:06 PM

Skymed, get the hell out of there as soon as possible.

CJ - 11-12-2011 at 02:46 PM

My wife and I live in Loreto full time. We dropped our Blue Shield policies a few years ago because they were just too expensive. We carried Med evac policies as well which we dropped. For the last three years we have been insured with GNP Seguros. The policy also gives us minimum coverage if we have a problem while in the states. I had some issues lately and the doctor in La Paz and the insurance company worked together and everything was done very professionally. Our neighbors have the same type of policy the wife just went through Gall Bladder surgery at FeidaPaz in La Paz, she was back in Loreto in four days, recovering and pleased with the whole process.
When we are old enough for medicare we will review our options again and make a decision on what to do then. The one important difference I have noticed in Mexico is that the doctors will spend much more time explaining the situation to you than in the states.......That's my two cents :cool:

Iflyfish - 11-12-2011 at 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CJ
My wife and I live in Loreto full time. We dropped our Blue Shield policies a few years ago because they were just too expensive. We carried Med evac policies as well which we dropped. For the last three years we have been insured with GNP Seguros. The policy also gives us minimum coverage if we have a problem while in the states. I had some issues lately and the doctor in La Paz and the insurance company worked together and everything was done very professionally. Our neighbors have the same type of policy the wife just went through Gall Bladder surgery at FeidaPaz in La Paz, she was back in Loreto in four days, recovering and pleased with the whole process.
When we are old enough for medicare we will review our options again and make a decision on what to do then. The one important difference I have noticed in Mexico is that the doctors will spend much more time explaining the situation to you than in the states.......That's my two cents :cool:

I appreciate your contribution to this thread. I don't know if some on this board were aware of Private Medical Insurance in Baja.

My brother's experience was like yours. Use the agent to deal with the doctors, hospitals etc.

I wonder if you would be willing to share how much your policy costs, deductable etc. That would be interesting to know. I also hope that someone else who is using the Private System or an agent will also comment on their exprience.

You raise yet another issue and that relates to Medicare in Baja. I understand that efforts are being made to allow Medicare to cover treatment in Baja. Maybe it already does in some places. I hope someone will post on this issue.

As you can see there are many options in Baja for treatment. Some better than others.

I know one Nomad who has a thumb drive with all his medical information on it so it can be read at a hospital if needed. That sounds like a great idea.

Anyone else willing to share their exprience with medical care in Baja?

Thanks,
Iflyfish

Bajahowodd - 11-12-2011 at 05:36 PM

I've considered just dying. And let my loved ones scatter my ashes in a number of favorite places. :yes:

Final inquiry:

El Vergel - 11-16-2011 at 08:43 PM

Fab post, y'all!!! Killer response and great planning info. Thank you so much for the valued input!

Final question:
How much a month do I need to set aside to afford these events while retired for ten years in the Baja, say 35km below SF, 60-70 y.o. ? ? ? What's the monthly cost for having the assurance, insurance and "no problem" feeling? As a plan-ahead budget number is it included in packages? Looks like it's available -as needed- anywhere, anytime and any way by the looks of this post.

If I get $1300USD a month, will I survive?????

It must include all costs for living!!! :lol:

Thanks for the info, Nomads!

[Edited on 11-17-2011 by El Vergel]

Iflyfish - 11-18-2011 at 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by El Vergel
Fab post, y'all!!! Killer response and great planning info. Thank you so much for the valued input!

Final question:
How much a month do I need to set aside to afford these events while retired for ten years in the Baja, say 35km below SF, 60-70 y.o. ? ? ? What's the monthly cost for having the assurance, insurance and "no problem" feeling? As a plan-ahead budget number is it included in packages? Looks like it's available -as needed- anywhere, anytime and any way by the looks of this post.

If I get $1300USD a month, will I survive?????

It must include all costs for living!!! :lol:

Thanks for the info, Nomads!

[Edited on 11-17-2011 by El Vergel]

Great questions

How does one access the Mexican Medical Care System?
How does one join the system?
How much does the Mexican Medical System cost?

Iflyfish

J.P. - 11-18-2011 at 04:41 PM

If I get $1300USD a month, will I survive?????

It must include all costs for living!!! :lol:

I personaly know folks who get buy on a heck of a lot less then there are people like me no matter what I get it's not enough. :lol:

All B.S. aside we are quite comfortable on what we get. :yes:

Udo - 11-18-2011 at 06:32 PM

Milliones gracias for your input,Terry (bajaguy).
This thread as well as your water filtration thread have really been a LIFESAVER!

Again, my sincerest thanks!

Iflyfish - 11-26-2011 at 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajaeng
About 4 years ago, at one of the Baja Book events, I met a Dr. Curtis Page who was there promoting a book he co-wrote with his father that discusses health care in Mexico. It's a pretty nice reference to have and has a decent section that covers the major towns in Baja.

You can check it out here: Mexico Healthcare Book

Thanks for this information, new one to me. This is a very complex and important topic. This book was written in 2007 and has but one review. Any Nomads read this book?

Reading the overview of this book on Amazon.com reminds me that some may not know that medications in Mexico have different names than in the USofA. It is therefore important to learn the Spanish names of your medication, its doseage etc. This can be accomplished via web search before you go. Keeping a bilingual list of these medications can be very helpful to those providing care for you in an emergency.

Iflyfish

Osprey - 12-8-2011 at 10:53 AM

My wife and I have too many pre existing conditions to make insurance worth while so we have just been paying cash, limping along with our fingers crossed. At 75 I worry that I might be a burden to others if I got injured. So I am trying to be considerate of others when faced with risky physical labor around the house (most accidents are at home doncha know). I never climb my ladder without having somebody to support it/me. I don't pick up heavy objects, I try not to stoop (dog poo patrol), when Lynda comes back from Costco I bring in the paper plates and people paper. She lugs in my cases of booze, the big coolers full of meat. She helps me put out the garbage -- doesn't complain much anymore because I have explained my healthy discipline to her a thousand time, hundreds of ways. I'm really thinking of her. It's all for her. So far so good. Sure hope she doesn't overdo, hurt herself. What then?

[Edited on 12-8-2011 by Osprey]

toneart - 12-8-2011 at 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Iflyfish

Quote:

"... some may not know that medications in Mexico have different names than in the USofA. It is therefore important to learn the Spanish names of your medication, its doseage etc. This can be accomplished via web search before you go. Keeping a bilingual list of these medications can be very helpful to those providing care for you in an emergency."

Iflyfish

Pharmacists in Mexico have a large reference book in which they can look up the corresponding Mexican names of U.S. drugs. I have found them to be very reliable.

Iflyfish - 12-8-2011 at 12:59 PM

This from the Consulate on Death of an American in Mexico

C:\Users\Richard\Desktop\Travel\Mexico Trip\Death of an American In Mexico.mht

Thanks Toneart, there is a website somewhere where on can translate US drugs into their Spanish names. I will see if I can find it. I had it at one point.

Iflyfish

toneart - 12-8-2011 at 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Iflyfish
This from the Consulate on Death of an American in Mexico

C:\Users\Richard\Desktop\Travel\Mexico Trip\Death of an American In Mexico.mht

Thanks Toneart, there is a website somewhere where on can translate US drugs into their Spanish names. I will see if I can find it. I had it at one point.

Iflyfish

Fly- the link did not post correctly.

Iflyfish - 12-8-2011 at 01:25 PM

Try this one.

http://nuevolaredo.usconsulate.gov/nuevolaredo/death_oversea...

I cannot find my link to the translator of US medication names translated into Mexican Spanish. Anyone out there have a link?

Iflyfish

MitchMan - 12-8-2011 at 01:36 PM

Looking into Medicare Advantage plans. HealthNet HMO in California literature together with their "verbal" representations says that they pay (reimburse you, that is) up to $50,000 USD per year for out of country emergency treatment which "they verbally say" will cover medivac costs. Kaiser Medicare Advantage plan also pays (reimburses you) for out of country emergency medical costs as well and they verbally have represented to me that such costs include Medical Evacuation services "where necessary".

For me to have complete confidence in such out of country emergency coverage, I need to do more research and verifications. But, it looks promising so far.

[Edited on 12-8-2011 by MitchMan]

Iflyfish - 12-8-2011 at 01:44 PM

Thanks MitchMan, Good news for those of us with some medical plans in the US. I have been told the same thing by Kaiser here in Oregon.

I am short of time right now, but have a link to lots of sources of info on Medical Care in Mexico, I still have not found the translation directory I was looking for.

Iflyfish

toneart - 12-8-2011 at 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MitchMan
Looking into Medicare Advantage plans. HealthNet HMO in California literature together with their "verbal" representations says that they pay (reimburse you, that is) up to $50,000 USD per year for out of country emergency treatment which "they verbally say" will cover medivac costs. Kaiser Medicare Advantage plan also pays (reimburses you) for out of country emergency medical costs as well and they verbally have represented to me that such costs include Medical Evacuation services "where necessary".

For me to have complete confidence in such out of country emergency coverage, I need to do more research and verifications. But, it looks promising so far.

[Edited on 12-8-2011 by MitchMan]

If you have AAA (Premier) Road Assistance Plan, medical evacuation from Mexico is also covered. I have called them each year and they have verified this. You have to use your credit card or prepay somehow, and they reimburse you. Celia Diaz, of Binational Emergency in Chula Vista has this on file for me, as I am also a member with her.