BajaNomad - ****FREE MEXICAN HEALTHCARE****

FREE MEXICAN HEALTHCARE

EnsenadaDr - 12-29-2011 at 05:14 PM

Finally, the solution to getting the Mexican national healthcare coverage, Seguro Popular. By Mexican law, EVERYONE living in Mexico has the right to free healthcare. If you are a Gringo, you need to get your Birth Certificate apostiled by the Secretary of the State in the state you were born, then bring it to the nearest Registro Civil in the town or city you live in in Mexico. Then they will issue you a CURP, and you take the CURP to the nearest Seguro Popular office and they will issue you a Seguro Popular number which is good for routine office visits (if you don't mind waiting in a clinic), medication (if it is in stock), referrals to specialists, and emergency and critical care.

SFandH - 12-29-2011 at 05:31 PM

Thanks for the info.

Dave - 12-29-2011 at 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by EnsenadaDr
By Mexican law, EVERYONE living in Mexico has the right to free healthcare.

Dia de los inocentes was yesterday.

Bajatripper - 12-29-2011 at 06:10 PM

When I signed up, I got my CURP at the civil registrar by showing them my FM-2. With those in hand, I then was able to sign up for Seguro Popular. I didn't need the apostiled copy of my birth certificate.

Dave, this is on the up-and-up, at least that is what the government-sponsored radio announcements I hear in La Paz would have us believe.

comitan - 12-29-2011 at 06:26 PM

Did this also, the guy was really helpful.

bacquito - 12-30-2011 at 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SFandH
Thanks for the info.

Ditto

Pescador - 12-30-2011 at 02:50 PM

It is also figured on your income. I pay about 100 dollars US per year for my policy, which I think is a good deal. The important issue is the CURP card which in most cases, depending on the office, usually does not require an apostile.

EnsenadaDr - 12-30-2011 at 03:30 PM

Pescador, I think you are talking about IMSS (Instituto Mexicano Seguro Social). I am talking about Seguro Popular. There will be a meeting tomorrow at Las Parrillas Restaurant in Chapultepec to discuss CURP, Seguro Popular, Apostilles, and other insurance options at 10 a.m. tomorrow morning, as there have been numerous questions asked on the Punta Banda Bulletin Board concerning this topic.

Iflyfish - 12-30-2011 at 05:12 PM

This is wonderful news indeed!! Thank you very much for posting this.

Iflyfish

Pescador - 12-31-2011 at 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by EnsenadaDr
Pescador, I think you are talking about IMSS (Instituto Mexicano Seguro Social). I am talking about Seguro Popular. There will be a meeting tomorrow at Las Parrillas Restaurant in Chapultepec to discuss CURP, Seguro Popular, Apostilles, and other insurance options at 10 a.m. tomorrow morning, as there have been numerous questions asked on the Punta Banda Bulletin Board concerning this topic.

I love it. I spent my life as an insurance agent and I have trouble reading the policy? No, I am talking Seguros Popular and we have had it in our area for quite some time. When I get to renew this year, I will see if the cost has changed but I did have a cost. IMSS is for government workers and they did sell some private policies, but some people had problems if they had a claim and got dropped or did not ever get on in the first place due to underwriting.

As with a lot of things that occur in Baja California, there may be a real difference of how things takek place in Baja California Sur versus Baja California.

Here is the website with all of the correct information.

http://www.seguro-popular.gob.mx/

Sorry for the misunderstanding...

EnsenadaDr - 12-31-2011 at 02:32 PM

I had a meeting today with someone who pulled out their IMSS card and thought that was what I was talking about. IMSS, from my experience, is a disaster, I think Seguro Popular is a much better program.

Quote:

Originally posted by Pescador

Quote:

DENNIS - 12-31-2011 at 02:45 PM

I think anyone who needs free healthcare in Mexico, can't afford to be here legally in the first place. Why impose upon the threadbare welfare system of another country when the US has it all....and more on the way.

wessongroup - 12-31-2011 at 03:13 PM

Great thread... it all helps

Hook - 12-31-2011 at 05:18 PM

This might be the most apropos page on the Seguro Popular site. It does seem to indicate that, unless you are in a certain economic bracket (unstated what that bracket is) you will pay something.

http://www.seguro-popular.gob.mx/index.php?option=com_conten...

Hmmm, this could be an in-Mexico alternative to carrying a high deductible with my other carrier, Bupa International. Gotta find out IF it can be used as supplemental coverage AND if it is accepted at the stellar hospital in Hermosillo; CIMA.

DENNIS - 12-31-2011 at 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hook
Hmmm, this could be an in-Mexico alternative to carrying a high deductible with my other carrier, Bupa International. Gotta find out IF it can be used as supplemental coverage AND if it is accepted at the stellar hospital in Hermosillo; CIMA.

Consider the aspect of free, then apply it to health care in Mexico, and that will be enough to make you sick.
Wake up, folks.

wessongroup - 12-31-2011 at 05:46 PM

:lol:

Wake up call

EnsenadaDr - 12-31-2011 at 05:55 PM

Dennis, the wake up call is this. Healthcare in Mexico is acceptable to someone who has a heart attack or stroke. Take the case of Christina Hoff who was in the General Hospital's ICU. She came out fine, and had Seguro Popular. When taken to a private facility down here, I have heard from more than one person that if the credit card isn't out with available funds at the private facility, you will be shipped at your own expense to the border and by that time the clot buster or angioplasty option will not be an option. Consider this: you get taken to a local hospital, get stabilized in ICU, and then can be shipped after stabilization to a US hospital. The wake up call is this: I work for nothing for the Mexican government, they don't pay me a dime. Yet other students that are citizens get paid. I certainly don't feel guilty about receiving healthcare coverage. The American dollar is being pumped into this economy day in and day out, we as Americans probably contribute way more than the average Mexican to the economy per day. And consider this: every person living in Mexico is guaranteed healthcare under the law. You might have $20,000 to shell out for your ICU care, but I doubt many Americans retired down here have that available cash. Most Americans would probably want to be shipped back to the States after stabilization anyways. Its just a safety net to make sure you get semi-adequate acute care until other arrangements can be made.

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS

Quote:

Consider the aspect of free, then apply it to health care in Mexico, and that will be enough to make you sick.
Wake up, folks.

Hook - 12-31-2011 at 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS

Quote:

Consider the aspect of free, then apply it to health care in Mexico, and that will be enough to make you sick.
Wake up, folks.

Spoken like a person living within an hour of US healthcare AND who probably has insurance paid for him.

Methinks you havent yet found good medical care in northern Baja............or you have VA or something.

Lots of good stories over here involving CIMA hospital, Dennis.

BTW, I never said FREE; quite the contrary. I am against FREE health care ANYWHERE. People should pay SOMETHING to cut down on abuse of the system.

DENNIS - 12-31-2011 at 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hook
Spoken like a person living within an hour of US healthcare AND who probably has insurance paid for him.

Methinks you havent yet found good medical care in northern Baja............or you have VA or something.

Perhaps you are correct...or not.
I have the best of coverage NOB......100% from the VA....as well as Kaiser Senior Advantage. Medicare A+B also.
As well as that. I have a cardiologist here in Ensenada who treats me well for a nominal feel, but...and but....he's, according to my DRA friend, inept. He won't schedule timely and appropriate tests to monitor his prescribed meds which, in the states would cost a physician his license.
So....wtf do you think about that?

Back From the Other Side…Oooooweeeooo

Mengano - 12-31-2011 at 07:56 PM

This is a tragic and comedic story by Jerry Shelby, who had a heart attack last February in Ensenada.

The Real Life Adventure of Jerry Shelby

Roberto - 12-31-2011 at 09:59 PM

Yeah, we all saw just how great Seguro Popular was during a recent incident. You have GOT to be kidding me.

Seguro Popular is a last resort option for those who have nothing else. Other than that ... well, we all make our choices, I guess.

Seguro Popular..

EnsenadaDr - 12-31-2011 at 10:10 PM

Ron for whatever reason didn't have it...Christina was in ICU in General Hospital Ensenada..I saw her, and she was released a few days later...so she made it...so what exactly WAS the problem Roberto??? If Ron had it..he would have went to General Hospital and no money would have been needed...I don't know why he went to Carmen...I was told he had private insurance, but hey who knows?? Next time you need an ICU cough up your credit card and go to the nearest private hospital and pay your 20 grand...I certainly don't have it...

Quote:

Originally posted by Roberto
Yeah, we all saw just how great Seguro Popular was during a recent incident. You have GOT to be kidding me.

Seguro Popular is a last resort option for those who have nothing else. Other than that ... well, we all make our choices, I guess.

DENNIS - 12-31-2011 at 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Roberto
Seguro Popular is a last resort option for those who have nothing else.

You're confused, as usual, Robby....it's not an option. Try to expand your empathy level.

the only option...

EnsenadaDr - 12-31-2011 at 10:45 PM

It is an option...if you can afford a private hospital and/or private ambulance service to the Border...how many Americans down here have that kind of money???

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS

Quote:

Originally posted by Roberto
Seguro Popular is a last resort option for those who have nothing else.

You're confused, as usual, Robby....it's not an option. Try to expand your empathy level.

DENNIS - 12-31-2011 at 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by EnsenadaDr
It is an option...if you can afford a private hospital and/or private ambulance service to the Border...how many Americans down here have that kind of money???

Seguro Popular....IMSS....WHATEVER....it's all dog pound medicine, but if that's all ya got, that's all ya got.
Stay on good terms with your maker.

Getting what's Deserved

MrBillM - 12-31-2011 at 11:00 PM

For Free.

On the Bright side, it's sure to be worth the cost.

They could even offer a "Double your Money-Back Guarantee".

With no negative impact on the budget.

[Edited on 1-1-2012 by MrBillM]

bajaguy - 12-31-2011 at 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by EnsenadaDr
It is an option...if you can afford a private hospital and/or private ambulance service to the Border...how many Americans down here have that kind of money???

Quote:

Dinamed, a private ambulance service in Ensenada, basic transport service to the border from Ensenada is about $1,200-$1,500. Dinamed DOES NOT BILL MEDICARE, US HEALTH INSURANCE or TAKE CHECKS. You need cash or a credit card.........

Hook - 1-1-2012 at 01:16 AM

Based on Megano's story and Dennis' knee jerk reaction, maybe you blokes dont have ANY decent health care over in northern Baja.

But I dont see anything tangible that reflects badly on Seguro Popular. It is insurance, not care. You guys are dissing care. GOOD insurance can still yield bad care, if you go to the wrong place.

Negativity...

EnsenadaDr - 1-1-2012 at 03:34 AM

No, its just pure negativity and denial. No one likes to think about the eventuality of needing critical care. They would rather downplay or even trash it rather than face it. Jerry lived to make it to the States, at least Mexico did that much for him and got him across the border. It might not be perfect, but really its all you have and in the end it MIGHT just save your life. Shoot, even in the States they have operated on the wrong leg....good insurance or not.

Quote:

Originally posted by Hook
Based on Megano's story and Dennis' knee jerk reaction, maybe you blokes dont have ANY decent health care over in northern Baja.

But I dont see anything tangible that reflects badly on Seguro Popular. It is insurance, not care. You guys are dissing care. GOOD insurance can still yield bad care, if you go to the wrong place.

Thanks for the input

EnsenadaDr - 1-1-2012 at 08:34 AM

Very interesting account...I met Jerry a few months back at his restaurant Cafe Orleans and he casually mentioned his "heart attack" but I had NO idea he went through all of this!!! Thanks for posting..

Quote:

Originally posted by Mengano
This is a tragic and comedic story by Jerry Shelby, who had a heart attack last February in Ensenada.

The Real Life Adventure of Jerry Shelby

Pescador - 1-1-2012 at 08:57 AM

Geez, why can we not make it free and wonderful. Seguros Popular is a low cost alternative that is offered. It is not intended to be equal to private insurance and coverage in the United States. I spent my career helping people to make wise decisions about their coverage and insurance options and it was a constantly shifting scene even under the best of circumstances. The worst care I ever saw and experienced was while working on the Indian Reservation in my early years as a teacher and got to witness Public Health. Basically people were working off their obligation for schooling and since the placement was only temporary, the level of care was beyond abyssmal. I know a lot of people feel that they get good care from the Veterans Administration but there have always been problems in terms of treatment and available dollars. Same thing with Kaiser Permanente which is a captive program meaning you go to their doctors and facilities and only in rare cases do you get a referral to "Super Specialists". The very best care provided was also the most expensive and there were no restrictions as to what providers you chose to go to.

Now the same thing happens in Mexico. The government was under pressure to provide some level of coverage for everyone who "fell through the cracks" and have done a pretty good job of providing that system through "Seguros Popular". But make no mistake, it is not going to be able to provide the same level of coverage and expertise that is provided by Private Care or some of the major insurance covered Medical care that is available in Mexico. I have a lot of Mexican friends who are covered with this and they know going in that they can have the lab, diagnostic, and general care provided, but they also know that when Grandma has a heart attack that they need to get her to a private facility.

There are two or three general insurance companies in Mexico who provide good insurance, but they also have some limitations as to coverage since there are not Preferred provider networks or the kinds of billing agreements that we see with healthcare in the United States.

Since I am retired, I am covered with Medicare and carry a high deductible plan for the supplemental section. Because I live in Mexico full time, then I carry Seguros Popular for incidental medical procedures. This keeps everything within my budget constraints and I feel like I have covered most of the things I might expect to run into. But I also took enough time to find out what is covered, where I can use the programs, and how I go about getting services. The biggest problem encountered by a lot of people is that they think they are getting the same thing they had or could get in the United States for almost no cost. But that is probably why there were so many people in favor of Obamacare in the beginning and now the support has radically dwindled once everyone started to find out what it was really going to cost.

Thank you for sharing...

EnsenadaDr - 1-1-2012 at 09:12 AM

Thanks Pescador for putting it all into perspective. Another thing about Obama care, is that it would be essentially the same socialized medical program as we have down here in Mexico, for those who "fall" between the cracks, but unlike private healthcare insurance, it would not provide the quality of care available with private insurance carriers. And for the people who are on a guilt trip about spending government money when others need it, private insurance would be paid for by the companies and partial premiums by the individuals covered. I guess the reasoning of thousands of illegals in the US that come across the US border and use government US healthcare is that each American has a heck of alot more money than they ever will so let them pay for it. I saw many patients in San Diego who were illegal, but under EMTALA laws in the States, we had to treat them until they were stabilized and not ask any immigration questions or report them. Then the families from Mexico would come up demanding this and that...many times I asked the families if they would get preferential and VIP treatment in IMSS...and they would say No but this is the US...for instance, they would want their family member in a private room when in Clinica 8 IMSS Ensenada, there are generally 6 to a room..also why are people covered by the VA and the taxpayers money in the US so against being funded by government money in Mexico?

Quote:

Originally posted by Pescador
Geez, why can we not make it free and wonderful. Seguros Popular is a low cost alternative that is offered. It is not intended to be equal to private insurance and coverage in the United States. I spent my career helping people to make wise decisions about their coverage and insurance options and it was a constantly shifting scene even under the best of circumstances. The worst care I ever saw and experienced was while working on the Indian Reservation in my early years as a teacher and got to witness Public Health. Basically people were working off their obligation for schooling and since the placement was only temporary, the level of care was beyond abyssmal. I know a lot of people feel that they get good care from the Veterans Administration but there have always been problems in terms of treatment and available dollars. Same thing with Kaiser Permanente which is a captive program meaning you go to their doctors and facilities and only in rare cases do you get a referral to "Super Specialists". The very best care provided was also the most expensive and there were no restrictions as to what providers you chose to go to.

Now the same thing happens in Mexico. The government was under pressure to provide some level of coverage for everyone who "fell through the cracks" and have done a pretty good job of providing that system through "Seguros Popular". But make no mistake, it is not going to be able to provide the same level of coverage and expertise that is provided by Private Care or some of the major insurance covered Medical care that is available in Mexico. I have a lot of Mexican friends who are covered with this and they know going in that they can have the lab, diagnostic, and general care provided, but they also know that when Grandma has a heart attack that they need to get her to a private facility.

There are two or three general insurance companies in Mexico who provide good insurance, but they also have some limitations as to coverage since there are not Preferred provider networks or the kinds of billing agreements that we see with healthcare in the United States.

Since I am retired, I am covered with Medicare and carry a high deductible plan for the supplemental section. Because I live in Mexico full time, then I carry Seguros Popular for incidental medical procedures. This keeps everything within my budget constraints and I feel like I have covered most of the things I might expect to run into. But I also took enough time to find out what is covered, where I can use the programs, and how I go about getting services. The biggest problem encountered by a lot of people is that they think they are getting the same thing they had or could get in the United States for almost no cost. But that is probably why there were so many people in favor of Obamacare in the beginning and now the support has radically dwindled once everyone started to find out what it was really going to cost.

durrelllrobert - 1-1-2012 at 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pescador

There are two or three general insurance companies in Mexico who provide good insurance, but they also have some limitations as to coverage since there are not Preferred provider networks or the kinds of billing agreements that we see with healthcare in the United States.

When I broke my arm a couple of years ago I went to the military hospital in Ensenada. They did a teriffic job of seting and casting it. Then I had 2 follow-up vists with doc and 3 weeks of daily physical therapy. The total cost was $3,200 (pesos). I submitted bill to my US HMO (that shall remain anonymous) and was reimbursed for 80% less Rx drugs in US$ = $2,250. Of course a pointed out their error

Mengano - 1-1-2012 at 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by EnsenadaDr
...also why are people covered by the VA and the taxpayers money in the US so against being funded by government money in Mexico?

Because, my good doctor, VA coverage is not free government health care. It comes about as a contract between a person who joins the US military and the federal government for what benefits that person will receive for serving. It works like this: you join the military for 4 years, and agree to be on duty essentially 24/7 for those four years. You receive a salary that is way, way below the minimum wage for the hours worked. You so not get to decide where you will be or what you will do, or even when you will eat or sleep. You get to leave your wife and kids behind and not see them for one year at a time. Then you go to the most dangerous places on the planet and walk around looking for trouble.

For doing all that, the government says if you get hurt, they will pick up the medical bill for you for the rest of your life.

Now, let us contrast this with socialized medicine, like Seguro Popular. The only thing you have to do to get coverage is live in Mexico. That's it.

Do you see the distinction?

THEY Usually Don't

MrBillM - 1-1-2012 at 10:40 AM

See THAT distinction. Or, at least, choose to not understand it.

We get the same over our retirement Health Care coverage provided by the Retirement Trust Funds. A contract for employment services rendered. Which is also supplemented by our own premiums.

BTW, NOTHING is "FREE" If YOU are getting it FREE, Somebody Else is paying for it.

Yes..

EnsenadaDr - 1-1-2012 at 10:40 AM

I also see in my case, I have a contract with the Mexican government so I can get my titulo medico. I worked for free at the Military Hospital for a year (granted, I got some good training as well), and now a year for Seguro popular. The Mexican students get paid $3000 pesos a month...I get nada...SOOO....what is your opinion about this...maybe after I can get a job at Sanoviv (just joking!!)

Quote:

Originally posted by Mengano

Quote:

Originally posted by EnsenadaDr
...also why are people covered by the VA and the taxpayers money in the US so against being funded by government money in Mexico?

birth cer.

captkw - 1-1-2012 at 11:29 AM

HOLA, what is apostiled ?? my birth cer has an inbossed stamp on it,does that do the trick?? I"m clueless, but good at catching fish, and making beer vanish !! :lol:

K&T

Apostille..

EnsenadaDr - 1-1-2012 at 12:01 PM

Its a seal that certifies that the document is authentic from the state/country you were born in. You deal directly with the Secretary of State of your state from the US...and send them the certified copy of your birth certificate by mail, should cost around $35 dollars American..read up on it at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostille_convention
BTW I'll hold you to a fried fish dinner...where are you?? haha

Quote:

Originally posted by captkw
HOLA, what is apostiled ?? my birth cer has an inbossed stamp on it,does that do the trick?? I"m clueless, but good at catching fish, and making beer vanish !! :lol:

K&T

Mengano - 1-1-2012 at 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by EnsenadaDr
I also see in my case, I have a contract with the Mexican government so I can get my titulo medico. I worked for free at the Military Hospital for a year (granted, I got some good training as well), and now a year for Seguro popular. The Mexican students get paid $3000 pesos a month...I get nada...SOOO....what is your opinion about this...maybe after I can get a job at Sanoviv (just joking!!)

You should have negotiated a better deal. I'm not sure what you plan to do with your titulo medico, other that work in Mexico. It sure isn't a license to practice medicine in the US.

Fortunately my dear Mengano..

EnsenadaDr - 1-1-2012 at 12:24 PM

I think I have negotiated a good deal for myself. All I need to do is pass the USMLE step 1, 2 and 2cs, and I can practice in the US. You see, my university Xochicalco, is approved for education in the United States, and as US citizens we are eligible to receive federal Stafford Loans and private Sallie Mae loans to attend the school. This is no small feat, however. 16 of the 16 students that took the exam last year did not pass the first time. This is because the school does not gear you to pass the exam in the US. I will be finishing up August 2012, and then going to UCSD for a course every weekend for 6 months in San Diego, and there, the professor guarantees a 95% pass rate...hopefully!!

Quote:

Originally posted by Mengano

Quote:

You should have negotiated a better deal. I'm not sure what you plan to do with your titulo medico, other that work in Mexico. It sure isn't a license to practice medicine in the US.

EnsenadaDr

mcfez - 1-1-2012 at 12:29 PM

I must say thanks to your good replies here...and at other topics within the BN Forums. Never mind some these Off Topic "escapees" that are giving you a hard time here :-)

No worries...

EnsenadaDr - 1-1-2012 at 12:34 PM

I like the offbeat comments...they make it fun...and like I read somewhere, as General George Patton said, "If we are all thinking alike, then no one is thinking..."(Did I steal that from someone here?)

Quote:

Originally posted by mcfez
I must say thanks to your good replies here...and at other topics within the BN Forums. Never mind some these Off Topic "escapees" that are giving you a hard time here :-)

Alm - 1-1-2012 at 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mengano
This is a tragic and comedic story by Jerry Shelby, who had a heart attack last February in Ensenada.

The Real Life Adventure of Jerry Shelby

A good eye-opener for those relying on free or low-cost Mexican care like Seguro. Note that
a) he was in very good position to begin with - in Ensenada and with a family to take care of things, though
b) didn't have private coverage in Baja.

In more details on A and B:

a) Evacuation. What if somebody lives hundreds miles to the South? The best coverage might not work without a good evacuation coverage that says "...to a hospital of your choice". Very few evac plans are that good, Med Jet @$400-500 a year is one of them. Most other plans will take you to the "nearest hospital capable of treatment", so somebody in Mulege might end up in a hospital in La Paz.

b) Private medical coverage. This is costly @ 1,800 and more a year, and most plans don't cover after 69 years or charge triple then. But this worries me less than the very availability of good private care in South Baja. Do they really have good cardiologists and circulation specialists for things like stroke in a small hospital of La Paz or Loreto? Do they have a good equipment? Do their nurses work or sleep on the ward? Discovering the truth at the cost of my life is a grim perspective.

[Edited on 1-1-2012 by Alm]

Iflyfish - 1-1-2012 at 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mengano
This is a tragic and comedic story by Jerry Shelby, who had a heart attack last February in Ensenada.

The Real Life Adventure of Jerry Shelby

Very interesting and useful post. Nice to hear the story from the perspective of the patient.

Iflyfish

Roberto - 1-1-2012 at 08:24 PM

Quote:

Actually, it is insurance that requires you to get care in specific places. And THAT is the problem.

Lots of patients / patience

djh - 1-1-2012 at 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by EnsenadaDr
I like the offbeat comments...they make it fun...and like I read somewhere, as General George Patton said, "If we are all thinking alike, then no one is thinking..."(Did I steal that from someone here?)

Quote:

Likewise, E Doc..... thanks for your thoughtful thread and "patience"...

Humor and tolerance are two required staples for any diet including this Nomad board....

I wouldn't advise reciting this to one of your patients in dire striagts, but as my old friend and Baja introducer, Jack Corbin (RIP) used to say "No point in taking life too seriously, as you'll never get put of it alive.". He proved himself right, I suppose...

Alm - 1-2-2012 at 12:26 PM

OK, not everybody lives in North Baja, so question is still the same - any good private hospital in South Baja. Stroke, heart attack, complicated injuries etc.

Also, correct me if I'm wrong, "insurance that requires you to get care in specific places" is not very common. Even if evacuation plan limits your choice to the nearest hospital that is technically "capable of", most private medical plans don't have such restrictions. There are some plans with Preferred Provider, but even then you can go to another provider, losing 20% out of 100% coverage. I do, however, recall membership-type plans covering outpatient visits like GP, diagnostics etc, tied to specific hospitals in North Baja - but those are not really "medical insurance".

Anyway, Bupa, Liaison, and many others don't force you to go to a specific places, at least I didn't find anything in their fine print.

la paz

captkw - 1-2-2012 at 12:30 PM

I had a good doctor at fidee paz,, the purple place, south of wal-mart,,north of the old C.C.C. recommend highly...K&T :cool:

Oso - 1-2-2012 at 01:29 PM

FEMA evacuation plan: Run, mother____er, run.

IMSS: Importa Madre Su Salud.

ISSSTE: Inutil Solicitar Servicios, Solo Tenemos Entierros.

Alm - 1-2-2012 at 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Oso
FEMA evacuation plan...

The talk was about private emergency ambulance (including air ambulance) like Med Jet, DAN etc. Mostly MJ, because other plans don't offer choice of a hospital. They are all relatively inexpensive, especially when compared to real cost of air ambulance, but they are just standalone evac plans - no treatment plan included.

Possible scenario of tsunami or hurricane in Baja with little or no chance of getting any air ambulance, be it private or not, is interesting, though beyond the scope of this topic, I guess.

[Edited on 1-2-2012 by Alm]

Islandbuilder - 1-2-2012 at 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Alm

Quote:

Originally posted by Oso
FEMA evacuation plan...

I've heard that the private hospital in La Paz is excellent.

A friend who was on their boat in San Carlos had a GI bleed, very serious stuff, and want to the local clinic in Guaymas where the doc very quickly decided that the problem was beyond their capability, and told my friend to get north.

They had DAN evacuation insurance, and they covered everything, air ambulance, ground ambulance to get the wife to Tucson, and then after surgery and a couple of weeks in ICU, to fly her to Seattle where she was closer to home! Very impressive service!

Islandbuilder - 1-2-2012 at 07:17 PM

One observation, if there's a major tsunami event in Baja, it's very likely that there's been one NOB as well. We'll ALL be in the stone age for at least a few days. We should all be trained and prepared to go it alone for a few days regardless of where we live.

Hook - 1-2-2012 at 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Roberto

Quote:

Actually, it is insurance that requires you to get care in specific places. And THAT is the problem.

Even when I worked, I couldnt afford insurance that let me go WHEREVER I wanted. Even PPOs dictate who you're gonna see, although a larger pool.

Between HMOs and PPOs, that probably covers 80% of the people who have insurance in the US. Maybe Pescador knows what the exact percentage is.

In any event, the percentage continues to drop as more employers move the cost to employees and premiums continue to rise faster than the rate of inflation.

So, I have a lot of company with people who cant go WHEREVER they want.

People who can go WHEREVER they want are usually having their health care paid for by someone else. The rest of us can just "suck eggs", I guess.

And if it's a government employee or a corporation, trust me, the costs are still being spread out over all of us. It's in our taxes, it's built into the products we buy. It's just a more exclusive "group" of insured who get the benefits.

Shame on the rest of US for not having that cushy govt job or white collar job.

Anybody find a list of the hospitals that accept Seguro Popular yet? I'm calling my hospital of choice tomorrow.

[Edited on 1-3-2012 by Hook]

List of hospitals.

EnsenadaDr - 1-3-2012 at 07:16 AM

There is probably one hospital per city...in Ensenada its General Hospital...

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Originally posted by Hook

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Originally posted by Roberto

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Actually, it is insurance that requires you to get care in specific places. And THAT is the problem.

durrelllrobert - 1-3-2012 at 10:52 AM

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Sorry I missed the meeting. Where exactly do you go in Maneadero to show your CUSP and sign up?

Oso - 1-3-2012 at 01:58 PM

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Originally posted by Alm

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Originally posted by Oso

The talk was about private emergency ambulance (including air ambulance) like Med Jet, DAN etc. Mostly MJ, .

[Edited on 1-2-2012 by Alm]

I know. The word evacuation just triggered the memory of this. It's something I saw on a tee shirt.

Alm - 1-3-2012 at 03:22 PM

Oso, - no hard feelings... I've got your point about FEMA - some good "plan" they had indeed in the Govt... Living up here at PNW coast I wasn't affected directly by this, though keeping my fingers crossed that no big sh-t hits the fan within my lifetime. Our disaster management plans and the entire construction industry are in the stone age, compared to Japan, so I'm not expecting anything good. Back to the topic - the chance of having heart attack or stroke at the same time with tsunami is not very high.

Yeah, DAN works as an evacuation insurance and it is VERY cheap, but it pays for ambulance only to the closest capable hospital. Technically, a place like Ensenada General could be considered "capable", but I'd rather not go there.

EnsenadaDr - most expat plans or extended trip plans like Bupa don't place any restrictions on choice of a hospital. They are not cheap, and are paid by the client himself, but I don't see such restrictions there. No affiliations, and read their fine print. Group plan in some US company is a different story.

Clinic in Maneadero...

EnsenadaDr - 1-3-2012 at 04:37 PM

There is an office in the Maneadero clinic...from 8-3..as a matter of fact, I am there right now!!

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Originally posted by durrelllrobert

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Sorry I missed the meeting. Where exactly do you go in Maneadero to show your CUSP and sign up?

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