BajaNomad

Medical Insurance - Obamacare?

SlyOnce - 2-9-2016 at 04:22 PM

I already live full time in Baja but if I retire and give up my lucrative government medical insurance, what are my options in Baja? Just pay as you go for MX medical care? What about my US prescriptions, can I just get these filled in MX? They are simple and should be cheap (blood pressure, gout, Flomax)

I'm 60 in good health, what is a basic amount to budget for medical care in MX?

Also if I marry my MX novia and become permante resident will it make a difference could I be eligible for her medical care (she works for the MX school system, she has insurance).

Udo - 2-9-2016 at 05:28 PM

Great question!

Bajahowodd - 2-9-2016 at 05:30 PM

What does this have to do with so-called Obamacare:?:

EnsenadaDr - 2-9-2016 at 06:23 PM

seguro popular

redhilltown - 2-10-2016 at 12:39 AM

Uh oh...here we go!

SFandH - 2-10-2016 at 06:47 AM

Quote: Originally posted by SlyOnce  
I already live full time in Baja but if I retire and give up my lucrative government medical insurance, what are my options in Baja? Just pay as you go for MX medical care? What about my US prescriptions, can I just get these filled in MX? They are simple and should be cheap (blood pressure, gout, Flomax)

I'm 60 in good health, what is a basic amount to budget for medical care in MX?

Also if I marry my MX novia and become permante resident will it make a difference could I be eligible for her medical care (she works for the MX school system, she has insurance).


I'll take a crack at this. Here are your options:

1. Pay cash for medical care, no insurance.

2. Buy an insurance policy in the US with the idea that you will go there for medical care and pay cash for emergency care in Mex if needed.

3. Participate in Mexican government medical insurance such as Seguro Popular.

4. Participate in Mexican government medical insurance such as Seguro Popular and have an ins policy in the US so you have a US option.

5. Buy a private, as opposed to government, insurance policy in Mexico that will cover you at the best, private, hospitals in Mexico. https://axa.mx/home for example. See an insurance broker in TJ about this. You can probably find one in Playas. I have a 55 year old friend that lives in TJ who says he pays $100 per month for full coverage at the best hospitals. No direct, personal experience tho.

6. When you get to 65, just plan to use Medicare in the US when needed. OK plan if you live close to the border. Medicare will cover emergency treatment abroad. I'm on Medicare and I know that to be true. I asked because I spend a lot of time in Baja. That may be a feature of my medicare advantage plan that I have to enhance basic medicare coverage, not sure.

The medications you mentioned can be bought over the counter in Mexico, probably for less than your US co-pay.

About coverage under your wife's work related insurance, she'll need to look into it.

OK folks, did I miss any options?

[Edited on 2-10-2016 by SFandH]

SlyOnce - 2-10-2016 at 09:09 AM

At this time I live in Playas de TJ. I got a quote from Covered California for $600/month and that is too much, I can't afford that on my retirement income. Even on retirement income I'll make too much to qualify for US government assistance.

I need MX options. Planning on heading south (way south of Baja) sometime in the next few years with my novia.

SFandH - 2-10-2016 at 09:44 AM


Next step is to see if you can afford private insurance in Mexico. Go see an insurance broker in Playas de Tijuana.

I found this on google:

Axa Seguros Playas de Tijuana
Insurance Agency
Parque México Sur 901
01 664 526 6086
Open until 5:00 PM

Axa is a big insurance company. Google it.

Or check this out:

http://www.simnsa.com/simnsa/index.html

If the private insurance route is too expensive then you move onto the Mexican government programs - Seguro Popular

[Edited on 2-10-2016 by SFandH]

[Edited on 2-10-2016 by SFandH]

Udo - 2-10-2016 at 09:54 AM

Thanks for sharing the information, Handsome!

SFandH - 2-10-2016 at 09:57 AM

Short, Fat and Handsome. 8^)