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Iflyfish
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3747
Registered: 10-17-2006
Member Is Offline
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Does anyone have information on Private Medical Insurance plans in Baja?
Iflyfish
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bajabass
Super Nomad
Posts: 2016
Registered: 10-4-2006
Location: La Paz,BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: Want to fish!!!
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Iflyfish
| 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 |
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.  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
Keep your eyes on the road, and your hands upon the wheel!
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805gregg
Super Nomad
Posts: 1344
Registered: 5-21-2006
Location: Ojai, Ca
Member Is Offline
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Skymed, get the hell out of there as soon as possible.
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CJ
Nomad
Posts: 204
Registered: 8-29-2003
Location: Loreto, B.C.S. y Lopez Mateos
Member Is Offline
Mood: It's cool with me
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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 
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Iflyfish
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3747
Registered: 10-17-2006
Member Is Offline
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| 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 |
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
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
Member Is Offline
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I've considered just dying. And let my loved ones scatter my ashes in a number of favorite places. 
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El Vergel
Nomad
Posts: 197
Registered: 8-27-2003
Location: San Felipe - Puertecitos Rd., Km. 35 and Santa Mon
Member Is Offline
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Final inquiry:
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!!!
Thanks for the info, Nomads!
[Edited on 11-17-2011 by El Vergel]
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Iflyfish
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3747
Registered: 10-17-2006
Member Is Offline
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| 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!!!
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
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J.P.
Super Nomad
Posts: 1673
Registered: 7-8-2010
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
Mood: Easy Does It
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If I get $1300USD a month, will I survive????? It must include all costs for
living!!!
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.
All B.S. aside we are quite comfortable on what we get.
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Udo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6364
Registered: 4-26-2008
Location: Black Hills, SD/Ensenada/San Felipe
Member Is Offline
Mood: TEQUILA!
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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!
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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Iflyfish
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3747
Registered: 10-17-2006
Member Is Offline
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| 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
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Osprey
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3694
Registered: 5-23-2004
Location: Baja Ca. Sur
Member Is Offline
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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]
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toneart
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4901
Registered: 7-23-2006
Member Is Offline
Mood: Skeptical
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Iflyfish
| 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 |
"... 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.
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Iflyfish
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3747
Registered: 10-17-2006
Member Is Offline
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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
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toneart
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4901
Registered: 7-23-2006
Member Is Offline
Mood: Skeptical
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| 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.
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Iflyfish
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3747
Registered: 10-17-2006
Member Is Offline
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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
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MitchMan
Super Nomad
Posts: 1856
Registered: 3-9-2009
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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]
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Iflyfish
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3747
Registered: 10-17-2006
Member Is Offline
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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
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toneart
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4901
Registered: 7-23-2006
Member Is Offline
Mood: Skeptical
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| 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.
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