Pages:
1
2 |
EnsenadaDr
Banned
Posts: 5027
Registered: 9-12-2011
Location: Baja California
Member Is Offline
Mood: Move on. It is just a chapter in the past, but don't close the book- just turn the page
|
|
Please pay your Mexican Medical Specialists.
I have received calls for help concerning specialists in Mexico from American patients that have had some very serious problems. One promised to pay a
balance of over $2000 American to a Mexican specialist who had performed a necessary operation on credit, but the patient died before they could
finish paying the bill, and despite promises from the family to make good on the balance, they never did. The latest fiasco came from a well-meaning
friend, who contacted me several times about a friend who had a very serious medical problem. The person had Medicare, but didn't want to go to the
US. I urged the person to come into the local Centro de Salud, but they never came. Yesterday I received a frantic call from the patient's friend once
again, that they were in a private hospital here in Ensenada, and could I call the specialist to make arrangements for treatment, since they didn't
speak Spanish. After calling the specialist, who agreed to see the patient, and wanted to set up several tests which would run over $500 American, he
mentioned he needed payment up front. The most embarrassing moment came when the friend told me the patient only had about $50 American, and I had to
call back the specialist to let him know.
I am sure most of you know that as of yet, Medicare is NOT accepted in any hospital in Mexico for payment. The hospital did initial treatment of the
patient, which was probably at least $500 American, but was not going to get paid obviously. The friend then asked if we could call an ambulance. An
ambulance ride to the border is at least $1200 through Dianamed, and payment must be made up front. Medicare does not cover an ambulance ride to the
border.
If you do not have savings, you need to register with Seguro Popular. At least in an emergency they can treat you. You cannot expect to go to a
private hospital with private physicians and get treated for nothing. I have set up consults with 2 specialists, who are now wary about treating
Americans without a initial deposit, for good reason.
|
|
woody with a view
PITA Nomad
     
Posts: 15939
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
Member Is Offline
Mood: Everchangin'
|
|
tell the free loaders to go to the US. we'll take anyone, anytime, for anything!
|
|
EnsenadaDr
Banned
Posts: 5027
Registered: 9-12-2011
Location: Baja California
Member Is Offline
Mood: Move on. It is just a chapter in the past, but don't close the book- just turn the page
|
|
Freeloaders
Woody, I understand your frustration. But as my father used to say, two wrongs don't make a right. And, by registering with Seguro Popular, you can
get most of your medications free in Mexico. Mexico also has EMTALA laws, which means they can't throw a dying person out into the streets, but if
you have Seguro Popular and nothing else, they can save your life like they did for Christina Hoff. If you have an FM3 and a Utility Bill, you can
get it in a matter of hours, and it might just save your life. Quote: | Originally posted by woody with a view
tell the free loaders to go to the US. we'll take anyone, anytime, for anything! |
|
|
woody with a view
PITA Nomad
     
Posts: 15939
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
Member Is Offline
Mood: Everchangin'
|
|
you make valid points. but going into the doctor without being able to pay for special services reeks of the U.S. system. I'm not advocating people
not getting treatment but i do wonder why we treat people on death row with terminal diseases. http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=90611&page=1
also, when a person dies their debts are not transfered to their heirs. that's what debtors prison was all about. if it is different in Mexico i'd
like to hear about it.
have a good weekend!
|
|
durrelllrobert
Elite Nomad
    
Posts: 7393
Registered: 11-22-2007
Location: Punta Banda BC
Member Is Offline
Mood: thriving in Baja
|
|
Quote: | Originally posted by EnsenadaDr
If you have an FM3 and a Utility Bill, you can get it in a matter of hours, and it might just save your life. |
You forgot to mention that you have to have a CURP number and the INM does not (currently) give these to FM3 holders; only FM2s. That's why Debbie
couldn't sign up.
Bob Durrell
|
|
DavidE
Ultra Nomad
   
Posts: 3814
Registered: 12-1-2003
Location: Baja California México
Member Is Offline
Mood: 'At home we demand facts and get them. In Mexico one subsists on rumor and never demands anything.' Charles Flandrau,
|
|
Time for me now to inquire how much S.P. costs for a year's subscription. Thank you.
A Lot To See And A Lot To Do
|
|
mtgoat666
Select Nomad
     
Posts: 19918
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
|
|
Quote: | Originally posted by woody with a view
you make valid points. but going into the doctor without being able to pay for special services reeks of the U.S. system. I'm not advocating people
not getting treatment but i do wonder why we treat people on death row with terminal diseases. http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=90611&page=1
|
because health care should be a human right, and state cannot deny health care as a back door end run around the judicial appeals process.
p.s. we are a civilized society, no reason that govt should not provide health care for those who need it.
|
|
EnsenadaDr
Banned
Posts: 5027
Registered: 9-12-2011
Location: Baja California
Member Is Offline
Mood: Move on. It is just a chapter in the past, but don't close the book- just turn the page
|
|
not paying medical bills after death...
What happened was a good friend of mine had arranged payments with a surgeon and he had agreed on half up front and the other half (paid monthly) to
him. She has about $2000 American left to pay, and died suddenly (though was an alcoholic for many years). I agreed to help the family who lived in
the Northern United States to arrange for her cremation and get all the paperwork done. I did this only so the doctor, who I had done my internship
with, would get the money owed to him. This doctor was a very ethical man, and did everything by the book. The family had money, by the way. I asked
them for the money to be paid directly to the surgeon after I had spent countless hours and all of a sudden they didn't want to hear anything about
it. So, I let them finish what needed to be done, and her ashes were shipped to the family. I did contact her lawyer, but she never answered me. I
guess I could file a final bill with the state of residency of her daughter, but I wouldn't know how to go about it. The Mexican doctor doesn't speak
much English so he wouldn't know how to go about it. Quote: | Originally posted by woody with a view
you make valid points. but going into the doctor without being able to pay for special services reeks of the U.S. system. I'm not advocating people
not getting treatment but i do wonder why we treat people on death row with terminal diseases. http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=90611&page=1
also, when a person dies their debts are not transfered to their heirs. that's what debtors prison was all about. if it is different in Mexico i'd
like to hear about it.
have a good weekend! |
|
|
EnsenadaDr
Banned
Posts: 5027
Registered: 9-12-2011
Location: Baja California
Member Is Offline
Mood: Move on. It is just a chapter in the past, but don't close the book- just turn the page
|
|
FM3
Bob, a poster on the Punta Banda Bulletin Board, Rhonda Lane, said today all she needed was her FM3 and a utility bill. You might ask Debbie to
contact her with the specifics. Quote: | Originally posted by durrelllrobert
Quote: | Originally posted by EnsenadaDr
If you have an FM3 and a Utility Bill, you can get it in a matter of hours, and it might just save your life. |
You forgot to mention that you have to have a CURP number and the INM does not (currently) give these to FM3 holders; only FM2s. That's why Debbie
couldn't sign up. |
|
|
EnsenadaDr
Banned
Posts: 5027
Registered: 9-12-2011
Location: Baja California
Member Is Offline
Mood: Move on. It is just a chapter in the past, but don't close the book- just turn the page
|
|
Cost for Seguro Popular??
As far as I know, its free...except I am hearing now its like $500 a year to pay for your FM2 renewal... Quote: | Originally posted by DavidE
Time for me now to inquire how much S.P. costs for a year's subscription. Thank you. |
|
|
BajaBlanca
Select Nomad
     
Posts: 13237
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
Member Is Offline
|
|
EnsenadaDr
It must be very embarasssing to use your personal name to get someone help and then have the family not pay up.
bad karma and terrible to do to someone.
I want you on my side if I ever need emergency help for Les or myself ... you sound like someone we can count on.
Here is some information I got yessterday in the western onion:
Free Medical Services - Courtesy Baja Pony Express - The President of Mexico ordered that a new free medical service system be implemented and it
was, the system is called Seguro Popular which provides doctor consultation and services, hospitalization and medicine for free to each and every
person residing in Mexico including foreigners who are residing in Mexico at any Centro de Salud. This free service is available to all foreigners, to
acquire it one must present passport, CURP ID card and proof of domicile (electrical or water bill with one`s name on it), it is not necessary to show
the No Inmigrate, Inmigrante or Inmigrado Permit issued by immigration or Carta de Naturalizacion; for foreigners who do not have a property there is
a 100 pesos charge. To register one must go to the registration center (Centro de Afilicacion) in La Paz, said center is located on the blv. where the
Municipal palace (Palacio Municipal) is located and more precisly in front of the Velodromo. - Lic. J.E. Beaulne
|
|
woody with a view
PITA Nomad
     
Posts: 15939
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
Member Is Offline
Mood: Everchangin'
|
|
sounds like Mexico requires RESIDENTS to have documents in order to receive care for free. like i said, debts are not transfered to surviving family
members, no matter what.
if the family said they would pay, that is a moral issue.
and i would also want the good Dra. on my side in an emergency!
|
|
EnsenadaDr
Banned
Posts: 5027
Registered: 9-12-2011
Location: Baja California
Member Is Offline
Mood: Move on. It is just a chapter in the past, but don't close the book- just turn the page
|
|
Sadly, I am only here for a limited time more until early September, after that I will be visiting my son in Australia for a month, he is buying me a
Ausrail pass to see the whole continent, and then I will return to Hawaii to work and study for my US Boards.
|
|
EnsenadaDr
Banned
Posts: 5027
Registered: 9-12-2011
Location: Baja California
Member Is Offline
Mood: Move on. It is just a chapter in the past, but don't close the book- just turn the page
|
|
Debts...
ah yes, I missed the NOT transferred part...ok, well, they have to live with their decisions... Quote: | Originally posted by woody with a view
you make valid points. but going into the doctor without being able to pay for special services reeks of the U.S. system. I'm not advocating people
not getting treatment but i do wonder why we treat people on death row with terminal diseases. http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=90611&page=1
also, when a person dies their debts are not transfered to their heirs. that's what debtors prison was all about. if it is different in Mexico i'd
like to hear about it.
have a good weekend! |
|
|
mtgoat666
Select Nomad
     
Posts: 19918
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
|
|
Quote: | Originally posted by EnsenadaDr
What happened was a good friend of mine had arranged payments with a surgeon and he had agreed on half up front and the other half (paid monthly) to
him. She has about $2000 American left to pay, and died suddenly (though was an alcoholic for many years). I agreed to help the family who lived in
the Northern United States to arrange for her cremation and get all the paperwork done. I did this only so the doctor, who I had done my internship
with, would get the money owed to him. This doctor was a very ethical man, and did everything by the book. The family had money, by the way. I asked
them for the money to be paid directly to the surgeon after I had spent countless hours and all of a sudden they didn't want to hear anything about
it. So, I let them finish what needed to be done, and her ashes were shipped to the family. I did contact her lawyer, but she never answered me. I
guess I could file a final bill with the state of residency of her daughter, but I wouldn't know how to go about it. The Mexican doctor doesn't speak
much English so he wouldn't know how to go about it. Quote: | Originally posted by woody with a view
you make valid points. but going into the doctor without being able to pay for special services reeks of the U.S. system. I'm not advocating people
not getting treatment but i do wonder why we treat people on death row with terminal diseases. http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=90611&page=1
also, when a person dies their debts are not transfered to their heirs. that's what debtors prison was all about. if it is different in Mexico i'd
like to hear about it.
have a good weekend! | |
medical providers that lose a patient will find it hard in most cases to get an estate to cough up dough for final bills. that's life, when people
die, who knows if the doc screwed up??? the patients family prob won't know, and the docs almost never admit mistakes.
|
|
EnsenadaDr
Banned
Posts: 5027
Registered: 9-12-2011
Location: Baja California
Member Is Offline
Mood: Move on. It is just a chapter in the past, but don't close the book- just turn the page
|
|
Good point, only...
I was there assisting during the surgery, and followed up after. The patient AGREED to pay the doctor, and I was there when the payments were being
made...it was an agreement, and though sadly, the family felt no obligation to follow through, even though I saved them thousands of dollars from
coming down here and making numerous trips to the PGR and morgue and funeral home. Quote: | Originally posted by mtgoat666
Quote: | Originally posted by EnsenadaDr
What happened was a good friend of mine had arranged payments with a surgeon and he had agreed on half up front and the other half (paid monthly) to
him. She has about $2000 American left to pay, and died suddenly (though was an alcoholic for many years). I agreed to help the family who lived in
the Northern United States to arrange for her cremation and get all the paperwork done. I did this only so the doctor, who I had done my internship
with, would get the money owed to him. This doctor was a very ethical man, and did everything by the book. The family had money, by the way. I asked
them for the money to be paid directly to the surgeon after I had spent countless hours and all of a sudden they didn't want to hear anything about
it. So, I let them finish what needed to be done, and her ashes were shipped to the family. I did contact her lawyer, but she never answered me. I
guess I could file a final bill with the state of residency of her daughter, but I wouldn't know how to go about it. The Mexican doctor doesn't speak
much English so he wouldn't know how to go about it. Quote: | Originally posted by woody with a view
you make valid points. but going into the doctor without being able to pay for special services reeks of the U.S. system. I'm not advocating people
not getting treatment but i do wonder why we treat people on death row with terminal diseases. http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=90611&page=1
also, when a person dies their debts are not transfered to their heirs. that's what debtors prison was all about. if it is different in Mexico i'd
like to hear about it.
have a good weekend! | |
medical providers that lose a patient will find it hard in most cases to get an estate to cough up dough for final bills. that's life, when people
die, who knows if the doc screwed up??? the patients family prob won't know, and the docs almost never admit mistakes. |
|
|
mtgoat666
Select Nomad
     
Posts: 19918
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
|
|
Quote: | Originally posted by EnsenadaDr
I was there assisting during the surgery, and followed up after. The patient AGREED to pay the doctor, and I was there when the payments were being
made...it was an agreement, and though sadly, the family felt no obligation to follow through, even though I saved them thousands of dollars from
coming down here and making numerous trips to the PGR and morgue and funeral home. Quote: | Originally posted by mtgoat666
Quote: | Originally posted by EnsenadaDr
What happened was a good friend of mine had arranged payments with a surgeon and he had agreed on half up front and the other half (paid monthly) to
him. She has about $2000 American left to pay, and died suddenly (though was an alcoholic for many years). I agreed to help the family who lived in
the Northern United States to arrange for her cremation and get all the paperwork done. I did this only so the doctor, who I had done my internship
with, would get the money owed to him. This doctor was a very ethical man, and did everything by the book. The family had money, by the way. I asked
them for the money to be paid directly to the surgeon after I had spent countless hours and all of a sudden they didn't want to hear anything about
it. So, I let them finish what needed to be done, and her ashes were shipped to the family. I did contact her lawyer, but she never answered me. I
guess I could file a final bill with the state of residency of her daughter, but I wouldn't know how to go about it. The Mexican doctor doesn't speak
much English so he wouldn't know how to go about it. Quote: | Originally posted by woody with a view
you make valid points. but going into the doctor without being able to pay for special services reeks of the U.S. system. I'm not advocating people
not getting treatment but i do wonder why we treat people on death row with terminal diseases. http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=90611&page=1
also, when a person dies their debts are not transfered to their heirs. that's what debtors prison was all about. if it is different in Mexico i'd
like to hear about it.
have a good weekend! | |
medical providers that lose a patient will find it hard in most cases to get an estate to cough up dough for final bills. that's life, when people
die, who knows if the doc screwed up??? the patients family prob won't know, and the docs almost never admit mistakes. | |
well, the patient you made contract with is dead! did you and patient discuss terms of what happened in case of death? you can file a claim with the
patient's estate. good luck! takes balls to bleed more money out of the patient after you killed him, eh?
|
|
EnsenadaDr
Banned
Posts: 5027
Registered: 9-12-2011
Location: Baja California
Member Is Offline
Mood: Move on. It is just a chapter in the past, but don't close the book- just turn the page
|
|
You are really pushing it, Tom..
I didn't do any of the surgery, I handed the instruments to the doctor, and the patient lived 6 months till after the arm was reset after she fell.
The only reason I posted this was to try and help others. Just because you have passive-aggressive tendencies with lashing out at me because of your
own personal problems, that's your bag. I realize nothing is going to be recouped, but the bottom line is that people need to understand why Mexican
doctors don't want to do any work on Americans before they pay, and people like you who want to point the finger at someone so they don't have to pay
are another reason. The money was going to the orthopedic surgeon directly, not me. Have a great weekend, I know I will. Quote: | Originally posted by mtgoat666
Quote: | Originally posted by EnsenadaDr
I was there assisting during the surgery, and followed up after. The patient AGREED to pay the doctor, and I was there when the payments were being
made...it was an agreement, and though sadly, the family felt no obligation to follow through, even though I saved them thousands of dollars from
coming down here and making numerous trips to the PGR and morgue and funeral home. Quote: | Originally posted by mtgoat666
Quote: | Originally posted by EnsenadaDr
What happened was a good friend of mine had arranged payments with a surgeon and he had agreed on half up front and the other half (paid monthly) to
him. She has about $2000 American left to pay, and died suddenly (though was an alcoholic for many years). I agreed to help the family who lived in
the Northern United States to arrange for her cremation and get all the paperwork done. I did this only so the doctor, who I had done my internship
with, would get the money owed to him. This doctor was a very ethical man, and did everything by the book. The family had money, by the way. I asked
them for the money to be paid directly to the surgeon after I had spent countless hours and all of a sudden they didn't want to hear anything about
it. So, I let them finish what needed to be done, and her ashes were shipped to the family. I did contact her lawyer, but she never answered me. I
guess I could file a final bill with the state of residency of her daughter, but I wouldn't know how to go about it. The Mexican doctor doesn't speak
much English so he wouldn't know how to go about it. Quote: | Originally posted by woody with a view
you make valid points. but going into the doctor without being able to pay for special services reeks of the U.S. system. I'm not advocating people
not getting treatment but i do wonder why we treat people on death row with terminal diseases. http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=90611&page=1
also, when a person dies their debts are not transfered to their heirs. that's what debtors prison was all about. if it is different in Mexico i'd
like to hear about it.
have a good weekend! | |
medical providers that lose a patient will find it hard in most cases to get an estate to cough up dough for final bills. that's life, when people
die, who knows if the doc screwed up??? the patients family prob won't know, and the docs almost never admit mistakes. | |
well, the patient you made contract with is dead! did you and patient discuss terms of what happened in case of death? you can file a claim with the
patient's estate. good luck! takes balls to bleed more money out of the patient after you killed him, eh? |
|
|
Alm
Ultra Nomad
   
Posts: 2747
Registered: 5-10-2011
Member Is Offline
|
|
Quote: | Originally posted by woody with a view
tell the free loaders to go to the US. we'll take anyone, anytime, for anything! |
With Medicare, yes. And the only thing they should do is to keep $100 annual evac plan like DAN or Medjet.
|
|
Bajatripper
Ultra Nomad
   
Posts: 3151
Registered: 3-20-2010
Member Is Offline
|
|
Quote: | Originally posted by EnsenadaDr
As far as I know, its free...except I am hearing now its like $500 a year to pay for your FM2 renewal... Quote: | Originally posted by DavidE
Time for me now to inquire how much S.P. costs for a year's subscription. Thank you. |
|
The first year we signed up (three years ago), they did a "socio-economic" study of our family and came up with a figure of 800 pesos. We renewed one
year, and the year after that were told that we didn't need to worry about making any payments for two years. No explanation was given and I didn't
insist in knowing why.
There most certainly is but one side to every story: the TRUTH. Variations of it are nothing but lies.
|
|
Pages:
1
2 |