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
|
|
How's your Medical insurance covering you in Mexico?
Good Morning everyone yes it's been a while but between my work in the US and Mexico, haven't had much time for posting. Checked in this morning and
it occurred to me how many of you are ready for a medical emergency South of the Border? The general consensus is that Medicare will cover all
emergencies in Mexico. This is generally not the case. However, I would like to hear your experiences in getting reimbursed from Medicare and if
any of you have had immediate coverage from a hospital in Mexico from your insurances. Kudos to those who are enrolled in the Mexican Health plans
such as Seguro Popular or IMSS. Tenga un buen dia.
[Edited on 6-20-2015 by EnsenadaDr]
|
|
|
SFandH
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7215
Registered: 8-5-2011
Member Is Offline
|
|
I was just reading about the coverage the Kaiser Permanente Senior Advantage San Diego HMO offers and it states:
"our plan covers emergency care anywhere in the world"
No extra monthly premium, you just keep paying the Medicare Part B premium
You need to live in San Diego county to enroll however.
[Edited on 6-20-2015 by SFandH]
|
|
|
durrelllrobert
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7393
Registered: 11-22-2007
Location: Punta Banda BC
Member Is Offline
Mood: thriving in Baja
|
|
reimbursed from Medicare??
I guess so since Medicare part B pays the entire annual premium for Sr. Advantage at Kaiser but the reimbursement checks are sent from Kaiser. I have
had out of country reimbusement from Kaiser 3 times, twice for emergency treatment in Mexico and once in Canada. I each case they reimbursed for
everything except presciptions; of course I had to pay cash upfront in Mexico and using my Visa card in Canada. My wife and i are both enrolled in
Seguro Popular also but I have never used it. In fact I cant even find my enrollment documentation; do you know how to get duplicate?
Bob Durrell
|
|
|
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
|
|
I am sure all of you know to receive Kaiser Sr. Advantage you must be living in the US a majority of the time so an American Address is needed. Is
that right Bob?
|
|
|
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
|
|
The other problem is that you need to pay the medical bills up front which can be a burden for many.
|
|
|
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  | | I am sure all of you know to receive Kaiser Sr. Advantage you must be living in the US a majority of the time so an American Address is needed. Is
that right Bob? |
I use my postal mail box in Chula Vista and I don't live in that.
Bob Durrell
|
|
|
SFandH
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7215
Registered: 8-5-2011
Member Is Offline
|
|
EnsenadaDr, in reference to the Kaiser Senior Medicare Advantage Plan, it appears you are correct on both counts, your primary residency should be, in
this case, San Diego County and Kaiser reimburses the expense after you pay for the emergency care at the Mexican hospital.
I'm new to Medicare so I've been reading about it, paying special attention to outside of the US medical emergencies.
Basic Part A and Part B does not cover medical expenses outside of the US except in very special cases. One being you're in Canada in transit between
the lower 48 and Alaska and the other being it's an emergency near the border and a Canadian or Mexican hospital is closer than a US hospital.
However, many people buy Medigap or Medicare Advantage (Part C) insurance to cover what Medicare doesn't and many of those policies will cover medical
emergencies while traveling abroad. I've read for up to 60 days abroad but there is probably differences from one policy to another.
Anyway, Medicare is new to me and I'm trying to learn about it, especially considering I spend a lot of time in Mex. and I need to be prepared for
medical emergencies.
If this thread is to continue a distinction needs to made for full time Mexico residency and part-time residency.
|
|
|
DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: Originally posted by EnsenadaDr | | I am sure all of you know to receive Kaiser Sr. Advantage you must be living in the US a majority of the time so an American Address is needed. Is
that right Bob? |
Postal Annex, and others, have a street address. That satisfies the requirement.
It's a "Don't ask...Don't tell type of thing.
[Edited on 6-20-2015 by DENNIS]
"YOU CAN'T LITTER ALUMINUM"
|
|
|
SFandH
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7215
Registered: 8-5-2011
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: Originally posted by DENNIS | | Quote: Originally posted by EnsenadaDr | | I am sure all of you know to receive Kaiser Sr. Advantage you must be living in the US a majority of the time so an American Address is needed. Is
that right Bob? |
Postal Annex, and others, have a street address. That satisfies the requirement. |
We need to be careful with that trick. The post office now has a database that distinguishes between residencial and commercial addresses. A bank
(Citibank) refused to take a PMB (private mailbox) address as my residencial address once. I was on the telephone and the bank person told me that the
address I gave them (a street address PO Box operation like Postal Annex) as my residence was a commercial address and they couldn't accept it a
residence. Effing computers.
|
|
|
bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
|
|
| Quote: Originally posted by SFandH | EnsenadaDr, in reference to the Kaiser Senior Medicare Advantage Plan, it appears you are correct on both counts, your primary residency should be, in
this case, San Diego County and Kaiser reimburses the expense after you pay for the emergency care at the Mexican hospital.
I'm new to Medicare so I've been reading about it, paying special attention to outside of the US medical emergencies.
Basic Part A and Part B does not cover medical expenses outside of the US except in very special cases. One being you're in Canada in transit between
the lower 48 and Alaska and the other being it's an emergency near the border and a Canadian or Mexican hospital is closer than a US hospital.
However, many people buy Medigap or Medicare Advantage (Part C) insurance to cover what Medicare doesn't and many of those policies will cover medical
emergencies while traveling abroad. I've read for up to 60 days abroad but there is probably differences from one policy to another.
Anyway, Medicare is new to me and I'm trying to learn about it, especially considering I spend a lot of time in Mex. and I need to be prepared for
medical emergencies.
If this thread is to continue a distinction needs to made for full time Mexico residency and part-time residency. |
I have a Medigap Plan "F" supplemental policy through United Healthcare that allows me to go to any Doctor/Facility that accepts Medicare (no US
geographical limitations). It will also cover emergency treatment outside of the US.
I also have two worldwide medical evacuation plans, one through my life insurance policy and one through my SPOT subscription.
Just learned that Good Sam (the RV people) have a medical evacuation policy called Travel Assist. The Travel Assist Premier plan will also cover
family members and looks like it will cover even with pre-existing conditions for $140 a year.
https://www.goodsamtravelassist.com/default.aspx
[Edited on 6-20-2015 by bajaguy]
|
|
|
redmesa
Senior Nomad
Posts: 580
Registered: 3-12-2008
Location: Van Isle and Bahia Asuncion
Member Is Offline
|
|
I travel with my British Columbia Medical Plan (only reimburses what same would have cost in Canada)and and BCAA worldwide travel insurance. The BCAA
is the insurance that reimbursed me when my husband died in Hawaii. I always have a huge line of credit to draw on if necessary.
|
|
|
SFandH
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7215
Registered: 8-5-2011
Member Is Offline
|
|
Interesting, thanks.
I suppose there are also US based insurance plans designed for expats. Another angle to look into.
|
|
|
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
|
|
| Quote: Originally posted by durrelllrobert | | I guess so since Medicare part B pays the entire annual premium for Sr. Advantage at Kaiser but the reimbursement checks are sent from Kaiser. I have
had out of country reimbusement from Kaiser 3 times, twice for emergency treatment in Mexico and once in Canada. I each case they reimbursed for
everything except presciptions; of course I had to pay cash upfront in Mexico and using my Visa card in Canada. My wife and i are both enrolled in
Seguro Popular also but I have never used it. In fact I cant even find my enrollment documentation; do you know how to get duplicate?
|
Bob just go into your local office in Maneadero and ask the admin to assist you with it, at the Seguro
Popular section.
|
|
|
john68
Nomad
Posts: 205
Registered: 7-9-2006
Member Is Offline
|
|
medigap policy coverage
here's the foreign coverage that medigap policies provide--
http://www.medicare.gov/supplement-other-insurance/medigap-a...
|
|
|
SFandH
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7215
Registered: 8-5-2011
Member Is Offline
|
|
Thanks John. Just sat down for another day of reading about Medicare coverage. I still haven't decided between a Medicare Advantage Plan or a Medigap
plan but I'm leaning towards the San Diego County Kaiser Senior Advantage Plan, a HMO. It's wide open because I don't have any doctor loyalties now.
Opinions welcome, I suspect there are many on this message board who are using Medicare. I know it's not exactly on topic, except for the coverage in
Mexico aspect.
|
|
|
john68
Nomad
Posts: 205
Registered: 7-9-2006
Member Is Offline
|
|
Good luck.
I was a tax lawyer for over 30 years and had some experience reading and understanding complex laws. I found the Medicare process almost
incomprehensible. The drug coverage under Part D is equally difficult to understand. I finally gave up and listened to friends who had had good
results with USAA medicare supplement. We chose plan F.
I read somewhere that Obamacare would eliminate Medicare Advantage policies in the near future. I didn't follow up on that issue because our doctors
in Colorado wouldn't accept Medicare Advantage.
|
|
|
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
|
|
Thanks for all the info and keep it coming. Good to hear from Bob that he was reimbursed for emergencies out of country. Please continue to
contribute to the discussion. Thank you Bajaguy for the info on other health insurance options.
|
|
|
![[*]](images/xmbforum/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
