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Pescador
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Posts: 3587
Registered: 10-17-2002
Location: Baja California Sur
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While we were busy fighting cancer last year I would talk to people in the waiting rooms of radiation and chemotherapy and when they found out I was
an Insurance agent, they almost all had questions about coverage. For cancer treatment, in general, the medicaid advantage plans will usually have a
gap in coverage because chemo and radiation is normally done out-patient and many that I talked to found that their Med-Advantage plans only covered
80%, which left a really big bill in the offing. Those that had Medicaid and a supplement were the best off and found that their coverage had no gaps
unless they got into the experiemental or non-approved medicines, but they may be covered by clinical trials.
We looked in to chemo and radiation in La Paz but made the decision to return home to Colorado to have treatments done. The chemo was just not up
to snuff in terms of being state of the art. Radiation is pretty good unless you need a specific treatment like cyber-knife or one of the newer
treatments. We also found that surgery was readily available and people were certified with the newer credentials but robotic was not readily
available.
I am glad that this discussion is happening and would have been useful when we first started dealing with some of those issues, and our perception
was that there were some very good services available in La Pa and Tijuana but for the most part the level still fell below what was generally
available in the United States. From an insurance perspective I always reccommended to my clients that they avail themselves of treatments in their
expatriate country that were of an acceptable level but be sure to maintain coverage in the United States should they need to utilize a higher level
(which was exactly what Bajateresa reports).
So I have a little trouble with the idea that medical treatment in Mexico is as good as the United States because the information available does not
justify that position and where that gets reported is usually for more basic procedures. I do have a friend that felt that her knee replacement in La
Paz was better than the one done in the United States but I think one needs caution in terms of generalizations. We felt that it was important to
evaluate but remain flexible in terms of options so we always maintained our US Insurance and evacuation insurance so that we did not have to take
that option off of the table.
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arrowhead
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Thanks for a more balanced view. The World Health Organization (WHO)prepares a ranking of the medical systems in most countries of the world. Mexico
is far, far down on the list and way below the US.
[Edited on 10-28-2009 by arrowhead]
No soy por ni contra apatía.
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Pescador
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3587
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Location: Baja California Sur
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| Quote: | Originally posted by arrowhead
Thanks for a more balanced view. The World Health Organization (WHO)prepares a ranking of the medical systems in most countries of the world. Mexico
is far, far down on the list and way below the US.
[Edited on 10-28-2009 by arrowhead] |
Yeah, but that is a terrible indicator actually because the WHO is a leftist leaning orginization and if you look at the criteria, then you rapidly
become aware that they are projecting lots of social issues on the agenda like access to abortion and availability of propholactics, which would raise
havoc in a primarily Catholic country.
Interesting aside is that the average expenditure for health care in the US is something like $4400 dollars a year and while the US has the best
cancer treatment in the world, the life expectancy for that much money is around 76 years, wheras Mexico spends around $423 per person, per year and
their life expectancy is right around 70.
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Skeet/Loreto
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Having experienced the Medical care in both the States and Mexico, and where in the village of Constitution a couple of Mexican Docters saved my
wife"s life in 1992, I have to say that both countries have good medical. Mexico does not have the very latest of the Machines but has some of the the
better trained Doctors{out of the University of Mexico}.
There are quite a few American Doctors that finish their Schooling at the University.
As in any Country, money speaks loudly. Some of the "Social Change Nuts" are always trying to excite and scare the lower income people into beleiving
that they are being neglected by their Govt. Just one of the many Scams going around each day on the various Media Outlets.
Arrowhead. The little girl was killed by a Bullet, bled to death as a result of the Bullet.'
Might it be said that the delay of the Ambulance was caused by some "Drugged" americans in a car , holding up the Ambulance????
I say that the main reason Mexico has good Medical is the COMPASSION of the people working in the system.
Skeet
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Bajahowodd
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Posts: 9274
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Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
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I'll get onboard with Skeet to the extent that I also believe there is a cultural factor involved. Caring can trump a certain amount of lack of
equipment or education. That said, the WHO deals with overall statistics. Any ex-pats in Mexico should realize that too. Just as in the US, even with
an overall higher ranking, knowledgeable people are aware that there's a pecking order of health facilities. Johns Hopkins, Cleveland Clinic, Mayo
Clinic, UCLA Medical Center, Stanford. Anyone with any amount of education living in LA would certainly choose Cedars-Sinai over Garden Grove
Community Hospital if they had a serious medical problem. So, in Mexico, there are medical centers in Mexico City, Monterey, Guadalajara and Merida
that can be compared favorably to any country. It's just a matter of getting there.
[Edited on 10-28-2009 by Bajahowodd]
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arrowhead
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Pescador
Yeah, but that is a terrible indicator actually because the WHO is a leftist leaning orginization and if you look at the criteria, then you rapidly
become aware that they are projecting lots of social issues on the agenda like access to abortion and availability of propholactics, which would raise
havoc in a primarily Catholic country.
Interesting aside is that the average expenditure for health care in the US is something like $4400 dollars a year and while the US has the best
cancer treatment in the world, the life expectancy for that much money is around 76 years, wheras Mexico spends around $423 per person, per year and
their life expectancy is right around 70. |
That is true. The WHO is a very biased organization and they hate the US with a passion. However the social issues are not necessarily an explanation
as there are 3 Latin American countries whose medical systems are ranked higher than the US. And it is not relevant to list dollars per capita as
price levels are different in each country. For example, if a bag of oranges cost $1 in the US and only 25 cents in Mexico, would you be correct in
concluding that US oranges are four times better than Mexican oranges?
No soy por ni contra apatía.
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arrowhead
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Skeet/Loreto
Having experienced the Medical care in both the States and Arrowhead. The little girl was killed by a Bullet, bled to death as a result of the
Bullet.'
Might it be said that the delay of the Ambulance was caused by some "Drugged" americans in a car , holding up the Ambulance????
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No, Skeet. The Cruz Rojo has published its explanation in the newspapers and it was not a drugged American. And if you read Spanish you'll see she did
not even bleed to death. The bullet punctured her thorax and she could not breathe well. Immediate first aid could have saved her.
http://afntijuana.info/blog/?p=20585
By the way, where did you say you had that quadruple bypass operation?
No soy por ni contra apatía.
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JESSE
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3370
Registered: 11-5-2002
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La Paz in general, has very poor healthcare. Most locals that can afford it travel to Guadalajara or Tijuana for care. Fortunately that is changing
fast. After four years in the area i now agree with the locals view. For small things, get it fixed here, for serious stuff, go out of the state.
Theres a lot of stories of people who tried many doctors here in La Paz to no avail, only to get a solid serious diagnosis in Guadalajara or Tijuana.
Many have died.
I wouldn't trust any local doctor with anything related to major surgery or cancer.
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Skeet/Loreto
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Registered: 9-2-2003
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Arrowhead:
It was a Triple Bypass,had it done at Modesto Calif. Memorial by a Hindu Doctor who had traied in India.
Being in the Political Field at this time I as an Alderman of Timber Creek village of about 400 people have been resisting an Emergency Service
Distrect/ In my opinion and study of this situtation I have deternimed that it is a Political Ploy of some people who wish to start another Govt.
program.
Response time would not be increased at all.
We cannot blame the Ambulance drivers nor the Govt. when people die. Just think of the many Cowboys way out on the Range, or Mountain climbers in
Montana, Fishermen on the ocean.
Just have Faith!
Skeet/Loreto
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bajateresa
Junior Nomad
Posts: 25
Registered: 11-16-2007
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having read the responses to my original post, i want to point out that while my husband, Gary, did have a great surgery in La Paz, he decided to
return to the U.S. for the follow-up chemotherapy. in other words, he did choose to avail himself of treatment in both countries. because of our good
experience -- and good outcome -- we have probably idealized the healthcare situation in La Paz, just as others who have had bad experiences might
trash it. it's individual like that anywhere.
i want to add one more bit to our story: at the time of his cancer diagnosis, Gary accidentally broke his foot in La Paz -- 2 oblique breaks (among
the worst kind, we were told). the surgery to repair those fractures was done by Dr. Gonzales Osuna at CEM (the purple hospital). about 3 months after
the surgery, when we were back in the U.S. my husband saw a highly respected orthopedic foot surgeon in Santa Cruz, CA, to take out the 3 pins that Dr
Gonzales had placed in his foot. the Santa Cruz surgeon looked at the x-ray we'd brought with us from CEM next to the one taken there in his office
and pronounced the repair a beautiful job.
Dr Gonzales's fee for the several-hour foot surgery and follow-up visits was about US$800 (reimbursed by Blue Shield). the ortho surgeon in Santa Cruz
who saw Gary for 15 minutes to look at an x-ray and take out 3 pins billed Blue Shield for $3750. Blue Shield took its usual "adjustment" and paid the
guy about $2000.
last thing: Gary has had a bridge and several crowns done by Dr Talamantes, the La Paz dentist mentioned in this thread. he has been pleased, and the
dental work has held up well.
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4x4abc
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4289
Registered: 4-24-2009
Location: La Paz, BCS
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Mood: happy - always
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La Paz has decent medical support.
It even has some very good doctors, if you know how to find them.
If you don't know how to find them and for better medical care in general take a flight to Mexico City or Guadalajara.
Aside from bad doctors, La Paz (and Cabo) have money traps designed for foreigners. Still cheaper than the US, those hospitals have much higher prices
for foreigners than for Mexicans.
The hospital mentioned by the original poster is especially bad for fleecing you.
Even the general hospital in La Paz (Salvatierra) has slightly higher prices for foreigners, but you get a nicer room.
Expect about $6,000 peso for the surgery room (no matter how many hours) and one night stay. About $2,000 pesos for each additional day.
Surgeons charge around $8,000 pesos (that includes the anesthesiologist and up to 2 assistants).
Anyone with a permanent residency can sign up for the Mexican health system Seguro Popular for about $USD 400 a year. Then you don't have to worry
about medical costs.
However, if you decide to parallel do doctor visits and basic services out of pocket for a number of reasons - it will not burden you at all.
Doctor visits in La Paz are between $600 Peso to $1,200 Peso. Most common charge is $600 and $800. That usually gives you one full hour of the
doctor's time. You feel very well taken care of.
Services like blood tests ($800) and x-rays ($600) are affordable out of pocket.
Generic medicine from Farmacias Similares is dirt cheap.
Bottom line - you are well taken care of by decent doctors for low prices in Baja Sur. For super service and special needs fly to Mexico City or
Guadalajara.
One thing to remember for Hospital Salvatierra in La Paz - you get a nice room but no pillow and warm cover. They are proud of their cold AC, so bring
your own pillow and comforter and you'll be set.
Harald Pietschmann
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BajaBlanca
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Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
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welcome naranayan - are you aware that the original post is 9 years old?
In that interim, I think that both dentists and doctors as well as medical care, has all improved so much.
Just yesterday I was mentioning to weebray that our seguro popular has been incredible. I get my insulin and a health check up within 20 minutes of
walking into the clinic. No need to make an appt. although this gringa did insist on it the first month LOL What did I know?
Not only that, when we spent a month in La Paz (500 miles south of us), I was able to walk into the La Paz clinic with my paperwork and I got
insulin within 10 minutes and an x-ray of my knee within 30 min. after that, at no cost out of pocket. I can't think of anywhere else in the world
where that would be the case. All of this for $200 a year seguro popular payment.
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Bill Collector
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Posts: 374
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Location: Buena Vista, BCS
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Thank You Blanca for pointing out the post is from 2009....I’ve had 2 total knee replacements done at hospital H is San Jose..The second one just 8
weeks ago..That happens to be a 1st class hospital with all the top of the line equipment..Mexico has changed drastically since 2009..
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bajamary1952
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Registered: 9-29-2016
Location: Ensenada
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I had bilateral cataract surgery at Hospital Angeles in Tijuana back in 2010 and NEVER had problems and still see great today! It was cheaper for me
to have surgery there rather than paying a high deductible & co-pay here in U.S.
I reality I trust Mexican doctors AND veterinarians much more than in U.S. as they are not after your $$$.
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TMW
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Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
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Medical treatment in any given local is often tempered by the experience of the medical staff. While I think Bakersfield has many good doctors and
hospitals there are times when it is best to transfer the patient to a better more experienced facility. Case in point my wife needed a section of her
colon removed. She has severe COPD so the local doctors, especially her lung doctor thought it best to transfer her to UCLA Santa Monica. All went
well. In talking with the anesthesiologist before the operation to get a feel of his experience his specialty was working with lung transplant
patients. UCLA Santa Monica had a lot of experience dealing with COPD patients where the local hospitals did not.
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Alm
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Post is old, but so are the current problems 
What 4x4abc said - even in places like la Paz and Cabo you still have to look for a better specialist and a better clinic. Unless you're on socialized
healthcare like Seguro Popular or IMSS where you don't get to choose.
With few exceptions, Seguro P (public hospitals) and IMSS clinics are terrible when you have to do any major surgery. They are Ok for free/cheap
non-urgent procedures and some medications. La Paz Salvatiera is one of exceptions, it's relatively new.
From what I hear, it can also be a logistics problem to pay when a foreigner has no Seguro P coverage (or in a private clinic). You must pay in full
before you leave the clinic. There is often no direct pay from insurer to Mexican hospital. Mexican credit cards (for residents) are a joke, few
thousand USD limit, and some places will refuse to take US credit cards. In private clinics they may ask for USD 2K-3K deposit up front. Elective
surgery you plan ahead, but I can see how payment can be a problem in emergency.
[Edited on 8-18-2018 by Alm]
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Hubschraubear
Newbie
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Quote: Originally posted by 4x4abc  |
Anyone with a permanent residency can sign up for the Mexican health system Seguro Popular for about $USD 400 a year. Then you don't have to worry
about medical costs.
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Not everyone, there are stipulations.
I hold a FM2 respective now called "Residente Permanente" 15+ years and did not qualify.
I would not need to ask for help and run a crowdfund raiser if my medical bills would have been covered by them......
https://fundrazr.com/gofundmyleg
However, they told me as soon as my naturalization procedure to become Mexican citizen is finalized I can re-apply and will get it.
I have to very strongly back the remarks on hospital mentioned by the original poster..... think twice and look for alternatives.
I do recall acquaintances in the USA explaining me the expression "she cleaned me out" when getting divorced..... THEY will do the same!!!
I can only recommend again and again Hospital General Juan MarÃa de Salvatierra.
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4x4abc
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now that needs to be clarified - I have several friends who have recently signed up for Seguro Popular (the have Permanente Residente status).
Can you or can you not sign up for Seguro Popular with PR?
I actually plan to do the same very soon
Harald Pietschmann
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4x4abc
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4289
Registered: 4-24-2009
Location: La Paz, BCS
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https://yucatanexpatlife.com/rules-tightened-for-foreigners-...
http://www.topmexicorealestate.com/lets-retire-in-mexico/201...
[Edited on 8-19-2018 by 4x4abc]
Harald Pietschmann
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Hubschraubear
Newbie
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Seguro Popular
I can only speak for me in that regards but BOTH options available are pending on my naturalization process respective finalization of it.
I will either qualify instantly for Seguro Popular or Maria can take me in under her insurance coverage (you need to be married or live in a
marriage-like relationship (union libre) as soon as I'm a Mexican.
Fee's do also come in different dimensions. If you got nothing it's free.
https://www.gob.mx/tramites/ficha/afiliacion-al-seguro-popul...
Otherwise I'm aware of one foreigner (Canadian with investor visa) that got turned down due to fact that he was basically a rich person with multiple
businesses in CAN and Mexico + Canada has already their own public health service/coverage.
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