Health insurance in Mexico

[maesonna]

Further to what RVGringo says, you could think of health care facilities something like hotels. The most luxurious ones are like five-star hotels, and charge prices accordingly whether you are Mexican or foreign. There are a full range of facilities down through mid-range and to basic. I won’t rule out the possiblity that occasionally foreigners might be subject to a “foreigner surcharge” in either a hotel or a health facility, but more likely the variation in prices is because of the variation in what what you are getting.

[RVGRINGO]

Visitors should also note that both Hotels and Hospitals must post their prices at the reception areas. Sometimes, they are hard to find, but you can always ask and the list will be provided. Mexico also respects its elders and we are often given 'senior discounts' without even asking, or having to present an INAPAM card to prove our 'tercer edad' (over 60) status.

[GringoCArlos]

I have lived here in Querétaro state for a few years, and in Latin America for the past 15 years. I have used the local hospital for treatment and surgery with 4 doctors attending. (Orthopedic surgeon, a GP who did the drilling :-), the anesthesiologist and the radiologist). The cost for everything - doctors, surgery, 5 days in the clínica and including 4 months of follow-ups was about US$3600.

The primary doctor was an orthopedic surgeon who spends two weeks each year in Cuba for additional training, and he has about 25 years experience. And an unhurried, pleasant bedside manner. I would put him up against any other orthopedic surgeon/doctor in North America.

This clínica would compare to a 3 star hotel, with only 6 private patient rooms and a couple of wards, and hospital costs run less than US$90 a day for a large private room. It was spotless, quiet and plenty of nurses.

I also had a tumor removed (internally) from my arm in outpatient-type surgery by a specialist at Clinica Angeles in Querétaro. The total cost for this was about US$300.

Normal doctor appointments run about MX$400, or MX$600-$700 for a specialist in Querétaro. Biggest difference - I rarely have to wait more than 5 minutes to go in to see the doctor.

I may live in a sheltered place, because I NEVER encounter Gringo prices locally. Then again, there are very few gringos in my area and I am fluent in Spanish.

I priced an international medical policy, and my cost would have been more than US$9000 a year. It will be many years before I am eligible for Medicare. I do maintain a major medical policy in the US with a high deductible in case of something huge, like cancer or a heart transplant, but nothing more. Out of pocket for the routine medical things here seems to be much cheaper than insurance for me. Not to mention, no endless telephone calls, documentation, translations, and the normal insurance company runarounds.

[HolyMole]

Originally Posted by GringoCArlos

I have lived here in Querétaro state for a few years, and in Latin America for the past 15 years. I have used the local hospital for treatment and surgery with 4 doctors attending. (Orthopedic surgeon, a GP who did the drilling :-), the anesthesiologist and the radiologist). The cost for everything - doctors, surgery, 5 days in the clínica and including 4 months of follow-ups was about US$3600.................I also had a tumor removed (internally) from my arm in outpatient-type surgery by a specialist at Clinica Angeles in Querétaro. The total cost for this was about US$300.....Normal doctor appointments run about MX$400, or MX$600-$700 for a specialist in Querétaro......
I priced an international medical policy, and my cost would have been more than US$9000 a year. It will be many years before I am eligible for Medicare. I do maintain a major medical policy in the US with a high deductible in case of something huge, like cancer or a heart transplant, but nothing more. Out of pocket for the routine medical things here seems to be much cheaper than insurance for me. Not to mention, no endless telephone calls, documentation, translations, and the normal insurance company runarounds.

There's a story in today's paper here in Vernon, British Columbia about a 72 year old woman visiting from the US who had fainted, and was admitted to the emergency dept of our local hospital. She was kept overnight for observation. Fortunately, tests showed no particular problems. She was released after a total stay of 10 hours.
She has been billed $3565 for the emergency visit, standard ward rate and tests, and an additional $320 charge from the physician who saw her. That's approx. $3500 US. She has no out-of-the-US health insurance and is on a fixed income.

For Canadians, of course, her entire experience would have cost nothing.

This whole subject of medical costs, insurance, etc scares the heck out of me. The condo complex we live in is mostly seniors. Many of them, in the early years of their retirement, spent parts of the winter in Arizona or California.....something they've looked forward to for years. As they reach their mid-60's and older, however, most of them stop going to the States because of the prohibitive medical costs or outrageous insurance premiums.

We hope to find some way to spend our retirement years in Mexico, but it will only be if we are able to make some sense of the insurance maze so we have some assurance that medical costs will not bankrupt us.

[cabocathie]

Originally Posted by RVGRINGO

Welcome. Medical treatment may be less expensive in Mexico, but it isn't cheap. Last Thursday, my wife had a tumor removed from her right index finger. It was an oupatient procedure but it did require general anesthesia and a hospital room for the day. The surgeon's fee was 13,000 pesos and the hospital fees were 6500 pesos; for a total of 19,500 pesos or about $1500 USD. Yes, we do have IMSS but prefer to use private physicians and hospitals for everything that we can possibly afford.
However, I do recommend that you purchase IMSS in the event of a catastrophic accident or illness which would 'break the bank'. Many say, "Oh, I would just go to the USA and use Medicare." Well, getting a medical evacuation by air is really expensive and in bad situations, you probably won't be transportable for a while. Air evacuation insurance is available but the fine print usually excludes such evacuation if suitable medical treatment is available. Since Mexico does have excellent facilities in the major cities, one isn't likely to be evacuated.
So, the bottom line is that you should cover yourself for serious medical situations by private insurance, if you are young enough and can afford it, or through IMSS membership.

I am VP Latin America for the SkyMed emergency air evacuation membership program. Even if suitable medical treatment is available in Mexico, we will still transport you home in an air ambulance. and we take you ALL the way home, wherever you choose in the US or Canada. contact me if you would like more information. cathie

[RVGRINGO]

How would you handle a US or Canadian citizen who lives in Mexico on an FM3 visa and has nothing more than a mail forwarding address in his home country? Would you fly them to destination of choice?

[cabocathie]

Originally Posted by RVGRINGO

How would you handle a US or Canadian citizen who lives in Mexico on an FM3 visa and has nothing more than a mail forwarding address in his home country? Would you fly them to destination of choice?

Absolutely, you choose. We have a special program for Mexico residents that even eliminates the "100 miles from home" requirement on our traditional membership. We cover you from your home in Mexico to whatever destination you have chosen on your application. This program is called NATO, the north american transport program. If you decide to change destinations later, you can, with 30 days written notice. And we have a special program for US veterans who are covered by the VA; you can choose any city you want but in case that VA hospital has no rooms, we will search all the VA hospitals in the US until we find one that has a room for you and we will take you there.

[RVGRINGO]

Great. That information may be useful for some folks and I trust they'll seek you out through normal means. With that, I'll have to end this discussion before it becomes real advertising.
You might want to consider a Premium Membership, so that you could advertise openly.
Thanks.

[cabocathie]

Originally Posted by RVGRINGO

Great. That information may be useful for some folks and I trust they'll seek you out through normal means. With that, I'll have to end this discussion before it becomes real advertising.
You might want to consider a Premium Membership, so that you could advertise openly.
Thanks.

Thank you! i will check that out right now!

[LeeVP]

Send me a private message. I have been involved with the international health insurance for many years.