Health insurance in Mexico

[EstoyPensando]

I've heard some people advise to get on the IMSS scheme, but I've also heard from some people who would just rather pay for the private care when a health problem arises due to the reasonable cost.

I imagine if something happens that leaves you in hospital for a few days and you need surgery, that the cost would be really high, but really I don't have a clue.

What would your advice be?

[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.

[HolyMole]

Originally Posted by RVGRINGO

.....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.................

This isn't a troll.
Are there "gringo prices" for private medical care in Mexico? I ask because the prices you paid seem fairly high for an overnight stay.
I know of an English-speaking doctor in one town in Mexico who charges around 400 pesos for an office visit, while most of the other doctors charge 200 pesos.

Any idea of the standard daily ward charges in Mexican hospitals....private or IMSS? The British Columbia Medical Services Plan apparently pays up to $75C/day, and Alberta up to $100/day towards hospital charges out of Canada.

If I purchase my employer's "residing out of Canada" medical insurance coverage, it's good for most things EXCEPT hospital charges, (which I find difficult to comprehend).

[EstoyPensando]

Originally Posted by HolyMole

Any idea of the standard daily ward charges in Mexican hospitals....private or IMSS?

I would also be interested to know this. Those prices also seem higher than I was expecting.

I am in a bit of a pickle at the moment because I am here in Mexico waiting for my visa to be processed and because of this I can't insure myself with IMSS or otherwise. I'm considering purchasing holiday insurance from the UK to cover it while I wait.

Thanks for replying.

[RVGRINGO]

Your visa should be processed in a matter of a week or so.

There are doctors, and there are doctors. You can get an MD in Mexico and open an office with no internship or residency; ie., no experience.
This was microsurgery done by an excellent orthopedic surgeon in a proper hospital operating room, with general anesthesia attended by an anesthesiologist, etc.
We can get medical consultations by local physicians for as little as 25 pesos or as much as 500 pesos. I think you can see the difference. It is wise to do some investigating before selecting an MD, here or anywhere else. The same goes for dentists, veterinarians, etc.

There are no charges in IMSS hospitals. Of course, you must provide your family member for general care, water, pillow, etc. and the family member usually sleeps on the floor on their own pad from home. In private hospitals, you also need someone with you, but the facilities will be quite nice; frequently better than in the USA or Canada. Depending upon the size and sophistication of the hospital, room charges and other service charges will vary and will be posted, as in hotels, in the lobby or reception area close to the cashier's office. If you don't see them, ask. Most doctors will discuss your hospital needs with you and allow you to choose.

[Mr.Chips]

Last evening,I was talking to a gentleman who required emergency medical care(in Mexico) that included an angiogram and a stent.He was hospitalized for about two weeks. He did not have any medical insurance.His bill came to about 40,000 Can......so far,he has only been reimbursed $4,000 by OHIP and has engaged the services of a lawyer in order to try and collect more....personally,I have never required medical services while in Mexico but I have heard stories of health care being either really cheap or extremely expensive...in an emergency and lacking fluent Spanish...it would be difficult to negotiate expenses

[RVGRINGO]

Having had multiple cardiac catheterizations and six stents installed, I can sympathize with your friend. Cardiologists, Catheterisation labs and the team to operate them, the anesthesiologist and a week in the hospital are all expensive. Stents are the same price anywhere in the world and the cutting edge techniques and expertise are the reason you friend and I are still alive. Had he been in Canada, or had I been near a VA hospital in the USA, we would have been treated at no cost; however, we weren't and we must pay.

[Mr.Chips]

Originally Posted by RVGRINGO

Having had multiple cardiac catheterizations and six stents installed, I can sympathize with your friend. Cardiologists, Catheterisation labs and the team to operate them, the anesthesiologist and a week in the hospital are all expensive. Stents are the same price anywhere in the world and the cutting edge techniques and expertise are the reason you friend and I are still alive. Had he been in Canada, or had I been near a VA hospital in the USA, we would have been treated at no cost; however, we weren't and we must pay.

I agree with your statement re: we must pay.....but many Canadians think Mexico hospital care is significantly cheaper than care in Canada and expect that their provincial provider(eg.OHIP) will reimburse for the total costs involved for a stay in a Mexican hospital...as my friend found out,this is not always the case

[HolyMole]

Originally Posted by Mr.Chips

I agree with your statement re: we must pay.....but many Canadians think Mexico hospital care is significantly cheaper than care in Canada and expect that their provincial provider(eg.OHIP) will reimburse for the total costs involved for a stay in a Mexican hospital...as my friend found out,this is not always the case

A quick look at any Expat message board confirms that healthcare is easily the most baffling issue faced by anyone wanting to travel or reside, full or part time, in another country.

Why it should take a Philadelphia lawyer to answer the simplest questions is beyond me.

As a resident of British Columbia, I am covered by BC Medicare for up to 180 days out of province, which corresponds nicely with the 180 day Mexican tourist card.

Essentially, BC says that it will pay all the same medical costs for out of province/out of country treatments as it would pay if the services had been provided in BC.

Since medical costs in Mexico are, in most cases, apparently substantially cheaper than they are in Canada, one would expect, then, that BC would cover virtually all the "normal" medical expenses one might incurr in Mexico.

Then you receive information such as Mr. Chips has provided....and you don't know where you are as far as coverage is concerned.

Several years ago, a friend with COPD who was spending the winter in Los Cabos required oxygen. The cost was several TIMES higher than it would have been in BC. So high, in fact, that she was medivac'd home to BC, accompanied by a nurse, at tremendous expense. That's why I asked if there are two prices for private medical care in Mexico....the Mexican price and the gringo price.

[RVGRINGO]

Prices for medical care are totally dependent upon the quality of services you require. There are 'medicos' and hospitals in many different price ranges, from small clinics or hospitals with only a few rooms, to marble palaces where your meals are delivered by two waiters in tuxedos and the rooms, all private, are huge and the PR folks bring you a DVD library. The latter will accept your credit card, while the former will want cash.