Health insurance

I use Medjet Assist - it's $500 a year but it will transport the wife and I back to a hospital of our choice where our health insurance will cover us. We have recently toured Mexico on a motorcycle so we pay a little more to have the motorcycle transported back home in the event of an accident.
An acquaintance was injured by a wave in PV years ago - her companion had to call around to raise $30K to fly her back to the US.
I'm sure Mexico has some fine hospitals - but if something bad were to happen I'd feel a lot better close to home were I can speak the language and be closer to friends and family.

I have never seen an IMSS clinic that accepted credit cards??? Almot's description sounds like one of those private hospitals in tourist zones.

Moisheh

Almot wrote:
IMSS transfers non-members to Seguro after having them stabilized, yes.

Seguro ships gringos out to the US if this is within a few hours drive, since there is no lower public plan level to dump them to :). They could eventually do something if patient is "patient" enough to wait a day or two or three, laying there without pain medications, nurses doing nothing. They are sleeping on the ward in the night, for God's sake. Senor Mex here can tell a lot about his experience with this system.

Horrible conditions are not in "some" IMSS and Seguro hospitals, but in "most" of them.

Over-charging can be severe. People are paying with credit card after a brief out-patient emergency visit, glancing quickly on the receipt - there is $US sign there. Right next to the number 8,000. Whaaa? Oh, sorry, lo siento, it was supposed to be 8K pesos. USD 350 is still a lot, so after some haggling the price comes down to $300. Prey and predator economy.

Thanks, very nice description of my Mexican healthcare plan. I take it you've never used it?

Throwing Mexico under the bus.

IMSS transfers non-members to Seguro after having them stabilized, yes.

Seguro ships gringos out to the US if this is within a few hours drive, since there is no lower public plan level to dump them to :). They could eventually do something if patient is "patient" enough to wait a day or two or three, laying there without pain medications, nurses doing nothing. They are sleeping on the ward in the night, for God's sake. Senor Mex here can tell a lot about his experience with this system.

Horrible conditions are not in "some" IMSS and Seguro hospitals, but in "most" of them.

Over-charging can be severe. People are paying with credit card after a brief out-patient emergency visit, glancing quickly on the receipt - there is $US sign there. Right next to the number 8,000. Whaaa? Oh, sorry, lo siento, it was supposed to be 8K pesos. USD 350 is still a lot, so after some haggling the price comes down to $300. Prey and predator economy.

Importa Madre Su Salud
Is only one of several public health plans. Another is SEGURO POPULÁR. An IMSS facility like all others and like all doctors is obligated to "stabilize" anyone seeking emergency treatment (no cost). Once the patient has been stabilized the IMSS prefers non-members to be transferred to another facility usually a Seguro Populár. From first tier through 2nd tier then to clinics referred to as "perifericos" the IMSS has a more highly defined level of care. The USA priced hospitals are very touchy about ensuring people admitted can foot the bill.
And realize this: There is NO NARCOTIC PAIN MEDICATION administered in public hospitals. Bring your own from the USA. 10 mg Oxycodin is a good choice. When I slent 10-days in a Seguro Popular I learned rudely the hospital does not administer any oral medication. It has to be purchased by the patient at an outside farmacia. The sole farmacias near my hospital were illegally charging eqvt of FIVE DOLLARS for 10 Tylenol tablets. Blatent taping over of Precio Maximo Al Publico. Welcome to México :)

Not directly related to health insurance but costs of healthcare in Mexico. I'm currently encountering a health issue.

I no longer carry private health insurance but have moved to IMSS which is the universal healthcare system in Mexico. That said, I want to speak about the actual cost related to private care.

My first stop in private healthcare was my cardiologist. I was about a month early for my yearly checkup. My doctor is also a specialist in the IMSS system and performs bypass and stent surgeries. He works out of and is owner along with his father of Hospital San Lucas Pictures of the hospital. Second to the last is my cardiologist, very well-known in Mexico.

His complete checkup, which includes x-rays, blood workup, EKG, treadmill or stress test, just to name a few, costs 1750 pesos ($85 u.s.). Because of the negative results, he referred me to a specialist in male breast cancer. The visit included an ultrasound and a mammogram. This took place in a private clinic associated with Christus Muguerza (located next door). Christus is one of the top three hospitals in Mexico. Total cost was 1800 pesos ($95). Had I kept my private insurance, I would not have met my deductible of 35,000 pesos.

My point is that private healthcare in Mexico and many other countries is actually very affordable. Most doctors, such as my dermatologist/plastic surgeon, cardiologist and GP have studied in both the U.S. and Mexico. Private insurance is slowly taking over in Mexico and prices are starting to go up but you will never find pricing like that in the U.S.

Should I need bypass, heart surgery, or even cancer treatment via IMSS my private doctors would be the ones to handle my care. That said, it doesn't change the physical conditions of some of the IMSS clinics although IMSS specialized facilities are for the most part top drawer.

I hope this helps those that may fear that they will be held hostage in a Mexican hospital for lack of money. Healthcare in all parts of the world is a business. You can always check prices and move from one facility to another. Obviously, this is like insurance. There is a risk in everything unless you have some severe pre-existing condition that would affect your decision.

I didn't mean foreign or travel insurances. Living there 5+ months and mostly at the same location, it makes sense going local.

There is AXA - though they don't renew past 69.

And there is "Best Doctors" group plan - yes, this is what it's called, no kidding. Huge deductible. Subscription through some gringo association in Chapala w/added membership fees. Though BD is not Mexican. CIMA and Angeles in HMO are one of direct-pay places, or so they say:
Direct-pay Mx hospitals

Most private Hospitals Do NOT take foreign Insurance. Cash or credit card. A few might have arrangements with some providers. I think CIMA in HMO takes AZ Blue Cross. Being kept in the hospital until you pay is not an old wive's tale. Happened to us twice exactly as Mex described. My wife was taken downstairs in a wheelchair by an ARMED guard. Straight to the cashier. No tikee no laundry!

Moisheh

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:

You pay. Pesos, dollars or credit card. Or you do not get released.

Mex, do you have any evidence to the contrary (anecdotal evidence including)? When insurance plan pays direct as they sometimes promise in their brochures, if you go to certain private hospital on their list?

Followed the suggestions. All the national plans except blue cross pay based on a claim you submit after treatment. Blue cross has member hospitals in many areas in mexico, including 4 in Guadalajara. They also have an extensive setup for dealing with international claims. Blue Cross premiums for 2017 would cost about $1400 more than APWU, our current carrier.

We've been happy with APWU benefits and service for several years so we will continue with them. $1400 a year is too much to pay to avoid using credit cards or a wire transfer if we have the misfortune to need hospitalization.

Thanks to all who responded.