Prepare Yourself For 16% Tax Added Onto Food And Medicine

Maybe there are differences from state to state in Mexico. Chris has different experiences tn his state than moisheh has in Sonora. I read the San Carlos Viva forum and what the locals have to say about the state of affaires in San Carlos/Guaymas would convince me to never go there if I had never been to Mexico. Our state of Nayarit seems to have many more contented gringos in it, at least along the coast and the forums I'm on they don't seem to post near the problems. Yes there are sewer problems, and some of the local gringos don't want it talked about as they are business owners, but the word still gets out. From what I can see, the IMSS in La Penita is pretty good for basic medical treatment. Several of our expat friends utilise it and they don't seem to have many complaints. We have a new private hospital built in La Penita a couple of years ago and D/W had some problems last winter and they were taken care of there promptly. I spent 30 years in the Coast Guard and most of the medical treatment I had there was good, although back in the day, the Public Health Hospital in Portsmouth VA was not the best, but the Naval Hospital, (which the Coast Guard couldn't use then) was great. No Dr and no hospital is perfect 100% of the time, not even close.

Do you go to the IMSS hospitals Moisheh visiting friends and family? Did you not read what I said, that I received treatment there, my SO had surgery there, my 70 yr old friend had by-pass today? Are you that blind?

Half the Canadians feel the same way about their social medicine. You get what you pay for. It's not a private hospital, even I am not that blind. However, it does what it's supposed to do.

I have seen first hand what the IMSS does. But really this is all way off topic and Chris chooses to ignore realities. Ask any Mexican with a few bucks about the IMSS. Or ask those poor people who line up outside the clinics. Ask those who got food poisoning from the horrible food. Ask the patients who are told they have diabetes with no blood or urine test. Ask the patients who have to go to a hospital in the next state for surgery but cannot afford the bus fare. I will gladly take any forum member to visit a clinic and a hospital. Then you can form your own opinion. The best Medical systems in Mexico are the military hospital and the ISSTE system for government workers. Both first class. As for the teachers union they make the Teamsters look like G-ds Angels. Wasn't the head of the teachers union arrested?

Moisheh

stanbnv wrote:
Don't you know moisheh, you can't say anything even faintly derogatory about anything in Mexico or Chris will leap to it's defense and tell how much worse it is in the US. It does get tiresome Chris. You do have a lot of valuable information about Mexico, don't get your nose all out of joint about this please. No place is perfect, and we know full well that there are lots of problems in the US.

Great, and what do you call Moisheh's post, a testimonial? A little bit of the truth wouldn't hurt. Sorry you feel that way. I'm just stating it the way it is.

You guys get all bent out of shape when someone bashes Mexico but when one of you decide to bash Mexico, I guess it's okay.

There are few misconceptions about IMSS. This is insurance funded partially by the government and partially by client (or employer) premiums.

If provided through employer, IMSS covers treatment in their IMSS hospitals only and medications in IMSS pharmacies. The closest IMSS hospital may be good or not so good. What is "not so good"? One pensioner said "it's like MASH only without incoming artillery" :)...

Now, if a gringo living there permanently and not working for Mex employer wants to get IMSS, they can, but it's called a "voluntary enrollment" and doesn't cover medications. The system malfunctions badly, and a lot of gringos got their medications covered first, and later were cut off.

Annual cost is low, $US 300 for people over 65. I think the IMSS plan is having financial difficulties now.

Seguro Popular is a different thing altogether. Any permanent resident is eligible, the fee is tied to income rather than age. Gringos on SS pension fall in the highest premium group as this is considered a high income for Mexico. They "should be" paying $500 a year, but as previously noted, they often don't. Same as IMSS, SP covers only treatment in their (i.e. public) hospitals, more numerous than IMSS, but again not all of them are good. And they don't cover a number of procedures so you have to pay or go North for Medicare. Only cheap generic medications are covered. Cost of treatment in public hospital is ridiculously low by US standards, but it still can be 10-15 grands for some surgery with a few days stay.

With either IMSS or SP you have to show proof of residency. It can be utilities bill from the campground and you may even get lucky and sneak in with only a visitor status, the system is corrupt and never worked well to begin with. But, technically, a visitor that has to ask for admission every time and is only granted max 6 months stay at a time, can not have a permanent address.

Don't you know moisheh, you can't say anything even faintly derogatory about anything in Mexico or Chris will leap to it's defense and tell how much worse it is in the US. It does get tiresome Chris. You do have a lot of valuable information about Mexico, don't get your nose all out of joint about this please. No place is perfect, and we know full well that there are lots of problems in the US.

Wrong, wrong, and more wrong. If you don't have personal experience, you can't speak. They are performing by-pass on a 70 yr old friend this morning. My SO had knee surgery three months ago, couldn't have been better service. Lots of family babies delivered and cared for. They took care of my fractured foot without any waiting, problems, etc.

All the IMSS doctors have private practices and many are specialists that perform heart, kidney and liver transplants. The premature ward, and the dialysis are top drawer.

On edit: Don't white wash the whole system. If what was said above, everyone here would be dead or dying. Like the teachers striking, there are lots of good and qualified teachers. I have just read MexConnect on various topics including the teachers strike. Many uniformed people who exaggerate much of what they have posted.

Be honest and tell the truth. Many Americans would be so lucky to have a system like IMSS.

Much of what BrianSue posted is so correct. When it comes to the IMSS unless you have had experience with the system you would be shocked. It is 3rd world medicine. Corrupt as hell. Like many public health systems it lacks the funds to provide proper care. Medicines are not state of the art and each facility is rationed. If they run out of your medicine you must wait until next month. BUT for a small fee they magically find what you need. Misdiagnosis is rampant. BUT if one can afford the private care it is on a par with most US facilities. Good, caring Drs. and reasonable( by US standards) costs. We use the private facilities and would not hesitate to recommend this to others.

Moisheh

Nothing is free. If you are employed full time, employer pays the insurance until your salary reaches a certain amount and then the employee pays a portion too. Still much cheaper than any insurance in Canada, U.S. And yes, if you belong to IMSS, you don't pay for medicine.

That is one of the reasons they raised amount ex-pats need to prove as monthly income. Too many retired Americans with very little income or SS and are coming to Mexico to get cheap or free healthcare. The ceiling was raised to 1950 a month for a single person.

Many have cheated and lied to sign up for Seguro Popular saying they are poor or destitute and receive the care for little or next to nothing.

Combined Rates
Five states do not have a statewide sales tax: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon. Of these, Alaska and Montana allow localities to charge local sales taxes.
In Alaska, high local rates in populous places like Juneau and Kodiak (5 and 6 percent, respectively) certainly increase the average local rate, but not enough to give Alaskans a higher combined rate than any state that charges a statewide rate.
The five states with the highest average combined rates are Tennessee (9.44 percent), Arizona (9.16 percent), Louisiana (8.87 percent), Washington (8.86 percent), and Oklahoma (8.67 percent).
The five states with the lowest average combined rates are Alaska (1.69 percent), Hawaii (4.35 percent), Maine (5 percent), Virginia (5 percent), and Wyoming (5.34 percent).
The highest total sales tax rate in the United States is in Tuba City, Arizona, which has a combined rate of 13.725 percent. This rate is composed of a 6.6 percent state tax, a 1.125 percent Coconino county tax, and an additional 6 percent tribal tax levied by the To'Nanees'Dizi local government.
(I am not sure of the accuracy of the above as we have found in many cases Native American Communities do not pay taxes on reservations – we have often purchased untaxed fuel on reservations as we travel – including in Arizona – could be mistaken about this location?).
January 11, 2008 (Note date – there may be changes). http://taxfoundation.org/blog/which-states-tax-groceries
By
Gerald Prante
The Tax Foundation is often asked which states exempt certain items from their general sales taxes, especially as they relate to food. The following is a list of the states that do tax groceries, and if applicable, which ones apply a special rate on grocery items. All other states do not tax groceries.
States that tax groceries (rate if not fully taxed): Alabama, Arkansas (3%), Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois (1%), Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri (1.225%), Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee (5.5%), Utah (1.75%), Virginia (1.5% + 1% local option tax), and West Virginia (5%).

(We think we pay about 8% sales tax on average as we travel – tax is often added to restaurant bills).