salud Popular

I was with a group in Mexico where a guy had a stroke on the bus. It was close to a hospital and he was there shortly. They basically did nothing for him and sent him on his way the next day. He definitely wasn't "right".

Had he been in the US or Canada, he probably would have gotten the treatment he needed.

Don't know what they charged him.

geromio wrote:
Since I can't go to the States anymore, because I can't buy medical travel insurance and the astronomical cost of hospital and doctors in the Us, I was wondering if anyone has ever been to Mexico and spent some time for treatment in the General Hospital in the country.
Apperently they have an Universal Medical System like in Canada. Anyone is treated regardless of insurance coverage or not.
I know that George the Vagabonder Suprime used once or twice the service of their Salud Popular at no cost other for his food and medication.
I would appreciate very much anyone feed back on this.

I have never used any Mexican medical care facility but I suspect that part of your answer depends on the location of Mexico you are traveling in.

I plan to spend the winter in a nicehttp://www.tripadvisor.ca/Hotel_Review-g150795-d156788-Reviews-s1-Posada_Citlali-Zihuatanejo_Pacific_Coast.html posada in Zihuatanejo.I was there years ago and needed the service of the big Salud Popular and it didn't cost me anything. I'd like to know if it is the same today.

You might want to read this.

http://traveltips.usatoday.com/health-insurance-travel-mexico-19311.html

http://www.tomzap.com/retireafford.html

A lurker asked me to answer this so I will make an exception

It is national law that a health care professional MUST treat a victim in danger until such timr the victim is considered STABILIZED upon which the victim can be transported or rendered to facilities for continuing care.

IMSS is a three part government, employer, member subscription HMO. Seguro Popular is a less sophisticated member direct HMO and ISSSTE is an HMO for civil servants.

Health care is not free in Mexico. Only first aid services to stabilize the patient. Continuing care can be expensive as hell or less expensive third-world grade of sophistication.

Hospitalized without membership means a patient is responsible for any and all orally delivered medication which they must seek and pay for at a private farmacia. Medicines injected are given by the hospital and are charged on your bill.

Patients are accompanied by a policeman wearing a pistol to the business office upon discharge where they must satisfy 100% of the hospital charges before exiting the hospital. This is standard operating procedure all over the country.

This info is derived from multiple personal experiences including an 11-day stay in Seguro Popular involving major surgery.

I was in hospital in Mazatlan for 3 days last year. Private room, very good. It was called Sharps Hospital. They took a 10,000 peso (about $800) deposit on my charge card when I was checked in. I believe it was covered by my Canadian medicare although my travel insurance initially paid it.

You might want to look into buying a product from the GPS tracking company, Spot. This entitles you to purchase very inexpensive evacuation insurance. About $300 a year per family or $120 for an individual. I think you have to own something like a Spot trace and have a subscription paid, but I am not 100% sure. You woudl have to contact them. Either way its a lot cheaper than the others and you can get evacuated to a Canadian hospital.

http://www.geosalliance.com/geos-services/worldwide-medical-evacuation/

Medical care for foreigners can be complicated. Mexico has a multi tier health system. From the ones mentioned by Mexwanderer to top notch private hospitals. I am not sure if a tourist can apply for Seguro Popular. You might need a Residente Temporal not an FMM. I would not want it regardless. Some of their clinics are 3rd world. Even IMSS varies from good care to horrible. They run out of medicines mid month and none of the new drugs are on their list. Many of the private hospitals are as good as first class USA facilities. But they are not cheap like IMSS. Specialists charge around 800 pesos for a consult. Still inexpensive by US standards. Tourist areas have private hospitals with signs stating they speak English and take credit cards. Avoid these facilities . They are known to rip off customers with fees that approach Scottsdale prices but health care that is 3rd rate. I think that Sharp Hospital is one of those facilities. We use CIMA in Hermosillo and they are great. As was mentioned when it is time to leave the hospital an armed guard accompanies you to the accounting office!

Moisheh

I was impressed with sharp. not a bad rate less than $800 for 3 days with a specialist in a private room & satellite TV. Not US rates even though not super cheap either.

Brand new Seguro Popular hospital in La Paz. 5 plantas (5-stories)

Two bed room. ZERO cardiac equipment available. Zero TV, zero radio, shower had tepid water. Shortage of doctors. TWENTY TWO ATTEMPTS to insert IV. Both forearms and wrists were black and blue for weeks.

Next emergency BUS north then ambulance after 3 stops at clinicas perifericos IMSS to maintain stabilization

REAL LIFE timing of air evac to when USA hospital emergency ward door opens 14-22 hours. Keep this in mind in life-threatening medical emergencies.

You don't want to get seriously ill or injured in Mexico.