Medical Insurance for RVer while in Mexico

[rocmoc]

There is a discussion on the BajaNomad site about someone having a major medical event while on vacation in Cabo, http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=74155. The outcome was less than favorable!

So what does a RVer do if only in Mexico for a couple of weeks? What does a RVer do if in Mexico for the winter? Yes, I know we have posted before about evacuation insurance but I am asking more about treatment and the cost are a higher amount.

I have my plan (credit card/cash & reimbursed by Plan F Medigap plan) but am interested in what others plan to do?

rocmoc n AZ/Mexico

[rocmoc]

Thank you for responding Austin!

rocmoc n AZ/Mexico

[GS_TravelAssist]

Thank you for your posts rocmoc and moisheh!

I just wanted to offer a clarification on moisheh's post stating:

"GS neglected to tell you that they do not fly you home. Only to the nearest suitable facility. That could be Guad or some other Mexican city. No one can provide a home service for under $100."

You are correct that the Emergency Medical Evacuation benefit of Good Sam TravelAssist will arrange and pay for your transportation to the nearest medical facility that is capable of fully treating your medical condition if the current facility is incapable. However, once you are treated and stabilized at the capable medical facility, we will pay for your transportation home under the Transportation After Stabilization benefit.

I would like to suggest additional sources which can address your questions in detail: (1) Member Benefit Brochures and FAQs available at http://www.goodsamtravelassist.com/plandescriptions.aspx, (2) Member Services Agents available 24 hours daily, 7 days a week at 1-888-853-7333, or (3) you can send me a private message with your contact information and member number and I will call you.

Thank you for your membership.

Regards,
Austin

[rocmoc]

When reading posts during my searches I read that CoachNet had added nearly all the same features as GS TravelAssist to their roadside service Platinum Plus plan, http://coach-net.com/assistamerica/CNETAssistAmerica.pdf . This is great since we already have this plan so at least we have some coverage! We carry this plan because it covers trailers and there are times we are pulling a car trailer with the Jeep on it to Utah (just in case I break it playing in the slick rock).

rocmoc n AZ/Mexico

[rocmoc]

After a fair amount of searching, I have not found balanced posting about GS TravelAssist so I am not going any further with this comparison. GS TraveAssist is a product of the owners of this Forum and hope they will respond to our concerns.

I also looked up the premium for SkyMed and it is expensive when comparing price. They really are not the same product IMHO.

rocmoc n AZ/Mexico

[rocmoc]

I am doing some searching trying to find travelers that have used GS TravelAssist. I will post links as I find them. Here is the first, https://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/27396768.cfm.

sunkatcher posted,
" In November, 2009 I received a mailing concerning membership in Good Sam’s Emergency Evacuation Assistance Program. This program promised to get you home with your RV or get your family to your bedside in case of an illness.
We were going to South Texas for our 13th winter and decided that this was a good idea to have this coverage, so we purchased it.
Even though I was in good health, never been ill and had a complete physical before we left for the Valley in December, 2009, I suffered a “Brain Bleed Stroke” on January 30th, 2010. I spent 18 days in Weslaco’s Knapp Hospital and I was in no condition to drive our motorhome and Martha had never driven it.
NO PROBLEM! We had Good Sam’s Insurance for this type of situation, RIGHT?
We called Good Sam’s and they faxed us an 18 page questionnaire.
WE RECEIVED NO HELP FROM THEM!
I had to fly my daughter and her boyfriend to McAllen to drive us and the motorhome back to Paris, Texas.
I had been a Good Sam’s Member as well as a Good Sam’s Roadside Assistance member for many years and trusted them fully. After all they were Good Sam’s. Who would have doubted them?
After 2 months in physical therapy I took the matter to my Attorney, Bill Flanery. He contacted Good Sam’s and after speaking with them he informed me that I had “wasted my money” by joining this program.
If I can prevent ONE person from making the same mistake that I made then writing this will be well worth it.
Sincerely, Bruce Raney"

I will link/post both good & bad!

rocmoc n AZ/Mexico

[moisheh]

I don't know too much about the GS plan but I wonder if that price is just for the first year?

Moisheh

[rocmoc]

moisheh wrote:
rocmoc: GS neglected to tell you that they do not fly you home. Only to the nearest suitable facility. That could be Guad or some other Mexican city. No one can provide a home service for under $100.

Moisheh

That is the kind of info I am looking for. I know you have mentioned it before but wanted to see you direct your response at the actual plan.

Is this the only reason / difference?

rocmoc n AZ/Mexico

[moisheh]

rocmoc: GS neglected to tell you that they do not fly you home. Only to the nearest suitable facility. That could be Guad or some other Mexican city. No one can provide a home service for under $100.

Moisheh

[rocmoc]

Attached is a chart comparing Good Sam TravelAssist, SkyMed Family & MedjetAssist Family insurance plans, http://www.goodsamtravelassist.com/compare.aspx . What am I missing as Good Sam appears to the deal? I was told today by two different Good Sam Reps that there is no difference in coverage between the USA & Mexico.

rocmoc n AZ/Mexico

[Belgique]

Moisheh!!! Shhhh! Moisheh jokes...just an ole retired soldier.

To clarify. I know about Tri-Care. Been on it for ages. I was just wondering if anyone had used it SOB. I could see me languishing in a hospital for ages if I had to wait for someone up here to come up with cash. Probably OT but I think I remember in the past that some retired military folks (CA and US) had been treated very nice in Mexican military health care facilities?

[moisheh]

Belgique was a CIA covert operative. Do you think he qualifies??

Moisheh

[maggybeck]

Tricare is for serving militRy, retired vets and their families. This program is not available for civilians. However we are fortunate to be coverd by Tricare for Life as retired vet. Any medical expenses incurred are paid for up front and reimbursed by Tricare. So far we have not had to use this so I can't report on it. But the information is available on line if I need to look it up,

[Almot]

This plan is for US nationals so I didn't look too hard into it. Appears to be an add-on plan to Medicare, catered mostly to ex-militaries.

Any Mex clinic can be a rip-off. That $ sign is confusing, they write $ on bills while they usually mean pesos, but some gringos just pay the amount in $US without thinking. So Mexicans have figured out that gringos have bottomless pockets, and upped their game, charging 10 times US price.

When I need a prescription med, I go to pharmacy. They often have a doctor in the next room that would check you up quickly and write a prescription for extra few dollars, plus another few dollars for the meds. You have to speak some Espanol of course. 50 dollars? When some drug costs over 200 pesos ($US 15), they roll their eyes, apologize and ask if "senor" would like some cheaper generic version. 50 bucks is a huge money for an average Mexican, this is what he makes in a week! I only wish there weren't so many tourists throwing cash around like there is no tomorrow.

[Belgique]

Anyone have any experience with Tri-Care for Life/Medicare and Tri-Care Standard/Extra?

On our first trip years ago, we ended up in one of those Maz (Tourist) clinics that Moisheh warns against. For a prescription they charged my American Express 1,000 pesos which I thought was dang high. Luckily I looked more carefully at the slip and realized it was 1,000USD!!! I went ballistic and they lowered it to about $50US. We had great, affordable care in PV, but Linda-From-Canada gets the accolades for that.

On edit: I just looked up Tri-Care-Medicare and found this:

If Traveling in All Other Overseas Areas You can visit any overseas provider.

Medicare doesn't cover health care outside of the U.S. or U.S. Territories, so TRICARE is the primary payer.

You're responsible for the applicable TRICARE deductible and cost shares. Ask the provider for an itemized bill and be sure to keep your receipt as proof of payment.

You may need to pay up front a file a claim with the overseas claims processor for reimbursement

Anyone have any experience doing this?