Health insurance

[steve71]

Hi everyone,
Would anyone know of a good and affordable health care plan/insurance for Mexico. Maybe a local insurance?
Any help would be greatly appreaciated.
Thanks so much
Steve

[absoluteAL]

Originally Posted by steve71

Hi everyone,
Would anyone know of a good and affordable health care plan/insurance for Mexico. Maybe a local insurance?
Any help would be greatly appreaciated.
Thanks so much
Steve

IMSS. Mexican insurance if you qualify. Other policies will be somewhat expensive. IMSS probably $300 USD + or - /year.

[steve71]

Originally Posted by absoluteAL

IMSS. Mexican insurance if you qualify. Other policies will be somewhat expensive. IMSS probably $300 USD + or - /year.

Thanks for the fast reply, al. I am holding a FM3, would I qualify with that?

[absoluteAL]

Originally Posted by steve71

Thanks for the fast reply, al. I am holding a FM3, would I qualify with that?

Yes you would.

[steve71]

Originally Posted by absoluteAL

Yes you would.

Thanks Al!
Besides the IMMS would anyone know of a good private plan?

Cheers
Steve

[ninjacita]

Originally Posted by steve71

Thanks Al!
Besides the IMMS would anyone know of a good private plan?

Cheers
Steve

I have private through Allianz which meets my needs well both here and when I'm traveling up north, and includes Hospiten in available hospitals. It's about $15,000/a MX with the options I chose. My agent is JC Riesgos, and I have been pleased with their service including multiple trips to my house to first interview me, provide some options, get the paperwork, get it processed, and deliver the policy and cards.

They did present me with cheaper options, this just happened to be the one I chose. PM me if you'd like contact info.

[snappysammy]

i have a plan i am very happy with that is about one hundred dollars a month
the agent has a very good track record, i know of some very good service and hefty payouts

you can call nohemi
998-845-1703

i don't think you would be happy with imss

[Bluespicker]

I'm good for another five years but then we'll have to make some decisions.

[beam-eye]

The best health insurance in Mexcio is...well, none. Health insurance in Mexico just buys you more of the same generally poor medical care widely available here. IMSS certainly isn't your best option, and insurance policies are expensive for what you get (i.e., generally poor care by generally poorly qualified local doctors).

Hospiten is a very clean and attractive hospital (it looks just like a real hospital should look), and they're great at accepting insurance, but prices can get out of hand in a hurry - e.g., they charged $16,000 US dollars for an ordinary appendectomy - is that their going rate for a $4,000 operation? I don't know, and hope I never need to find out at first hand. They also charged $700 US dollars for a few scalp stitches, which, according to the hospital administrator "can only be done by the surgeons", who charge accordingly, based on the length of the cut in centimeters - but routine skin stitches (i.e., not plastic surgery) are typically done in the US in the emergency room by the ER doctors themselves - no need to call in the high-dollar surgeons for that (unless you're in the Hospiten ER).

IMHO, for anything serious (i.e., for anything requiring "insurance" vs simple out-of-pocket pay-for-care) the best option by far is an air ambulance service, and one of the best of these (according to people who have used it - I haven't yet needed to) is Medical Air Ambulance Association (MASA), a membership´association ("over 1 million members" according to their web site). Cost is about $300 US dollars/year, good from anywhere to anywhere in the world, apparently - Cancun direct to the airport nearest your home or med center of your choice (Miami, Atlanta, Houston would be closest in a true emergency) and it covers ambulances on each end of the flight. So, Google it. Suerte

[roni]

Get medical care in Merida

Do not settle for Playa or Cancun, if it is not an emergency. Medical care is much more costly in Playa and Cancun

[maya]

Originally Posted by beam-eye

The best health insurance in Mexcio is...well, none. Health insurance in Mexico just buys you more of the same generally poor medical care widely available here. IMSS certainly isn't your best option, and insurance policies are expensive for what you get (i.e., generally poor care by generally poorly qualified local doctors).

Hospiten is a very clean and attractive hospital (it looks just like a real hospital should look), and they're great at accepting insurance, but prices can get out of hand in a hurry - e.g., they charged $16,000 US dollars for an ordinary appendectomy - is that their going rate for a $4,000 operation? I don't know, and hope I never need to find out at first hand. They also charged $700 US dollars for a few scalp stitches, which, according to the hospital administrator "can only be done by the surgeons", who charge accordingly, based on the length of the cut in centimeters - but routine skin stitches (i.e., not plastic surgery) are typically done in the US in the emergency room by the ER doctors themselves - no need to call in the high-dollar surgeons for that (unless you're in the Hospiten ER).

IMHO, for anything serious (i.e., for anything requiring "insurance" vs simple out-of-pocket pay-for-care) the best option by far is an air ambulance service, and one of the best of these (according to people who have used it - I haven't yet needed to) is Medical Air Ambulance Association (MASA), a membership´association ("over 1 million members" according to their web site). Cost is about $300 US dollars/year, good from anywhere to anywhere in the world, apparently - Cancun direct to the airport nearest your home or med center of your choice (Miami, Atlanta, Houston would be closest in a true emergency) and it covers ambulances on each end of the flight. So, Google it. Suerte

I lived in Playa for five years and had AXA. If living there its good for emergencies and no worries about billing. I never used it but I did go to a dr there and found out -cost are alot cheaper if you live there. Now as far as the air ambulance-this is what I was told when I checked and maybe all are not alike-I was told that if the hosptial I was at in Playa or cancun couldnt treat me-they would airlift me to the nearest hosptial that could and that could be merida. The only reason I know this is because I called the carrier and when asking questions, this is what I was told. If the nearest hosptial was in miami-then I would have to go there. Just want everyone to be aware of the fine priint.

[StevedeSD]

I have had AXA insurance for 4 years purchased from Nohemi.

I have generally received better, more attentive medical care in Mexico than in the US. I have had surgeries here for a third of the cost in the US. Ask residents for a referral. There are excellent doctors available.

Anyone who paid $16,000 USD here for an appendectomy should have tried a brain transplant.

[maya]

Originally Posted by StevedeSD

I have had AXA insurance for 4 years purchased from Nohemi.

I have generally received better, more attentive medical care in Mexico than in the US. I have had surgeries here for a third of the cost in the US. Ask residents for a referral. There are excellent doctors available.

Anyone who paid $16,000 USD here for an appendectomy should have tried a brain transplant.

I was thinking the same thing Steve. I also used Nohemi. Hope all is well with you and Mado-miss you guys-hope to see you in february Maybe dinner at Don Marios-if its still open!

[user 6507]

Originally Posted by maya

I was thinking the same thing Steve. I also used Nohemi. Hope all is well with you and Mado-miss you guys-hope to see you in february Maybe dinner at Don Marios-if its still open!

Funny you mention that...I was there for two weeks and he was closed the whole time.....vacation I hope...

[Sue]

I did a little research and it looks like AXA owns ING. I know a few people that have ING and feel pretty confident about their coverage.