Thread: Mexican health care for Americans studied

Mexican health care for Americans studied

Sandra Dibble Contact Reporter

Rising medical needs in the United States are creating new opportunities for Mexico’s health care industry to serve a broad range of U.S. patients, from baby boomers to Southern California’s large Latino work force.

But participants in a daylong conference Wednesday at the Institute of the Americas on the UC San Diego campus said that a range of legislative and regulatory changes are needed. The event drew health care experts, tourism officials, nonprofit groups, real estate promoters and others who see the potential for growth in cross-border care.

With health care costs in Mexico available at a fraction of U.S. prices, Mexican facilities can help fill a growing demand for services including dentistry, surgery, long-term care and assisted living, advocates said. But providers still face hurdles, and one major step would be certifying private Mexican hospitals to U.S. standards so that older Americans could use their Medicare benefits in Mexico.

“Congress is not going to approve Medicare for Mexico until they’re very comfortable that the quality of medical care is there,” said Paul Crist, president of Americans for Medicare in Mexico. As a first step, he urged Mexico’s federal government to carry through with plans to accredit the country’s private hospitals by 2011.

President Felipe Calderón is expected to urge President Barack Obama to consider the issue of Medicare reimbursement in Mexico when the two meet in Washington next month. But Jeffrey Davidow, president of the Institute of the Americas, was doubtful there will be imminent changes.

“I personally think the biggest changes are coming through the private insurance companies,” he said.

U.S. health care reform is expected to expand the pool of workers with medical insurance, with 100,000 to 300,000 additional enrollees expected in San Diego and Imperial counties by 2014, said Frank Carrillo, chief executive of SIMNSA Health Plan, which sells group insurance plans to U.S. employers whose workers receive medical care in Mexico.

“The system cannot handle it here, so they need to look at Mexico as a safety net,” Carrillo said, adding that many of the newly insured will be legal immigrants from Mexico who are comfortable with Mexican physicians.

In Baja California, the state government recently joined with the private sector to promote the state as a destination for those interested in medical procedures. Oscar Escobedo, Baja California’s tourism secretary, said 500,000 people crossed into the state for medical care last year, and the aim is to increase that number.

Escobedo said that two key medical projects are in the pipeline in Baja California, including a plan by Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim’s Grupo Carso to build a “world-class hospital and hotel” complex in Tijuana, which would open in late 2012. Another facility is being planned next year in the Guadalupe Valley, he said, but did not provide details.

The National City-based International Community Foundation, which expects to release its study on health care for Americans in Mexico next week, has found a need for assisted living and long-term care for older Americans in Mexico.

“Mexico is a great place for active retirees, but it’s not a very good place to age in place today,” said Richard Kiy, the foundation’s president.

Mauricio Monroy, a partner in a Tijuana accounting firm who has long been active in cross-border issues, said the conference was a good first step. He said Mexico’s federal government must now play a central role, through guidelines and regulatory reform.

“That’s the starting point: How do you license a hospital, doctors, nurses, land use? How do you take care of immigration, tax issues? There’s a lot to do,” Monroy said.

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/...r21-story.html

No way. I dont think its a good idea to force defenseless elderly people to go to Mexico for treatment.....or especially not for long term care. Everything about Mexico has always been low quality. Personally, I would rather be dead than to be forced to go to Mexico for ANY treatment. And if this is allowed to happen within our Medicare system it would be very disturbing. Most elderly people dont have the means to pay for care outside of the Medicare system....so they would be stuck with whatever Medicare offers. Go to Mexico for treatment? No...no way. We have enough problems with care for the elderly IN OUR OWN COUNTRY. Transferring the job to Mexico would only make things worse. Plus...this is OUTSOURCING HEALTHCARE JOBS. They just want to save money and get cheap labor...and the hec with those who have to suffer from low quality care.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guadalupe,_Baja_California

<img src=http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/17922681.jpg>

It would be optional for people who want it, not mandatory.

RELATED

Mexico's health care lures Americans

It sounds almost too good to be true: a health care plan with no limits, no deductibles, free medicines, tests, X-rays, eyeglasses, even dental work — all for a flat fee of $250 or less a year.
To get it, you just have to move to Mexico. . .

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-169024-ame ... are+mexico

It would be good for Americans who have retired in Mexico.

40,000 to 80,000 U.S. retirees living in Mexico

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-169024-ame ... are+mexico

The quality of care at the hospitals set up by Slim would be comparable to anything here.

Seniors Use Mexico Health Care
As some American senior citizens find it difficult to afford health care, many have moved to Mexico as an alternative for treatment and medicine. Kelly Cobiella reports from the town of Manzanillo.
Cheap Health Care, South of the Border
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=5993096n

(CBS) For American retirees the Pacific coast town of Manzanillo, Mexico is
paradise. The weather is always warm. Every home has a view, without a million dollar price tag. And a doctor's visit doesn't cost a penny out of pocket.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/12/ ... 2969.shtml


Heading to Mexico for healthcare | Los Angeles Times
Heading to Mexico for healthcare. May 26, 2009 | 3:48 pm ... barriers in the US medical care system encourage immigrants to seek care in Mexico who would be ...
latimesblogs.latimes.com/.../heading-to-mexico-for-healthcare-.html

Originally Posted by JohnDoe2

Seniors Use Mexico Health Care
As some American senior citizens find it difficult to afford health care, many have moved to Mexico as an alternative for treatment and medicine. Kelly Cobiella
reports from the town of Manzanillo.

Cheap Health Care, South of the Border
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=5993096n

(CBS) For American retirees the Pacific coast town of Manzanillo, Mexico is
paradise. The weather is always warm. Every home has a view, without a million dollar price tag. And a doctor's visit doesn't cost a penny out of pocket.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/12/ ... 2969.shtml


Heading to Mexico for healthcare | Los Angeles Times
Heading to Mexico for healthcare. May 26, 2009 | 3:48 pm ... barriers in the US medical care system encourage immigrants to seek care in Mexico who would be ...
latimesblogs.latimes.com/.../heading-to-mexico-for-healthcare-.html

First, I dont trust Carlos Slim further than I could throw him. Second, it may be optional now, but it would end up being mandatory because it would cost less money. But no one should be forced to leave their own country and die and be buried in another country just so Carlos Slim can make big bucks. And it will end up being forced...that is why they want to do it. To save money. Maybe there are Americans who CHOOSE to do this, but that is ok...if it is by choice. But the part that bothers me is making legislative changes for this option. Oh...and the insurance companies want it. If the insurance companies want it, it cant be good. Finally, it outsources health care jobs to another country. Why is it we are in such bad shape? Um...outsourcing jobs....and insourcing workers from other countries who work for pennies. THAT IS WHY WE ARE GOING DOWN THE TUBES!!!! And so now we are going to add another layer of crap on top of the crap we already have? Just so fat cats can make more money? Yea....lets make it worse.