Thread: Cheap Health Care, South of the Border CBS NEWS

MANZANILLO, Mexico, Dec. 17, 2009

Cheap Health Care, South of the Border

Some Senior Citizens are Finding Sunshine and Affordable Health Insurance in Mexico

By Kelly Cobiella

(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.

CBS News correspondent Kelly Cobiella reports Billy and Sandi Hunter retired to their dream home in Manzanillo. Then they learned they hit the healthcare jackpot: full medical, dental and vision coverage for $600 a year.

"It was a great deal, and the care is good," Billy said.

The Hunters bought into the Mexican Social Security Institute, or IMSS - a government-run health care plan for Mexican employees but open to legal foreigners.

"When we leave our doctor's office, if we have a prescription we go pick it up," Sandi said. "No charge, so we like it."

There are no limits, no deductibles and no co-pays. Even pre-existing conditions are covered after the first one to two years.

Doctor Ivan Ocadiz is a doctor in Manzanillo's IMSS hospital. He said the number of patients from the U.S. increases month by month.

The hospital is new, but without the comforts of a U.S. facility: few private rooms, extras like blankets are brought from home, and families are expected to help feed and bathe patients. But when it comes to diagnosis and treatment, Americans here say it's just as good, sometimes better than the U.S.

Craig McDole was taking more than a dozen pills prescribed in the U.S. when he collapsed on a tennis court in Mexico. He went to an IMSS hospital.

"When my internist there saw what I was taking, he went nuts. 'What do they have you on all this medicine for?'" he said.

McDole's feeling well now. Dr. Ocadiz said, "he's perfect."

But the system isn't perfect: long lines, waiting lists, not enough doctors or in some cases, not enough medications.

IMSS is designed for Mexican workers who've been paying into the system for decades and it's already financially strained. Some worry a flood of American retirees could bankrupt it. The Hunters would like to see their own government come up with an alternative.

"I wish they could stop arguing and find a way to help as many people as are helped here," Sandi said. "This is simple. It's not perfect, but a lot of people get good care."

Without it, the Hunters would struggle to afford paradise in their golden years.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/12/ ... 2969.shtml

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

VIDEO at this link:

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=5993096n

Darn right. EVERYTHING in Mexico (and other Latin American countries) costs far less than in the US. That is why letting them come here and freely use our hospital services is absolutely insane. This could also be a possibility for uninsured Americans; Would there be any reason they could not buy a policy in Mexico? They would have to go there for treatment but at least it would be economically feasible (Not sure if it is legally feasible or not.)

I was looking at the costs of kidney dialysis after the story about the closure of an Atlanta hospital (Grady Memorial) dialysis unit. US cost per year of treatment: $46,000. Typical cost in Mexico: $9,600. Everything else is like that, too, and even cheaper than that in Central America. The things that they would not have are the very latest treatments and equipment.

IMSS is designed for Mexican workers who've been paying into the system for decades and it's already financially strained. Some worry a flood of American retirees could bankrupt it. The Hunters would like to see their own government come up with an alternative.

So the Mexicans come here and strain our system. Tit for tat and quid pro quo. Except I will guarantee that we have many more Mexicans here than they have American citizen retirees.
Hopefully, Obama won't give them a couple more billion.

I got a letter from Senator Richard Burr and in it he mentioned that Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma had introduced a Bill (Patients Coice Act)that would give Americans a tax break for buying health insurance. It would be like $2300.00 for single and $5700.00 for family. That is a lot better then government takeover of our healthcare system and a lot cheaper and easier then the nightmare they have facing them now.

I called his office and the young lady said it went off to Senator Baucus for financial funding appropriations. She added: you know what he will probably do with it.

RELATED

Mexico's health care lures Americans
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-169024-ame ... are+mexico


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

With the cuts to Medicare this might be the only place our seniors can afford to get health care.

Originally Posted by JohnDoe2

With the cuts to Medicare this might be the only place our seniors can afford to get health care.

Just bring your own blanket! Hey, I would do it if I had to. Their doctors are just as good as any other country's...probably better. And with the favorable climate conditions you would probably recover faster. I have read some really favorable reviews from US expatriates. And with a dozen Mexicans waiting in line ahead of you, you would feel right at home.

3/22/17

Medical tourism on the increase in Mexico